Important Updates to OPA Level Criteria and Assessments
Your feedback has been clear: offering at-level play opportunities is what matters most to you. In response, the Ottawa Pickleball Association (OPA-APO) is realigning our colour level criteria and will be conducting assessments in January for all players currently registered in league play. Our goal is to create more balanced at-level play while continuing to help you improve your skills.
Here’s how we’re improving level play:
Why: The OPA-APO is a skills-based organization and is focused on player development
How: Realigned assessment criteria, which are posted on the OPA-APO website under “OPA-APO New Player Profiles (January 2026)”
When: First three weeks of January during regular league play (January 5–26)
Who: All players registered in winter league play
Impact: More balanced games at level
Results: Once winter assessments have been completed, you’ll be notified when to check your
OPA-APO account for your level
Takes effect: Spring session (starting March 1)
- View the up-to-date January 2026 Assessment Schedule.
- If you cannot attend any of the assessments, you can Request for Assessment here. We
will consider offering an assessment day at a future date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is this realignment being done?
A: Following recent assessments, feedback from our assessment team, and member comments, the OPA-APO Board is working to align skill levels more evenly within each colour. This responds directly to our last two member surveys, which showed that playing at level is what members value most.
Q: How are the criteria being realigned?
A: We’ve adjusted the consistency requirements for some skills.
Q: How will this affect the various levels?
A: We hope to realign the numbers in all our leagues, creating more robust Orange and Yellow levels, while rebalancing Indigo, Blue, and Green, where most of our members currently play. This redistribution will help ensure more evenly matched play across all levels.
Q: When will assessments take place?
A: During the winter assessment period in the first three weeks of January, the assessment team will attend all league play sessions and use the revised criteria to complete the
assessments. In early January, specific assessment dates for each league will be posted on the
Assessment Schedule. These dates may change based on gym and assessor availability, so please check the website regularly.
Q: What if I can’t make the assessment because I’m away or not registered as a player in a league?
A: Please complete the Request for Assessment form. Depending on the numbers, the OPA-APO may schedule a spring assessment.
Q: How will I learn my assessment results?
A: Once winter assessments are complete, we’ll notify members to log into their OPA-APO account to view their colour level. Given the number of players and the volunteer effort required, individual assessment reports will not be provided.
Q: When does this take effect?
A: Your assigned level will apply when you register for the spring session. The next assessment round will occur in fall 2026.
Q: When does the spring registration open?
A: Spring registration opens Feb 7-11. This will be a tight registration timeline, and members should plan to register quickly before we close registration and rebalance leagues.
Q: When does the spring session start?
A: March 1.
Here are some Videos that explain what the assessors are looking for when doing the evaluations:
