SixBagel

User guide

Everything you need to know about SixBagel: signing up, tournament formats, scoring, ladder points, tournament coins, and pickup games.

Signing up for tournaments

SixBagel runs official monthly tournaments every calendar month. Registration opens on the Monthly registration page during the prior month - for example, sign up in June for July's draws.

  1. Open Monthly registration and choose which events you want to enter (men's singles, women's doubles, mixed doubles, etc.).
  2. For doubles, enter your partner's exact profile username (shown on their profile, not a nickname). They receive a direct message and must accept before you both appear on the roster.
  3. Registration closes at the end of the month. On the 1st of the competition month, the system builds draws automatically (see How matching works).
  4. Once draws are generated, find your event on Current tournaments to see your draw, schedule matches, and enter scores.

To register, you need an account and a profile (username, gender for gendered draws, city if your community uses home-city checks) to register.

Types of tournaments

Official monthly events use a single-elimination draw. The available categories are:

  • Men's singles — 1 v 1; profile gender must be set to male.
  • Women's singles — 1 v 1; profile gender must be set to female.
  • Co-ed singles — 1 v 1; any gender.
  • Men's doubles — 2 v 2; both partners must have male gender on their profile.
  • Women's doubles — 2 v 2; both partners must have female gender on their profile.
  • Mixed doubles — 2 v 2; each side must have one man and one woman.

Every category follows the same single-elimination format: lose one match and you're out. The last player (or team) standing is the champion, earning bonus ladder points, tournament coins, and a title on their profile.

Want to play more matches outside of monthly tournaments? Check out Pickup games to find or host casual matches anytime!

Tournament rules

Scheduling your match

  • Agree on a date, time, and court with your opponent using direct messages or your own contact method.
  • Arrive on time and bring balls and any shared equipment you agreed on.
  • Each round has a deadline you must meet. However, once you advance and your potential opponent is decided, you can start your next match anytime — you do not have to wait for every other match in the previous round to complete.

Round deadlines

  • Each round has a deadline, shown on the tournament page and your match cards. For official monthly single-elimination draws, deadlines are spread across the competition month from the event start. When the bracket has four knockout rounds (typical 16-player or 16-team draws), rounds 2–4 each span seven calendar days, and round 1 spans the remaining time at the beginning of the month (for example about 10 days in a 31-day month, 9 in a 30-day month, and 7 in a 28-day month). Brackets with any other number of knockout rounds divide the month evenly between all rounds. You get a direct-message reminder two days before your open match's round deadline (once per match while it still has no result).
  • If no score is entered by the deadline, the match is recorded as Incomplete: both sides receive a −25 ladder penalty and the draw may award a bye on the other side of the pairing.

Scoring

Either player (or any doubles team member) can enter or update the score on the match card. Two scoring modes are available:

  • Mode 1 — Two sets + 10-point match tiebreak
    Each set is played to 6 games (win by two). At 6–6, a 7-point set tiebreak decides the set. If sets are 1–1, a 10-point match tiebreak (first to 10, win by 2) decides the match.
  • Mode 2 — Pro set
    One set to 8 games (win by two). At 7–7, a 10-point tiebreak decides. Record as 8–7 / 7–8 plus tiebreak points.

Scoring examples

Mode 1 — straight sets:

Set 1: 6–4   Set 2: 6–2

Mode 1 — with set tiebreak and match tiebreak:

Set 1: 6–4   Set 2: 6–7 (TB: 5–7)   MTB: 10–7

Mode 2 — pro set:

Match: 8–5

Mode 2 — pro set with tiebreak:

Match: 8–7 (TB: 10–8)

Curtailed matches

If play is interrupted by weather/court time limits/other reasons and cannot be resumed, you may select the Curtailed Match option to record the result as-is. The winner is determined by completed sets first — a partial later set does not cancel a set your opponent already won. If completed sets are tied 1–1, the side with more total games (every set line you enter, including a partial set) wins; if total games are equal, add the match tiebreak. On a pro set at 7–7, whoever is ahead in the 10-point tiebreak wins.

Mutual no-contest

If both sides agree the match cannot be played for a valid reason (e.g. bad weather, poor air quality, courts closed), either player can start a mutual no-contest request from the match card. In singles, both players must confirm; in doubles, all four players must confirm. The match is closed with no winner and no ladder points — the other half of the draw advances as a bye.

Disputes and no-shows

  • If you disagree about a score or outcome, use Report issue on the match card and choose Score issue (or another category if it fits). Your report is private — only site moderators and admins see it. Submissions help with record keeping and serious cases.
  • What staff can and cannot do: This is an online platform — moderators do not watch your match. There is often not enough evidence to reach a firm conclusion about what happened on court, so not every dispute can be resolved cleanly by admins. When it is safe and reasonable, try to settle with your opponent first (for example agreeing on the recorded score or scheduling a rematch) instead of expecting staff to decide every disagreement.
  • No-show — if your opponent is more than 15 minutes late without agreement on a new time, you may claim a walkover. A no-show can also mean you reached out in good faith to schedule or confirm the match (for example via in-app messages or another agreed channel), but your opponent never responded meaningfully and the round deadline passes without a playable arrangement — use Report issue and explain what you tried. The No-show category only applies to knockout draw matches (not pool-only lines or pickup). On those matches, the path records a walkover for your side and default for the absent side on the draw, and advances the draw automatically. Each player on the side marked default gains 1 on their public profile stat No-show reports (received) (in doubles, both partners on that side each gain 1). The no-show side loses −25 ladder points (same as withdrawal after lock). When No-show reports (received) first reaches 3, the account is automatically restricted for 31 days from joining tournaments, pickup games, training sessions, and other signup-based activities (this is a soft restriction — you can still sign in; staff can lift or shorten it when appropriate). If a no-show report was filed maliciously (the filer was actually the absent party), an admin can reverse the dispute from the dispute inbox — this swaps the walkover/default outcomes, corrects no-show counts on both sides, lifts any automatic ban on the wrongly accused player, repairs the bracket draw, and re-applies ladder rewards. Staff may still review your description for the record.

Conduct

Players are expected to be courteous and respectful. Scheduling, line calls, and score entry work best when everyone acts in good faith. First serve, lets, choosing sides, and ad vs no-ad are decided between opponents unless the organizers publish different house rules.

Match outcomes

The draw can display the following outcome tags under a player or team name:

  • Walkover — the opponent wins because the other side could not play (no-show, illness before start, withdrawal after the draw, or repeated failure to respond when scheduling before a deadline). Often applied automatically when someone withdraws from a locked event.
  • Withdrew — a player or team leaves the event before the match is closed with a final score.
  • Default — a player or team cannot continue during the match (injury, illness, equipment, time violation). The opponent is awarded the match.
  • Disqualified — removed for serious misconduct or a rule breach. The opponent wins.
  • Retired — a player or team voluntarily stops play during the match (often injury-related). Record completed sets and choose Retired as the outcome.
  • Curtailed — play stopped for external reasons (weather, court time). Enter the score as it stood; the trailing side is tagged curtailed.
  • Mutual no contest — both sides agree the match cannot be played (e.g. bad weather, poor air quality). In singles both players must confirm; in doubles all four players must confirm. No winner is recorded and the opponent from the other match in the same pairing advances as a bye.
How players get matched

When the draw is generated on the 1st of the month, entrants are ranked by ladder points (highest first). Ties are broken by self-rating on your profile, then randomly. The more matches and results players have on SixBagel, the better the ladder (and this matching) reflects real skill.

Pool Allocation: Entrants are ranked and split into distinct single-elimination pools. Pool 1 contains the highest-ranked players/teams. Each pool has a maximum size: up to 16 in outdoor months and up to 8 in indoor months. When the field is larger, it is split into as few balanced groups as possible (e.g. 25 outdoor entrants become 13 and 12; 20 indoor entrants become 7, 7, and 6).

Minimum Requirements: A pool must have at least 4 players (Singles) or 4 teams (Doubles) to run. If registration falls below this, the event for that category is canceled for the month.

Seasonal Capacity:

  • Outdoor (May–Oct): Top pools are capped at 16 entrants, preparing for one match per week.
  • Indoor (Nov–Apr): All pools are capped at 8 entrants, keeping winter draws shorter and easier to schedule. Larger fields use the same balanced split as outdoor (e.g. 9 entrants become 5 and 4; 20 become 7, 7, and 6).

Seeding & Draws:

  • Singles: Players are placed in seeded order (e.g., #1 vs. lowest seed). If the total is not a power of two (4, 8, 16), top seeds receive first-round byes.
  • Doubles: Teams are ranked by the average of both partners' ladder points. Ties are broken by individual self-ratings. Seeding follows the same logic as singles.
Pickup games

Pickup games let you play either ladder points or casual matches outside official tournaments.

Hosting

  • Creating a game is free for casual play (ladder points off). If you turn on match results count toward ladder points, hosting costs 5 tournament coins. You earn coins by participating in tournaments (see Tournament coins). If you cancel before the match is created (before all slots are filled), any ladder hosting fee is refunded.
  • Choose a format: women's singles, men's singles, co-ed singles, women's doubles, men's doubles, or mixed doubles.
  • Pick a scoring mode: Mode 1 (two sets + 10-point MTB) or Mode 2 (pro set).
  • Access: Every hosted game appears on the open list. You can optionally require a password so only people who know it can join, or set a ladder point range (min/max) to filter by skill.
  • Ladder Tracking: Enable ladder tracking if you want the match result to count toward ladder points; with this setting disabled are treated as Casual Play and will not affect your ladder points.

Joining

  • Browse open games on the Pickup games page.
  • When all slots are filled (2 for singles, 4 for doubles), the match is created and you can enter scores on the game page.

Ladder and rewards

Pickup games earn per-match ladder points only when the host enabled ladder tracking. They do not earn knockout advancement bonuses or champion bonuses — those are reserved for draw tournaments. Elo match adjustments (win bonus and loss) use the same rules as in draw events, including the ladder point system (starting points, newer-account K ramp, indoor/outdoor seasons, etc.). You also earn a few tournament coins when the score is saved: 2 per player on the winning side and 1 per player on the losing side (not counting BYE placeholders).

Disputes

Pickup matches use the same Report issue flow on the match card as tournaments. Expectations for players — including trying to resolve score issues with your opponent when reasonable, and understanding that staff cannot observe play — are the same as under Tournament rules → Disputes and no-shows. The No-show option (automatic walkover, draw advance, and No-show reports (received) on profiles) is only for knockout tournament matches; pickup and other lines cannot use that path — choose another category or work it out with your opponent.

Ladder point system

How to Earn Ladder Points

Your ranking is built through consistent play and tournament success. Points are awarded in two ways:

  • Match Points: Decisive matches award Elo-scaled win and loss adjustments.
  • Tournament Bonuses: Official events award knockout round advancement for qualifying main-draw wins (walkovers can still qualify; pure bye placeholders do not), plus a champion bonus for winning the title.

Please note for pickup games, match points apply only when the host turned on ladder tracking for that game. Casual games with ladder tracking disabled do not affect your standings. For pickup games with ladder tracking on, while they contribute to your base points, they do not offer advancement or title bonuses.

Starting points

Every player begins with 100 ladder points in each of the four categories (outdoor/indoor × singles/doubles) before ledger changes — 400 total at signup across all categories. Points are tracked separately for singles and doubles.

How you earn (and lose) points

  • Draw tournaments: decisive matches use an Elo-scaled win bonus for the winner and a scaled loss adjustment for the loser — there is no separate participation grant. If you advance without playing that match (bye, walkover over withdrawal or no-show, etc.), you do not receive those match win/loss points; knockout round advancement bonuses still apply when the match qualifies.
  • Pickup games (ladder on): same rules as draw tournaments — a decisive match applies the Elo-scaled win bonus and loss adjustment only, with no separate participation grant.

Knockout round bonuses (tournaments only)

Each knockout win (not a bye) earns a flat extra ladder bonus on top of the match formula: 2 points (same in every knockout round). Doubles partners each get the full amount.

Champion bonus (tournaments only)

Winning the final earns a large extra bonus based on registered entrant count (players in singles, teams in doubles), plus a champion title on your profile:

  • +10 — 16+ entrants (e.g. full 16-player draw)
  • +6 — 8–15 entrants (e.g. 12-player draw with byes)
  • +4 — 4–7 entrants
  • +3 — 1–3 entrants

Penalties

  • Withdrawal after lock: −25 — leaving a registration-locked event forfeits your open matches as walkovers for your opponents; you pay this fixed penalty only (not an additional match rating loss on that forfeit).
  • Deadline incomplete: −25 — both sides when a knockout match auto-closes with no score after the round deadline.

Season totals are floored at 0 — you cannot go negative.

Outdoor vs Indoor Seasons

Ladder points are tracked in two separate seasons each year. The seasons never mix — you maintain separate totals and ranks for each. Singles and doubles are also separate ladders.

  • Outdoor — May through October
  • Indoor — November through April

Rankings

The Rankings page is the public leaderboard, ordering players by ladder points in each bucket (outdoor or indoor, singles or doubles). Your own totals and rank also appear on your player profile.

Your standing is calculated using a rolling 12-month window. Only months belonging to the specific season (indoor or outdoor) are counted. As each new month begins, the oldest corresponding month drops off, ensuring your rank reflects your current skill level rather than lifetime history.

Tournament coin system

Tournament coins are for showing up and playing, not for hoarding a giant prize if you run the table. Most coins come from joining events and getting matches on the board; advancing and the title are smaller bonuses. Spend them to host your own pickup games with ladder tracking on.

Earning coins

  • Joining a draw: +8 coins once per first signup in that event (taken back if you leave a bracket spot or otherwise lose that award, same as today).
  • Playing a main-draw match: +2 per player, win or loss, for each decided singles or doubles match (the match must run — byes and free passes do not pay this line).
  • Pickup (ladder on): when the host enabled ladder tracking, saving a decided score pays 2 tournament coins per player on the winning side and 1 per player on the losing side (not for BYE placeholders; same re-score rules as other bonus lines).
  • Advancing in the knockout (winner only): up to max(1, round × 1) tournament coins (e.g. round 1 = 1, round 3 = 3).
  • Champion bonus — Earning tournament coins is based on registered entrant count (same tiers as ladder):
    • +12 — 16+ entrants
    • +9 — 8–15 entrants
    • +6 — 4–7 entrants
    • +4 — 1–3 entrants
    Per player when the final is decided (doubles partners each get the full amount).

Spending coins

  • Hosting a ladder pickup game: 5 coins (casual pickup games are free). Refunded if you cancel before the match is created (before all player slots are filled).

Expiration

Each earning event is its own lot (join bonus per event, each match bonus line, pickup ladder line, knockout advance, champion bonus, welcome promo, etc.). Lots expire 45 days after that lot was earned. Expiration runs automatically in the background and subtracts each expired lot from your balance (never below zero). Revoking an award before it expires removes that lot as today; if a lot already expired, deleting or revoking the underlying row does not subtract again.

Your coin balance is shown in the account menu next to your username. Coins have no monetary value.

FAQ
What is the deadline for each round?

Deadlines depend on the total number of entries in your specific bracket pool.

For a standard pool with 9–16 entries, you can generally expect 9 or 10 days for the first round and 7 days for all subsequent rounds.

Exact cutoff dates and times vary depending on how many days are in that specific month. Please always check the exact cutoff time listed at the bottom of each draw.

Round deadlines must be strictly followed so the tournament bracket can proceed on schedule. However, in extreme cases (such as severe weather), short extensions may be considered by the organizers.

What if my opponent and I cannot find a mutually agreed time to play?

We strongly encourage players to connect as early as possible. Please reach out within 24 hours of your opponent being determined, and aim to confirm a match time and court within 72 hours. If your schedules are tight, you can utilize these flexible formatting options:

  • Pro-Set of 8: If your mutual court time is limited, you can agree to play a single pro-set to 8 games (which takes approximately 1 hour).
  • "Curtailed" match: If you cannot finish a full match due to booking constraints or weather, a curtailed format can be used if both sides agree beforehand. Whoever is leading at the exact moment the match must stop will be declared the winner.
  • No Mutual Contest: If absolutely no mutual time can be found despite genuine, documented efforts from both sides, please proceed by selecting No Mutual Contest on the platform.
What if I reach out to my opponent and do not get a response?

We expect all players to reply actively to scheduling requests. Please make your best effort to connect within the first 72 hours of the round starting (or as soon as both opponents are determined).

If you have proactively provided multiple reasonable scheduling options, and your opponent fails to respond before the final timeframe you offered, you may report a No Show via the platform.

The active player who reached out and reported the issue will be awarded a walkover into the next round.

How should I reach out to my opponent?

Because rounds move quickly, active communication is essential.

  • We highly encourage using our in-app messaging system. When you send an in-app message, your opponent automatically receives an email notification.
  • Matched opponents can also view each other's email address directly (and phone numbers if filled in their profiles) under the draw — right below Schedule Assistant and before the score entry section. You can reach out via their listed email address and/or phone (if available).
  • We strongly encourage players to exchange phone numbers upon initial contact, or add a phone number to your player profile for faster, more effective coordination.
Can I get my opponent's phone number directly from the platform?

To protect player privacy, providing a phone number is optional. However, if you choose to add a phone number to your profile, it is never listed publicly. Only your specific, matched opponent(s) for the current round will be able to view it.

Where should we play our matches?

Players can coordinate court locations based on mutual convenience. Feel free to suggest any courts you are familiar with, or use our recommendations below:

  • Same club members: If you and your opponent belong to the same indoor or outdoor tennis club, feel free to book and play at your home club.
  • North vs. south matches: If one player is from the north and the other is from the south, we encourage meeting at a central location in the middle of the city (see our court map to find a midpoint).
Who should bring balls?

Players are expected to bring their own balls. New balls are recommended, but it is fine to use older balls as long as both players agree.

Can I find a substitute (sub) to play for me?

No. Because SixBagel operates in a tournament bracket format where you play for your individual ladder points, substitutes are not allowed. You must play your own matches to advance.

What if I am going on vacation during a certain month?

Since we run fresh tournaments every single month, please plan your registration around your travel:

  • Vacation at the start of the month: If you will be away for over a week at the beginning of the month, please skip that month and register for the next cycle instead.
  • Vacation at the end of the month: Evaluate your skill level. If you expect to advance into the later rounds where match windows will conflict with your trip, we highly recommend sitting that month out.
What if a dispute happens during our match?

Our matches follow Tennis Canada Rules of the Court 2025: Guidelines for Unofficiated Matches (starting from page 150). View the PDF.

We encourage all players to refer to the guidelines to resolve on-court scoring or line-call disagreements amicably between themselves. If an unresolved dispute occurs, please preserve any evidence and use the Report issue feature on the platform (see Tournament rules).

SixBagel is built on community. Please respect one another, practice excellent sportsmanship, and enjoy the game!

Is there any cost to play in SixBagel?

No! SixBagel is a completely free platform built for Calgary tennis players to connect and enjoy high-quality, competitive matches. Our platform is entirely designed, built, and managed by a team of volunteers. Our mission is simply to bring the local tennis community together.

If you enjoy using the platform, the best way to support us is to spread the word to your fellow players!

Who is behind SixBagel?

The SixBagel team consists of a group of local professionals who love playing tennis. We all have full-time day jobs, but we dedicate our free time to volunteering, building this platform, and growing this community.

We receive incredible support and advice from our players, so simply by participating and providing your feedback, you are a part of SixBagel, too!

Who can sign up for the tournaments?

Everyone across all skill levels and backgrounds is welcome! This is a platform for the entire Calgary community to connect. All we expect is that you follow standard tennis rules and treat your opponent(s) with respect.

I am a beginner. Can I register?

Yes, beginners are absolutely welcome! To ensure a good experience for both players, we do ask that you are able to play a basic competitive match — meaning you can maintain a stable rally and hit a dependable serve to get points started.

If you are still working on your consistency, don't worry! This platform is the perfect place to help your game grow.

Liability & Safety

Independence. SixBagel is an online platform only. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or responsible for any tennis club, league, facility, or national body unless explicitly stated in writing for a specific partnership.

How events work on SixBagel. Official tournaments (for example monthly events) use this site's built-in registration, draws, scoring, and ladder tools. The software automates those workflows; SixBagel still does not run events at your court, assign officials, certify venues, or insure participants. Pickup games are casual matches that individual members create and invite others to. The member who hosts a pickup game is responsible for who joins (including password-protected games), when and where you meet, and conduct during play, not the platform operators.

General disclaimer. SixBagel and this website are provided "as is" for informational and administrative purposes. We do not guarantee uninterrupted access, error-free operation, or the accuracy of every score, ranking, or notification. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the operators of this site disclaim liability for any loss or damage arising from your use of the service, including indirect or consequential damages.

Not legal or medical advice. Nothing on this site is legal, medical, or professional advice. If you need guidance on contracts, insurance, health, or eligibility, consult a qualified professional. This section is meant to set expectations; it is not a substitute for formal terms of use or advice from a lawyer in your jurisdiction.

Physical activity & injury. Tennis and related activities involve inherent risks, including slips, falls, collisions, heat-related illness, and overuse injuries. By participating in any play arranged through this site, whether an official tournament or a pickup game, you acknowledge those risks and agree that you are responsible for your own fitness, equipment, and decisions about when, where, and how to play.

Disputes, conduct, and third parties. Official tournaments on SixBagel (for example monthly draws) are coordinated through this site's registration, rules, and tools. Questions about eligibility, seeding, or serious misconduct are handled through the platform (including Report issue on a match and moderator review where applicable), not through an external event contact. For pickup games, participants resolve scheduling, no-shows, and disagreements among themselves unless the site provides a specific tool (for example a formal dispute flow) that applies. Venues, coaches, and other third parties you meet through tennis remain independent of SixBagel.

Accounts, messages, and personal safety. You are responsible for your account credentials and for information you share with other members. Be cautious meeting people you only know online; choose public places when appropriate and trust your judgment. We may moderate or remove content or accounts that violate community norms or the law, but we do not read every message in real time.

Minors & supervision. Parents and guardians are responsible for minors they allow to register or compete. Ensure appropriate supervision and approval for any in-person activity.