SWPL East (SWEPL)
South West Pickleball League 2025/2026 rules (SWPL Rules)
1. Objectives & Principles
- This league will be called the South West Pickleball League (SWPL)
- 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 South East of England.
- 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.
- SWPL 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. These SWPL Rules operate within the EPL Rule framework
- Players are required to follow the PbE code of conduct and to uphold PbE values
- SWPL is not currently a DUPR event (Rule 32), it is planned to become a DUPR event for 2026/27 providing the PbE software via Picklebook is available.
- The Local League Director for SWPL 2025/26 will be Richard Thoms & Assistant League Directors Neil Penrose and Tim Spurway
- If circumstances arise which are not covered by these SWPL 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 SWPL and their decision will be final at that time. Subsequently they will consult with the National EPL Directors to determine whether the SWPL or EPL rules need to be adjusted going forward (but not retrospectively). Any adjustments will be communicated accordingly.
2. Definitions
For the purposes of these rules:
SWPL is the South East Pickleball League
EPL is the England Pickleball League
EPL Rules are the rules that govern this competition in England
SWPL Rules are these rules that operate within the framework of the EPL Rules and allow for the smooth operation of SWPL
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 SWPL
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.
3. Local League rules
See EPL Rules
4. Ball & surface
See EPL Rules
5. Number of Teams and Divisions
The Local League Directors will determine the total number of Teams who will be invited to play in SWPL. 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 SEP 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 8 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 8.
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.
6. The season and number of Rounds
The SWPL season for 2025-26 will run from September 2025 through to May 2026.
After the conclusion of the SWPL season PbE will be arranging Regional Playoffs (as necessary) and National Finals, hence SWPL 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 SWPL comprises 9 Rounds we are able to participate.
June 2026: Regional Playoffs
July 2026: National Finals
7. Regional Playoffs and National Finals
See EPL Rules
8. 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.
9. Eligibility -- Players
See EPL Rules
SWPL will also require players to be DUPR registered to allow results to be entered onto DUPR when DUPR is introduced in 2026/27.
10. Eligibility – Playing for different Teams within the same Club (playing-up/playing-down)
See EPL Rules
11. Eligibility – Playing in final Round of the season
See EPL Rules
12. Eligibility – Playing in Regional Playoffs and/or National Finals
See EPL Rules
13. 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 SWPL there is no limit to the number of players in a Squad.
14. Squad Substitutions
See EPL Rules
15. Dates, venue and time
The new season will commence on 12 Oct 2025 and all Rounds will be played at David Lloyd Southampton, Frogmore Lane as follows:
Round 1: Sunday October 12
Round 2: Sunday November 16
Round 3: Sunday January 4
Round 4: Sunday January 18
Round 5: Sunday February 15
Round 6: Sunday March 29
Round 7: Sunday April 26
Round 8: Sunday June 7
Timings are expected to be AM 9am to 1pm and PM 1pm to 5pm. Exact timings and schedules will be communicated to the teams as least 48 hours before each Round.
16. Match Format
See EPL Rules
17. Results and deciding Division position
See EPL Rules
18. Promotion and Demotion
See EPL Rules
At the conclusion of the season all Teams reapply for the following season. However, for any reason, it is at the Local League Directors discretion whether they are readmitted for the following season or new Teams are invited to join and replace them.
19. Qualifying for Regional Playoffs and National Finals
See EPL Rules
For clarity, there will be no playoffs within SWPL. Final positions in SWPL will determine qualification for Regional Playoffs/ National Finals (if the league is eligible).
20. Warming up
See EPL Rules
21. Deciding who serves
See EPL Rules
22. Rally Scoring & Serving
See EPL Rules
23. Changing ends at 11
See EPL Rules
24. Declaring mixed pairings
See EPL Rules
25. Injuries and Injury Substitutions during a Round
See EPL Rules
26. Being ready to play, Walkovers & Penalties
See EPL Rules
27. Things to be completed before each round, and associated penalties
See EPL Rules
28. Order of play
See EPL Rules
29. Time Outs
See EPL Rules
30. Submitting Scores
See EPL Rules
31. Publishing results on Picklebook
See EPL Rules
32. DUPR
See EPL Rules
33. Costs
See EPL Rules