How to Qualify for Nationals

Golden Ticket tournaments are the only guaranteed path for amateur players to play in the 2024 Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships, the premier tournament in the sport of pickleball. Only at these tournaments will gold medal winners earn a “Golden Ticket” for the exclusive opportunity to pre-register for Pickleball Nationals.

The Path to Nationals

Golden Ticket events offer participants an unrivaled player experience, exclusive gift bag at USA Pickleball-operated tournaments and the opportunity to compete at some of the best facilities around the country.

Players who secured a “golden ticket” receive a guaranteed entry into Nationals with a head start on registration. For more details on the 2024 Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships entry windows, please visit our registration page.

For a full list of USA Pickleball 2025 Golden Ticket events, visit our website.

path-to-nationals-color | USA Pickleball Nationals

Golden Ticket events

Golden Ticket FAQs

Still have questions about the Path to Nationals? We’ve got answers. See our Golden Ticket FAQs below or contact us for more information.

Which Tournaments offer a USA Pickleball ‘Golden Ticket’ for the 2024 USA Pickleball National Championships?

View List of Golden Ticket Events

How does a player become eligible to enter the lottery for the USA Pickleball National Championships?

All players who win a GOLD medal at a Golden Ticket Event will automatically qualify and will receive an opportunity to pre-register for Pickleball Nationals.

After all the GOLD medal winners have had an opportunity to pre-register for the tournament, players who received a SILVER or a BRONZE medal at a Golden Ticket event will be the next in line to be selected for entry based on availability and selected by a random draw.

Lastly, players who participated in a Golden Ticket event, but did not receive a medal, will be the next group to receive an invitation to enter the Pickleball Nationals. This group of players will also be based on availability and selected by a random draw.

What happens if I’m a senior player in a National Championship qualifier tournament and my bracket is combined?

In the scenario that 70+, 75+, or 80+ brackets at a qualifying event are combined due to a lack of teams, ALL players in said bracket will receive a Golden Ticket for the National Championships. This is intended to encourage more participation at the National Championships in the 70+ age groups.

What Is the Priority For Nationals Registration?

All players who win a GOLD medal at a Golden Ticket Event will automatically qualify and will receive an opportunity to pre-register for Pickleball Nationals.

Can Junior Players who have not played in a qualifying tournament still register for Nationals?

If you are a Junior Player (18 years and under) who did not qualify for Nationals via a qualifying tournament, you are still able to register. Juniors do NOT need to play in a qualifying event. Registration will open in August. Please register online.

Please send questions to nationalsreg@usapickleball.org