Derbyshire Pickleball League (DPL) 2025/2026 Rules v1

(DPL Rules)

1. Objectives & Principles

• This league will be called the Derbyshire Pickleball League (DPL).
• Its goal is to have competitive play between teams from clubs within our area and have the best teams represent our league regionally and nationally.
• Entry preference to participate in this league will be given to clubs who are located within the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire boundaries.
• Clubs, Teams and Players need to be committed for the whole of the season.
• There will be no official first aid provision at fixtures and players will enter this competition at their OWN risk.
• DPL is part of the England Pickleball League (EPL) organized by Pickleball England (PbE) and will play according to the EPL Rules for the 2025/2026 season (annexed). These DPL Rules operate within the EPL Rule framework.
• Players are required to follow the PbE code of conduct and to uphold PbE values.
• DPL is not a DUPR event for the 2025/25 season.
• The Local League Directors for MyLPL 2025/26 will be James Horne and Daniel Hunter.
• If circumstances arise which are not covered by these DPL Rules, the EPL Rules or where they are open to interpretation, the Local League Directors will, if time permits, consult with the National EPL Directors to determine those issues. If time does not allow for consultation (e.g. during a Round) the Local League Directors have the right to determine the issues for DPL and their decision will be final at that time. Subsequently they will consult with the National EPL Directors to determine whether the DPL or EPL rules need to be adjusted going forward (but not retrospectively).Any adjustments will be communicated accordingly.

1. Definitions

For the purposes of these rules:

DPL is the Derbyshire Pickleball League

EPL is the England Pickleball League

EPL Rules are the rules that govern this competition in England

DPL Rules are these rules that operate within the framework of the EPL Rules and allow for the smooth operation of DPL

Club is a body that organises regular pickleball sessions for players, is registered with Pickleball England, and can be found on the PbE Club Locator

Squad is a group of players drawn from a Club

Team is a group of players selected from a Squad to play at a Round

Round is a day when all Teams will convene at a single venue to take part in DPL

Division is a group of 4 Teams who will play against each other

Match is a series of games between 2 Teams within a Division.

These rules need to be read in conjunction with the EPL Rules. For ease of reading and cross referencing, the headings in these rules are consistent with those used in the EPL Rules. Where there is no change from the EPL Rules the content will simply read “See EPL Rules”.Text is only included where there are additional rules or administrative differences.

1. Local League rules

See EPL Rules.

1. Ball & surface

See EPL Rules.

1. Number of Teams and Divisions

The Local League Directors will determine the total number of Teams who will be invited to play in DPL. At each Round teams will play in divisions of 4 teams, hence the number of Teams will be divisible by 4.

Notice of inclusion will be given as soon as possible before the commencement of the DPL season. Factors to be taken into account will include:

• Venue capacity
• Results from the previous season
• The ability to consistently field teams each month
• The comparative standard of each squad
• Any other factor considered relevant at the time

There will be 4 divisions in the 2025/26 season. The top division will be called Division 1, and the remaining divisions will be called Division 2 through to Division 4.

The Local League Directors will allocate teams to divisions in the first round based on their performance in the previous season and their approximate team standard.

1. The season and number of Rounds

The DPL season for 2025-26 will run from January 2026 through to May 2026.

After the conclusion of the DPL season PbE will be arranging Regional Playoffs (as necessary) and National Finals, hence DPL must be completed by the end of May 2026. To participate in these a Local League is required to comprise at least 5 Rounds. As DPL comprises 6 Rounds we are able to participate.

June 2026: Regional Playoffs

July 2026:National Finals

1. Regional Playoffs and National Finals

See EPL Rules.

1. Eligibility – Clubs and Teams

See EPL Rules.

Clubs should only enter the competition if, for each Team entered, they have a Squad of Players who are willing and able to form a monthly Team to compete in all Rounds.

1. Eligibility -- Players

See EPL Rules.

1. Eligibility – Playing for different Teams within the same Club (playing-up/playing-down)

See EPL Rules.

For DPL, as there are only 6 Rounds in the season the following amendments to the EPL Rules apply:

10 (c) only applies for Round 1;

10 (d) only applies from Round 2 onwards;

10 (e) only applies from Round 2 onwards.

1. Eligibility – Playing in final Round of the season

See EPL Rules.

1. Eligibility – Playing in Regional Playoffs and/or National Finals

See EPL Rules.

1. Team Squad sizes

The EPL Rules do not limit the number of players in a Squad however Local League Directors may choose to limit this.

Teams are limited to bringing a maximum of 8 players from their Squads to any Round, however there must be at least 2 women and 2 men.

For DPL there is no limit to the number of players in a Squad.

1. Squad Substitutions

See EPL Rules.

1. Dates, venue and time

DPL will convene at Derby Arena, Royal Way, Derby, DE24 8JB and there will be 6 rounds.

All teams will compete on each of the following dates (Rounds):

Round 1 – 10^th January 2026 – 10am to 2pm (12 courts available);

Round 2 – 6^th February 2026 – 6pm to 10pm (8 courts available);

Round 3 – 22^nd March 2026 – 10am to 2pm (12 courts available);

Round 4 – 4^th April 2026 – 10am to 2pm (12 courts available);

Round 5 – 23^rd April 2026 – 6pm to 10pm (8 courts available); and

Round 6 – 14^th May 2026 – 6pm to 10pm (8 courts available).

Exact timings and schedules will be communicated to the teams as least 48 hours before each Round.

1. Match Format

See EPL Rules.

1. Results and deciding Division position

See EPL Rules.

1. Promotion and Demotion

See EPL Rules.

1. Qualifying for Regional Playoffs and National Finals

See EPL Rules.

For clarity, there will be no playoffs within DPL. Final positions in DPL will determine qualification for Regional Playoffs/ National Finals.

1. Warming up

See EPL Rules.

1. Deciding who serves

See EPL Rules.

1. Rally Scoring & Serving

See EPL Rules.

1. Changing ends at 11

See EPL Rules.

1. Declaring mixed pairings

See EPL Rules.

1. Injuries and Injury Substitutions during a Round

See EPL Rules.

1. Being ready to play, Walkovers & Penalties

See EPL Rules.

1. Things to be completed before each round, and associated penalties

See EPL Rules.

1. Order of play

See EPL Rules.

1. Time Outs

See EPL Rules.

1. Submitting Scores

See EPL Rules.

1. Publishing results on Picklebook

See EPL Rules.

1. DUPR

DPL is not a DUPR event.

For Regional Playoffs and the National Final see EPL Rules.

1. Costs

See EPL Rules.