Players,

As the league progresses, we wanted to draw your attention to 3 important topics:

1. How Team Withdrawals are handled
2. How forfeited matches should be handled
3. Minimum match requirements for playoff eligibility

Please review this information at your convenience.  If you have any questions, please send them to us at flexleagues@acepickleballclub.com

Thank you,

Ace Pickleball Club

1. How Team Withdrawals are handled:
   1. When a team withdraws, we mark that team as Withdrawn within the system.  When that is done, you will notice that:
      1. "Withdrawn" is now placed in front of that team's name in all areas of the Tournament software indicating that the team has withdrawn and will not be playing any other matches with in the Flex League
         1. When you see "Withdrawn" in front of a team name that you are scheduled to play, you do not need to take any action to try to schedule that match as the team has officially withdrawn from the league and will no longer play matches in the season
      2. All matches that have already been played by that Withdrawn team will no longer count toward the Division Standings.
         1. Since other teams will not have equal opportunity to play that team, matches that have been played are "withdrawn" from the standings for all teams involved in those matches.
      3. All matches that have already been played by that team, would have been recorded into DUPR and will remain recorded within DUPR since these matches did in fact take place
2. How forfeited matches should be handled:
   1. When a team needs to forfeit, they should inform the opposing team as soon as possible that they will not be able to play and need to forfeit the match.  
   2. Once a team has forfeited, either team can go into the MatchFlex system, scroll down to the Communications area and complete the following:
      1. Select Report Match Scores
      2. Select Report a Forfeit Instead
      3. Select which team is forfeiting the match (the losing team)
      4. Click Next
      5. Click Confirm Forfeit
      6. Both teams need to confirm the forfeit in the system for the process to be finalized
   3. Forfeited matches do not receive a score in the MatchFlex system
      1. It is incorrect to input a score of 11-0, 11-0 (or any score) into the scoring system for a forfeited match
      2. Forfeited matches do not receive a score and do not get reported to DUPR when the appropriate process described above is followed.
3. Minimum match requirements for playoff eligibility:
   1. To be eligible for the playoffs, a team needs to have "completed" a minimum of 4 matches during the season.  
      1. This rule is in place to ensure that teams are motivated to participate in weekly league play and not just play one match, win and then carry a 100% winning percentage into the playoff set up.
   2. Completed matches are defined as:
      1. Matches that were actually played
      2. Matches that were forfeited to a team.  The team that is forfeiting does not get credit for a completed match, but the team that received the forfeit and thus won the match does get credited to a completed match.
      3. Matches that are scheduled against a team that has Withdrawn.  Any matches played or scheduled against a team that has withdrawn are counted as a completed match.

Players,

If you are not using the MatchFlex technology for scheduling your matches and you need to connect with your opponents to provide/acquire personal contact information, we encourage you to use the "Message this Match Group" feature within MatchFlex system.  The Message this Match Group feature can be found in the Communications section at the bottom of the MatchFlex page (see attached image).  Simply type/send a message and it will be sent to the 4 players that are involved in the Match Group for the Round that you are currently viewing.  If you want to take that scheduling interaction out of MatchFlex (calls, text messages, etc.), that is certainly fine for you to do.

Being part of a Flex League does come with the expectation that you will need to interact with MatchFlex technology.  At a minimum, you need to access the system to view your Matches for each Round and to enter and verify the match scores or record a forfeit if needed.  If you have not already, we encourage you to give the Scheduling feature of MatchFlex a try.  Many players are using it and are "hooked" on the ease with which a match can be planned and scheduled.

Any questions about the MatchFlex technology can be emailed to flexleagues@acepickleballclub.com.  We would enjoy helping you learn more about the tool to help enhance your Flex League experience.

Regards,

Ace Pickleball Club

Flex League Players,

During our last Flex League season, several players have reported a few small issues with using the Flex League system.  Upon reviewing these issues, we have found consistently that those having issues are related to accessing the flex league website through the Ace Pickleball Club app, which is not the preferred launching spot for the system.  

The flex league system is not currently designed to run directly through the Ace Pickleball Club app.  This system will be integrated with the app over time, but is not currently set up to fully function through the app.

The Flex League System is a website and is meant to be run on the internet through a Web Browser (such as Chrome, Safari, etc.)  When players enter the flex league system through the app, the app is essentially acting as a less than optimal web browser for the flex league website and therefore certain designed functions are not working for players.

To be sure you have access to the full flex league system and do not experience errors, players should access the flex league system through their preferred Web Browser.  Directions for accessing the Flex League system in this way are provided below.

Accessing the Flex League system:

• Click the View Tournament link below (from your phone or computer) to access the Flex League site
• Check that the link has been launched in your preferred Web Browser and not through the APC App
• On the Flex League site, check the upper right-hand corner to see if you are already logged in
  • If you are already logged in, you are all set
  • If not, click the Login link and enter your email and password
• Once the above actions are complete, you will have full access to the MatchFlex tab and the rest of the Flex League system
• Recommended: Bookmark this site on your Browser or save this site as a Favorite for easy access each time you need to return to the site.

What is a Flex League?

• Leagues that allow members to play pickleball matches on the dates/times that fit best within their personal schedule

What puts the “flex” in a Flex League?

• Opponents work together to determine when the most convenient date/time is to play the match.
• Flex Leagues are the opposite of Fixed Leagues, where league matches are played at a specific date/time each week (i.e., every Tuesday at 7pm)
• Flex leagues are great for members who want the “flexibility” to schedule their league play around their day-to-day schedule.
• Scheduled opponents are set for the season, and all match results are scored and tracked leading to a league playoff system and eventual league champion.

What is the Flex League Season Schedule?

• 6 regular season matches are scheduled for each team
• Each regular season match has a defined two week timeframe to be completed.
• Matches can be scheduled and played early, but can't be played after the last date of the match timeframe.
• Default match times are set on Tuesday evenings at 7pm.  These are to be used if teams are unable to find a mutually agreeable time to play during the defined timeframe.
• Season Schedule:
  • 1st Match timeframe = Wednesday 2/25 – Tuesday 3/10 
  • 2nd Match timeframe = Wednesday 3/4 – Tuesday 3/17 (yes, there is a 1 week overlap among regular season match timeframes)
  • 3rd Match timeframe = Wednesday 3/11 – Tuesday 3/24
  • 4th Match timeframe = Wednesday 3/18 – Tuesday 3/31
  • 5th Match timeframe = Wednesday 3/25 – Tuesday 4/7
  • 6th Match timeframe = Wednesday 4/1 – Tuesday 4/14
  • Playoff Week #1 needs to take place between = Friday 4/17 – Tuesday 4/28 
  • Playoff Week #2 needs to take place between = Wednesday 4/29 – Tuesday 5/12

When/Where/How can the matches be played?

• Matches can be played any day/time.  
• Matches are expected to be played at APC but can also be played at any other agreed upon location.
• Teams can reserve a court at APC through the standard Reserved Court process and play their match on that reserved court
• Teams can play their matches on Open Play courts at any time while adhering to the Flex League Open Play rules (see below)

How does a Flex League match get played within Open Play?

• Players meet at the club at the date/time they have scheduled among themselves and follow these steps to complete their match during Open Play:
  • Step 1: Players stack their 4 paddles on an Open Play court and wait their turn to play Game 1 of their match
  • Step 2: At the conclusion of a game, two scenarios can play out:
    • Scenario 1 – if no paddles are stacked at their current court, they can proceed to play the next game of their match on the same court
    • Scenario 2 – if paddles are stacked on their current court, the four players step off the court and allow the players with stacked paddles to take the court
      • Note – flex league players should let other players that are stacking their paddles know that all 4 of them are going to leave after this game so stacked players can recruit others to join them on that court for the next game.
  • Step 3: Players repeat Steps 1 and 2 until they have played all of the games needed to complete their match

How do players schedule their matches with opposing teams on their schedule?

• Players can use the online MatchFlex tool to facilitate the scheduling of their match with their opponents
  • Players individually input their date/time availability into MatchFlex 
  • All Player availability is consolidated within MatchFlex , and all players can see the overlapping good times to play the match
  • MatchMate will send a proposed match time to all players based on all players overlapping availability
  • Players can agree/confirm/reschedule a match time using MatchFlex 
• MatchFlex  is not required, but can be very helpful. Opponents can also contact each other directly to schedule a match (email, phone numbers, etc. available to players).  Use the Message feature within MatchFlex to exchange personal contact info with other players within a match.
• If both teams are unable to agree on a convenient time to play the match, then the Default day/time for the match to be played will be the last day of the 2-week match time period at 7pm.
• If one team is unable to play at the default match time or does not show up for the default match time, the other team wins the match by forfeit
• If both teams no-show for the default time, the match is considered a tie and neither team gets credit for a win

How will the scores from these matches be recorded?

• Teams will use MatchFlex  to record/score their matches online.
• Each team will have to review/confirm the recorded score in MatchFlex  before it is registered into the system and results are reflected on the Leaderboard.

Will match scores be reported to DUPR?

• Yes, all matches played within Flex Leagues will be reported to DUPR.

How many teams need to sign up for there to be a league at any single Skill/Age level?

• A minimum of 4 teams need to register for there to be a league at any single Skill/Age level

Can replacement players or substitute players be used in the flex league if a player can't make a match?

• No.  Replacement players are not permitted.  
  • If a player/team can't make a match during a given timeframe, they will forfeit the match to the opposing team.  
  • If a partner gets injured or leaves the club, that team will be withdrawn from the league.

Welcome to APC Flex Leagues!  

It's time to get started!  Please read the information below to get oriented to how APC Flex Leagues operate.
 

APC Flex Leagues use the same software used for our APC Championship Series tournaments.  This software should be accessed via your favorite web browser (Safari, Chrome, etc.) and NOT accessed through the APC App.  The APC App is not designed to support all functionality within the Flex League software.

Each week, you will receive an email highlighting details about that week’s Flex League activity.  This email will give you a glimpse into the leaderboard for your Division and point out things that you need to be paying attention to that week.

You can access the League via the link below.  Be sure that you sign in using your APC ID and Password (sign in is located in the upper right hand corner of the page).  If you are not signed into your account, you will not be able to access the parts of the system you will need.

https://members.acepickleballclub.com/tournaments/8e523e47-2f06-4d68-a728-7dd517848132?tab=teams

One feature of the system that was designed specifically for Flex Leagues is MatchFlex.  MatchFlex allows all players to input time blocks throughout the week to show when they are available for match play.  MatchFlex then assesses all players' available time and searches for the earliest time when all 4 players are available.  It then sends a proposed match time to all players for them to Accept or Reject.  This automated process can save players countless phone calls, text messages, and emails sent back and forth to try to schedule matches.
 

Players will use MatchFlex to:  

• View your planned weekly matches - you will need to schedule each match with your opponents
• Share your match time availability with other players
• Accept or Reject proposed match times the system generates based on all player’s availability
• Report and verify your match scores
• Message your teammate and your opponents at any time
   

MatchFlex covers the full lifecycle of every match!
 

To help get you started using MatchFlex, we recommend you review the following resources:

• Click here to access a high-level overview of MatchFlex and Flex Leagues in general
• Click here to access video tutorials of key activities processed using MatchFlex

To access your APC Flex League schedule and to begin using MatchFlex to schedule your first match:

• Within your favorite Web Browser (not in the APC App), be sure to Log In to your Ace Pickleball Club account
• After logging in, click the link below to enter the Flex League system
• Navigate to the Teams tab to view all teams within your Division
• Navigate to the MatchFlex tab to begin planning your first match

Please email us at flexleagues@acepickleballclub.com with any questions about Flex Leagues or using MatchFlex technology. 

Enjoy the season!