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What is RTM?

Road to Minors (RTM) is a tournament series that provides a pathway for amateur players to qualify for one of D.C. Pickleball Team’s Minor League Pickleball (MiLP) DUPR 12-22 rosters. Players will have the opportunity to play monthly, local tournaments where they can earn points and play for a spot on one of D.C. Pickleball’s Minor League teams.

When is RTM?

RTM Tournaments will be offered on a monthly basis at DTL (first at Fairfax and then at Annandale once it opens in Spring 2025). Every skill level from 3.0 to 4.5+ will be offered for mens, womens and mixed divisions.

Where is RTM?

RTM originated at Down the Line (DTL) Sports Center in Fairfax, VA and will be transitioning to DTL Annandale, VA when it opens in Spring 2025. 

RTM is growing nationwide and will be held at multiple facilities across the country. Search “RTM” under tournaments on pickleball.com to see a full list of tournaments. 

What is the format for RTM?

RTM Tournaments are doubles format - pick a partner of your choice and sign up for as many monthly tournaments you can play to accrue points throughout the year. Points will be awarded to players who finish at the top of their division for every tournament. Points are earned on an individual basis, not as a partnership, so you can play with new partners every tournament and your points will follow you as an individual.

How are points earned?

Points will be awarded to players for each division they play (i.e. mens, womens, mixed). Points you earn playing mens will be tracked separately from the points you earn playing mixed.

Players with the most points by the end of October 2025 in every skill division (i.e. 3.0-3.4, 3.5-3.9, 4.0-4.5, 4.5+) will be invited to play in the RTM Cup Finals in November 2025 at DTL Annandale. These players will be drafted onto Minor League Pickleball format teams (2 men, 2 women) and play in their respective skill level to showcase their talent in front of staff from the D.C. Pickleball team. Players will be scouted to represent the D.C. Pickleball team on their DUPR 12-22 teams. A DUPR team is composed of 4 players (2 males, 2 females) with combined DUPR ratings of 12-22.

Point System (Awarded by Level of Tournament)

RTM Gold: 1st Place: 1000 points 2nd Place: 700 points 3rd Place: 400 points 4th Place: 200 points 5th Place: 100 points 6th Place: 50 points

RTM Silver: 1st Place: 700 points 2nd Place: 400 points 3rd Place: 200 points 4th Place: 125 points 5th Place: 75 points 6th Place: 25 points

RTM Bronze: 1st Place: 400 points 2nd Place: 250 points 3rd Place: 100 points 4th Place: 75 points

What happens if you make one of the D.C. Pickleball Minor League teams?

Players chosen to be on the roster for D.C. Pickleball DUPR 12-22 Minor League teams will win a wildcard spot to the Minor League Nationals in December 2025. Players will be sponsored by the D.C. Pickleball team and other companies. These chosen players will represent the D.C. Pickleball team in the Minor Leagues for the next calendar year. They will have opportunities to play against other RTM winners in other regions as well as RTM teams representing other Major League Pickleball Teams.

RTM Requirements:

• RTM tournament players must participate in at least 2 RTM DUPR sessions before the RTM Cup Finals in November 2025. You do NOT have to complete your DUPR sessions before playing in a tournament, but you DO have to complete a minimum of 2 DUPR sessions before the RTM Cup Finals or you will be disqualified
  RTM DUPR sessions can be found under “tournaments” on pickleball.com by searching “RTM”
  DUPR sessions do NOT require partners - they are scramble style sessions where you play with random partners
• All players must have an active DUPR account and rating
• All players must have an active DUPR account and join the following DUPR clubs
  • Down the Line Fairfax
  • Down the Line Annandale
  • DC Pickleball Team
• RTM players must join “Road to Minors (RTM) Association” under clubs on pickleball.com (free membership - this allows your points to be tracked on the leaderboard)
  

RTM Series Perks

• All participants will receive an RTM branded shirt
• Medalists will receive DCPT x DTL merch (1st, 2nd, 3rd place).
• Sponsored giveaway items at each tournament
• An opportunity to make the DCPT MiLP rosters
• Build your DUPR profile for D.C. Pickleball Team to track and evaluate as you make your way along the Road to Minors
  

RTM Registration and Schedule

The RTM tournament schedule is listed below and you can sign up through the DTL and DCPT website and/or directly on pickleballtournaments.com

1. Round 3: June 13-14, June 21
2. Mid Season Tournament: July 12 
3. Round 4: August 9-10
4. Round 5: September 6-7
5. Round 6: October 11-12
6. Round 7: October 17-19
7. RTM Cup Finals: November 15-16
8. The Dink Minor League National Championship: December 2025

Pickle Rage RTM Schedule:

1. June 7-8
2. July 19-20
3. August 16-17
4. September 13-14
5. October 18-19 Regional Cup

Skill Division levels at DTL Fairfax

Level 1: 3.0-3.4 (men’s/women’s/mixed doubles)

Level 2: 3.5-3.9 (men’s/women’s/mixed doubles)

Level 3: 4.0-4.4 (men’s/women’s/mixed doubles)

Level 4: 4.5+ (men’s/women’s/mixed doubles)

RTM Format

All players sign up with a partner for each division they want to play. Partners can change each tournament.

Format will depend on # of teams registered. Minimum 4 teams. Maximum 8 teams.

Players can sign up with a different partner for each tournament. Points will be accrued individually.

For any questions please contact info@dtlsportscenter.com