South East Pickleball League 2025/2026 rules (SEPL Rules)

1. Objectives & Principles

• This league will be called the South East Pickleball League (SEPL)
• 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.
• SEPL 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 SEPL Rules operate within the EPL Rule framework
• Players are required to follow the PbE code of conduct and to uphold PbE values
• SEPL 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 Directors for SEPL 2025/26 will be Andre Strachen, Claire Bourgoin and Sue Smith.
• If circumstances arise which are not covered by these SEPL 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 SEPL and their decision will be final at that time. Subsequently they will consult with the National EPL Directors to determine whether the SEPL 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:

SEPL is the South East Pickleball League

EPL is the England Pickleball League

EPL Rules are the rules that govern this competition in England

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

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 SEPL

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 SEPL. 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 SEPL season for 2025-26 will run from September 2025 through to May 2026.

After the conclusion of the SEPL season PbE will be arranging Regional Playoffs (as necessary) and National Finals, hence SEPL 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 SEPL 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

SEPL 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 SEPL 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 14 September 2025 and conclude on 10 May 2026 consisting of 9 rounds as follows:

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 SEPL. Final positions in SEPL 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

SEPL is not a DUPR event for the 2025/26 season.

For Regional Playoffs and the National Final see EPL Rules.

33. Costs

See EPL Rules