The APP Tour told us last week that their 2024 schedule would look a little different than previous years, with new "Signature" events in addition to regular programming. Now, they've announced their first Signature: a collegiate-focused tournament in January.

The inaugural APP U.S. Collegiate Championships and Midwest Open will be held January 3-7 at Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, Indiana.

Registration for the tournament opens September 14. College teams wishing to enter the tournament are asked to register their intention to field a team via theapp.global.

Full registration details for all college teams confirmed to take part will be shared at a later date by the APP.

Here are the key details:

• The event will be nationally televised
• Top college pickleball teams from across the nation will go head-to-head
• There will be $50,000 in prize money on the line
• First team-style competition at an APP event with rally scoring

According to an APP press release, each team will be comprised of a minimum of four players (two women and two men) and a maximum of six players (three women and three men).

Matches from pool play through the finals will be win by one, and consist of singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.

Scoring will follow the “Every. Pickle. Point. Counts.” scoring system where scoring for match wins is cumulative, with points bonuses for games won.

Alongside the 2024 APP U.S. Collegiate Championships, the APP will hold the APP Midwest Open for players of all ages and skill levels.

The event will also feature a pro wildcard playoff, guaranteeing pro champions a wildcard entry into a designated 2024 APP Tour event.

The amateur brackets will follow the traditional APP double-elimination format for singles, doubles, and mixed doubles competitions. Amateur and wildcard pro player registrations for the event will open September 14 on PickleballBrackets.com.

More from the press release

The 2024 APP U.S. Collegiate Championships and Midwest Open will take place at the 400-acre Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, located 30 miles north of Indianapolis and named the fastest growing city in the state of Indiana.

Grand Park Sports Campus is home to the Pacers Athletic Center, serves as the training camp home for the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, and boasts 57 outdoor fields for soccer, football, lacrosse, baseball, and softball.

Grand Park Events Center, a 377,000-square-foot facility will be transformed to a pickleball mecca for the APP U.S. Collegiate Championships and Midwest Open, featuring 28 pickleball courts and a Championship Court, as well as stadium seating with visibility of all courts, VIP seating, player locker rooms, and a large bar and restaurant overlooking play.