Pebble Creek Sports Club

GPN
(Global Pickleball Network)

& Pickleball Ratings

Pebble Creek Pickleball Ratings & Global Pickleball Network (GPN)

Why Use Club Ratings?

Pebble Creek welcomes players of all skill levels to join our community.
We maintain club ratings to ensure that each player is matched to their level of play and to enable everyone to have a positive experience.

Benefits of Event Signups by Skill-Level

GPN manages event signups by rating level. Everyone who plays events at Pebble Creek must join the FREE Pebble Creek GPN network in order to sign up for events.

Maintaining club ratings helps create the best possible experience for players:

  1. It helps us create the right programs - knowing how many players we have at various levels helps us understand what types of events we should offer.

  2. It helps players understand what level of play they can expect in any program.

Grouping similarly skilled players leads to some of the most exciting and fun games where the outcome could go either way!

Most events are by skill-level so people know what level of play they should expect, but not all events are competitive. We’ll also have “all levels” Open Play so the entire community can come together and play… you can have a pickleball date night with your partner even if you’re very different levels!

We have both competitive and recreational events:

  • Competitive Events (e.g. Leagues, Ladders, Round Robins, MLP Team Leagues): Scores are input, winners identified, and ratings are adjusted in the system accordingly,

  • Recreational Events (e.g. Open Plays, 5X Combo): Still skill-level-based, but scores aren’t entered and therefore don’t affect your ratings.

What Is Global Pickleball Network (GPN)?

GPN is a powerful tool that allows players to connect with each other to find games, register for programs and leagues, and track their progress. The GPN rating system algorithm is based on the Elo system and all players, regardless of their age, gender, location, or skill, are rated on the same scale between 2.0-6.0 based on their match results. With a GPN account, you will know exactly where you stand - not just relative to your peers, but to the best players in GPN as well.

Why Use GPN?

We use GPN for league and event management, taking advantage of features like:

  • Response-driven waitlist management (all on waitlist are notified when a spot opens up and first to accept gets it. This reduces issues with systems where the first on the list automatically drops in and they may not be aware, or their plans may have changed and they forgot to remove themselves from the waitlist.)

  • Event reminders to minimize no-shows,

  • Ability to contact all players attending a specific event,

  • Ability to pay online,

  • Ability for members to create private groups for play,

  • Signups are by skill-level based on your rating. Grouping similarly skilled players leads to some of the most exciting and fun games where the outcome could go either way!

How Do I Join Pebble Creek’s GPN Network?

You’ll need to input your rating. See below for info.

What’s My Rating?

When you first join GPN you will be asked to input your self-rating, and it will be adjusted by the rating system as you play in club leagues/ladders where scores are input.

If you don’t know your rating, you may use the the ITPTA skill level assessment criteria, which can be found here.  You may also schedule a 20-30 minute skill assessment with one of our instructors to determine your rating. To schedule an IPTPA rating skill assessment text Nancy Moore at ‭(267) 980-2298‬ (fee applicable).

New members of skill level of 3.0 or above are required to provide proof of their sanctioned tournament rating or their recent IPTPA rating assessment (a screen shot is fine). Without that proof, the new member will be admitted to the club at a maximum 3.0 skill level rating.

NOTE: Self-ratings may be adjusted by Pebble Creek instructors as they see fit.

What’s My Starting Rating if I’m NEW?

Likely 2.0, possibly 2.5, and rarely, but possibly, 3.0.

SOME RULES OF THUMB:

  1. Have not played pickleball (or any racquet sport)? 2.0.

  2. Played a bit of pickleball or have intermediate skills in another racket sport (e.g. tennis) AND understand the rules? 2.5.

  3. Have advanced skills in another racquet sport, including tournament play, and very good knowledge of pickleball rules and strategy? 3.0.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Global Pickleball Network (GPN) is a rating system and event management platform for pickleball, similar to ratings systems like Pickleball Brackets, USA Pickleball, DUPR, UTR (for tennis), etc. The each have their own algorithms.

    All players, regardless of their age, gender, or skill, are rated on the same scale between 2.0-5.0 based on their match results. GPN’s rating algorithm uses the ELO scoring system, calculating ratings based on statistics, taking into account your playing level and that of your opponents.

    Learn more about GPN’s rating system here.

    Learn more about the ELO rating system here.

  • Using your GPN history of pickleball league, tournament and practice matches, your singles and doubles playing levels will be calculated using a highly accurate algorithm.

    For each pickleball match played, this algorithm takes into account your opponent's calculated level, the accuracy of their level, and the type of match played, to calculate a very accurate playing level.

    Your calculated levels can even be tracked over time, giving you a history of your progression.

    Learn more here.

  • Most play sessions and events will be by skill-level based on your GPN rating. It ensures the best experience for all players, where competition is similar and results could go either way.

    If you want to play in a higher-level court, your rating must increase through GPN games to earn that privilege.

    We will also schedule some “all-levels” open play events to allow the entire community to play together for social events, or to enable couples of varying skill levels to play together in a social atmosphere.

  • Yes, if you want to play at Pebble Creek, as all event signups will be through GPN. If you don’t want to play in competitive events, don’t worry - you don’t have to! Simply create your account, enter your self-rating (see rating question), and you can sign up for non-competitive events.

    With a GPN account, you will know exactly where you stand relative to other players at Pebble Creek. You can play in competitive events where can look to improve your rating while getting the most competitive games possible.

    Create your GPN account here.

  • If you have a sanctioned tournament rating, or a recent IPTPA rating assessment, use that.

    If you don’t know your rating, compare your knowledge and skills against the IPTPA rating criteria which can be found here.

    A new pickleball player is likely a 2.0 player, possibly a 2.5 player and rarely, but possibly, a 3.0 player. Some rules of thumb for new pickleball players:

    Someone who has not played pickleball, or any racket sport, would probably have a starting 2.0 rating.

    Someone who has played a bit of pickleball or has intermediate skills in another racket sport (e.g. tennis) and has a good command of the rules of pickleball may qualify for a starting 2.5 rating.

    In exceptional circumstances, someone who has advanced skills in another racket sport (such as tennis), including tournament play and has a very good knowledge of pickleball rules may qualify for a starting 3.0 rating.

  • The more unique opponent matches you play, the more accurate your GPN club rating becomes.

    Calculated playing levels are re-calculated each night at midnight (PST). For each match played, the system takes into account your opponent's playing level, and the accuracy of their level. The more accurate your opponent's playing level, the greater the influence it will have on your own. The lower your playing level accuracy is, the more it can fluctuate. The higher your playing level accuracy is, the more stable it becomes.

    See more information on the algorithm and ratings here.

  • Playing in the events that best match your current rating will improve your score quicker than playing up.

    If you try playing up you may not only hurt your score but the score of your partner as well. Work your way up by successfully building your score at the level you are presently at. Climb the ladder one rung at a time.

  • Your GPN rating is based on the Elo rating system, a method for calculating the relative skill levels of players within a pool, i.e. other Pebble Creek GPN network members.

    Your rating’s accuracy improves as you play more matches. It’s important to note that it’s calculated based on your play with other Pebble Creek GPN network members, rather than being an absolute measure of a player's strength. You may be the biggest fish in the pond at Pebble Creek, especially while we’re growing and the pool of players your rating is based upon is relatively small. If you went to a large tournament, your Pebble Creek rating may not be reflective of your skill level.

    If you’re unsure, before you register for a large tournament, you can assess yourself using the IPTPA criteria here, or schedule a ratings assessment with one of our certified instructors.

    See more information on the ELO rating system here.

  • There is no app in the app store, but you can run the site as a web app. This will create an icon on your phone, and it will look and feel just like a downloaded app.

    For detail son how to add GPN to your home screen, click here.

  • Click on your account icon (top left), then select Settings/Notifications. Each option has an explanation when you click on it.

GPN ‘Quick Tips’ Tutorials

GPN How To Submit Scores

*** GPN UPDATE *** The 'My Links' page is now found by clicking the profile button on the top right (it's no longer to the left of the profile button.)

IN THIS VIDEO:

Learn 3 different ways to submit scores in GPN from your phone, and why one of them is my favorite way:

0:00 My Links/View Button
0:35 Enter Scores with 'Plus Sign' (+)
1:33 4-Person Double Round Robin Scores
2:48 Correct Errors
3:02 See Who's Playing Next - Enter Their Scores
3:53 Enter Scores with 'Submit Scores' Button
4:25 Submit From Ladder League/Matches
5:17 Summary - My Preferred Method

GPN Navigation Overview for Users

*** GPN UPDATE *** The 'My Links' page is now found by clicking the profile button on the top right (it's no longer to the left of the profile button.)

IN THIS VIDEO:

00:00 Account/Profile Settings
00:46 My Links Page
02:04 Join a League
02:43 Events You're Eligible For
05:15 Where to Submit Scores
05:46 View Network-Wide Events
08:16 Summary

Add GPN to Your Home Screen

Find ‘MY LINKS’ & ‘SUBMIT SCORES

View Tournament Information