North West Pickleball League (NWPL)
North West Pickleball League (NWPL) 2025/2026 rules v3.0 (NWPL Rules)
1. Objectives & Principles
- This league will be called the North West Pickleball League (NWPL)
- 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 Merseyside, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire & Cumbria 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.
- NWPL 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 NWPL Rules operate within the EPL Rule framework
- Players are required to follow the PbE code of conduct and to uphold PbE values
- NWPL is a DUPR event (Rule 32).
- The Local League Directors for NWPL 2025/26 will be Elaine Shallcross, Vicky Ault & Dianne Duggan
- If circumstances arise which are not covered by these NWPL 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 NWPL and their decision will be final at that time. Subsequently they will consult with the National EPL Directors to determine whether the NWPL 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:
NWPL is the North West Pickleball League
EPL is the England Pickleball League
EPL Rules are the rules that govern this competition in England
NWPL Rules are these rules that operate within the framework of the EPL Rules and allow for the smooth operation of NWPL
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 NWPL
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 NWPL. 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 NWPL 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 10 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 10
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 NWPL season for 2025-26 will run from October 2025 through to May 2026.
After the conclusion of the NWPL season PbE will be arranging Regional Playoffs (as necessary) and National Finals, hence NWPL must be completed by the end of June
2026. To participate in these a Local League is required to comprise at least 5 Rounds. As NWPL comprises a minimum of 7 Rounds we are able to participate.
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
NWPL also requires players to be DUPR registered to allow results to be entered onto DUPR
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
See EPL Rules - there is no limit to the number of players in a Squad.
14. Squad Substitutions
See EPL Rules
15. Dates, venue and time
NWPL will convene at Lancaster University and there will be a maximum of 8 rounds.
All teams will compete on each of the following dates (Rounds):
Round 1 - 25th & 26th October Lancaster University Sports Hall
Round 2 - 22nd & 23rd November Lancaster University & Carnforth (TBC)
Round 3 - 31st Jan & 1st Feb Blackburn
Round 4 - 28th Feb & 1st March Leigh Leisure Centre
Round 5 - March – TBC
Round 6 - 18th & 19th April Bolton Arena
Round 7 – 23rd & 24th May Bolton Arena
Timings are expected to be 10am & 2pm. 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 if the 4 teams comprising the lowest division reapply 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
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
NWPL is a DUPR event.
For Regional Playoffs and the National Final see EPL Rules.
33. Costs
See EPL Rules