Pints & Pinball League Overview
Pints & Pinball is a player-centric and community approach to league and club pinball. Our goal is to provide environments where pinball enthusiasts of all levels can gather, socialize, and compete.
Match Play Leagues
Match play leagues are a competition format where players are put into groups where they compete directly against each other by playing a game together and points are awarded based on how the players finish score-wise relative to each other in that game. Multiple matches are played and players compete for league standings based on their accumulated league points.
Pints & Pinball Match Play League Structure
League consist of three Phases. Qualifying, Competition, and Finals.
We play a 6 week season plus finals, organized as:
Meet 1-3 - Qualifying Period
End of Meet 3 - Division split and tie-breakers
Meet 4-6 - Intra-Division Competition
End of Meet 6 - Finals qualification and tie-breakers
Meet 7 - Finals
Prizes and WPRR points will be awarded based on finishing positions after the finals session.
Players will pay $20 dues per person per season to participate. The player dues go directly to the league prize payouts.
League Meeting Expectations
All players compete in each regular league session. Players are encouraged to arrive early to allow themselves to practice or socialize before the league’s published roll call time. Prior to meet start time, a league officer will perform the roll call and collect any necessary game picks.
At the league start time or as soon as possible after, a league officer will call out the assigned groups. Each group will play their games in turn and record their scores in the Matchplay software. Players can leave as soon as their group’s games are complete and score sheets are submitted. Your formal league play typically takes 90 minutes. Players are encouraged to enjoy the venue and company before and after league as appropriate for the location.
End of Season and End of Year Parties
At the end of every year there will be an annual party (after Spring Season). Unique games and game setups, giveaway prizes, food, and music are typical mainstays at each event.
Key Changes (2024)
League season will be shorter (six weeks), and dues will be reduced to $20.
We will use matchplay software to run the league until finals. (No paper during the regular season)
Keep separate divisions to prioritize Fun and Opportunity for all skill levels
Keep four (4) player groups prioritized (play more people). Move to 5 matches per week (play more games).
Move to the simplified IFPA 7/5/3/1 scoring - no more bonus points or match bonus points
Three (3) weeks of matchplay qualifying where your points accumulate over the three (3) sessions. Random initial seeding, then Swiss pairing for sessions two (2) and three (3). After qualifying, break into divisions based on total points. (Over time, the software will pair players with similar scores together)
3 weeks of intra-division matchplay accumulating points. Grouping will be based on “Balanced” (similar to round robin) within your division. Points do not carry over from the qualifying period.
After the intra-division phase, the top players in each division move to their division playoff. Targeting 4-6 players in finals (depending on league size)
Based on feedback received from last season, we have reworked the format of the finals to extend play. 2 game semis, followed by four (4) game finals
IFPA sanctioning should still apply and target a 200% WPPR value (Moar WPPRS!)
Moving to assigned games and play rotation - play what you are assigned
With a shorter season, there are no dropped scores. Missing will score zero points for that session.
Player Highlight Sheet
Full Rules available on website
Monday Nights
Meet weekly for 6 Meets plus 1 playoff session (lowest weekly score will be dropped from both the division qualifying and the in division play)
Roll Call : 7:15pm
If you are not going to be there, or running late please contact Bryan H *BEFORE* 7:15pm
Contact: Text (703) 216-6359 or email bghenson23@gmail.com
Attendance: Players attend all 6 meets. If you can’t make a session, please let us know! While absences are not penalized, they may impact what divisions players qualify in or their ability to play in finals.
Weekly Format: You’ll be put in a group of 3 or 4 players. Your group will play one multiplayer game on five (5) different machines. Your objective is to outscore the people in your group on each machine. You earn league points based on your finish order in each game.
Scoring: Placing in each game is scored based on your machine score.
3 Player Group Scoring: 1st Place - 7, 2nd - 4, 3rd - 1
4 Player Group Scoring: 1st Place - 7, 2nd - 5, 3rd - 3, 4th - 1
Handicapping and “The Ladder” - For the first three weeks during the qualifying period, players will continue to be sorted Into groups with similar points totals.