Irish Open – Terms & Conditions

1. General Overview

The Irish Open is organised by Pickleball Ireland and will be administered via the official registration platform PickleBook.

By entering, all players agree to abide by these Terms & Conditions, as well as all competition rules and decisions made by the Tournament Director.

Entry is only confirmed once all required steps (including payment) are completed.

2. Eligibility & Entry Requirements

• Players must enter the correct age category, event type, and rating band.
• Age eligibility is determined by the player’s age on 31 December in the year of the event.
• DUPR or equivalent rating may be used for verification.
• The Tournament Director reserves the right to:
  • Move players between categories where appropriate
  • Refuse or amend entries to ensure fair competition
• Players may not enter multiple events of the same type (e.g. two Men’s Doubles categories).

3. Ballot Entry Process

Due to expected demand, entry to the Irish Open will operate via a ballot system.

• Players must submit a ballot entry within the published entry window (1st April - 14th April).
• Ballot entry does not guarantee a place in the tournament.
• Players must provide:
  • Accurate personal details
  • Correct event selection(s)
  • Preferred playing partner (if applicable)

Partner Entries

• Both players must list each other correctly.
• Players without a partner may enter “N/A” and may be assigned a partner, but this is not guaranteed.

The Tournament Director reserves the right to adjust selections to ensure viable and balanced draws.

4. Offer of Place & Booking Process

• Successful players will be offered a place via PickleBook.
• Players will have 48 hours to accept and complete payment.
• Failure to complete payment within this timeframe will result in:
  • Loss of the guaranteed place
  • Offer being made to the next eligible player on the waiting list
• Entry is only confirmed once payment is successfully received.

5. Waiting List Policy

• All events will operate a waiting list in addition to those selected by the ballot.
• When a place becomes available:
  • The next eligible player/pair will be contacted
  • A 48-hour acceptance window applies

6. Withdrawals & Refunds

• Before registration closes (1st May):
• Full refund minus processing/administration fees (-10% off total fee)
• After registration closes:
• No refunds unless the player is replaced from the waiting list, in which case the 10% admin fee will still apply
• All approved refunds will be processed within 14 days after the event
• If the event is cancelled by Pickleball Ireland, a full refund will be issued

7. Partner Changes

• Partner changes must be notified as soon as possible
• Replacement players must:
  • Meet eligibility criteria
  • Be approved by the Tournament Director
• Late changes may not be accepted if they impact scheduling or fairness

8. Tournament Format & Scheduling

• All events will follow Pickleball Ireland competition formats (Round Robin + Knockout stages where applicable)
• Match durations and formats are set and cannot be altered
• The Tournament Director reserves the right to:
  • Adjust schedules
  • Combine or modify divisions
  • Change formats if required due to entries or operational needs
• The official schedule will be published via PickleBook
• Players are responsible for checking their match times

9. Player Responsibilities (Event Weekend)

All players must:

• Check in within the required time window
• Be ready to play when called
• Report promptly to assigned courts
• Wear appropriate sports attire and non-marking shoes
• Use only USAP-approved paddles

Failure to comply may result in:

• Match forfeiture
• Disqualification in repeated or serious cases

10. Match Conduct & Officiating

• Matches will follow official USAP rules
• Players are responsible for line calls unless referees are assigned
• Referees and Tournament Staff decisions are final

Unsportsmanlike behaviour will not be tolerated and may result in:

• Warnings
• Match forfeiture
• Removal from the tournament

11. Medical & Fitness

• Players compete at their own risk
• Players must be physically fit to participate
• Pickleball Ireland accepts no liability for injury or loss

Players should notify organisers of any relevant medical conditions where appropriate.

12. Media & Photography

By entering, players agree that:

• Photos and video may be taken during the event
• These may be used for promotional and media purposes by Pickleball Ireland

13. Data & Communication

• All communication will be issued via:
  • PickleBook
  • Official Pickleball Ireland channels
• Players are responsible for monitoring updates

14. Final Authority

The Tournament Director has full authority over:

• Entry decisions
• Scheduling
• Format adjustments
• Rule interpretation

All decisions are final and made in the interest of fairness, safety, and smooth operation of the event.