Official UPL Rules

Downloadable Rules PDF

Purpose and Format Overview

UPL is a team-based pickleball league designed to professionalize the pathway for elite amateur and emerging professional athletes. Each match features five games that test depth, strategy, and endurance:

• Games 1–3: Tiered Doubles (A, B, C)
• Game 4: Doubles Dream Maker (6-player rotation doubles)
• Game 5: Singles Dream Breaker (6-player rotation singles)

UPL is built to be competitive, consistent, and broadcast-ready, with verified ratings and roster standards enforced through VAIR.

1. Venue Standards and Match Sites

1.1 Approved Facilities Only (No Public Courts)

UPL matches must be played at:

• Approved home clubs
• Partner facilities
• Designated league venues

Public courts are not permitted for official UPL matches.

1.2 Required Home Club and Camera System

Each team must designate an official home club meeting league standards. In some regions, multiple teams may share approved competitive sites depending on geography and team density.

Home Club Requirements:

• Private or commercial pickleball facility
• Sporfie camera system installed on a minimum of two (2) courts
• Cameras must be operational for:
• Match recording
• Live streaming (when applicable)
• Ratings verification and league review

2. Player Eligibility

2.1 Verification Required (No Exceptions)

Every player must be:

• Verified by UPL, and
• VAIR-verified (official rating visible in league systems)

If a player is not verified, they are not eligible to compete.

2.2 Open Play

• Any gender may play with any gender (men’s, women’s, or mixed pairings allowed).
• Players of any age may compete only if they meet event/division eligibility requirements and complete required waivers (including guardian waiver where applicable).

3. Skill Level and Rating Standards (VAIR)

3.1 VAIR is the Official Rating Standard

UPL uses VAIR for rating verification, roster compliance, and competitive integrity.

3.2 No 5.5+ Participation

Players rated 5.5 or higher (VAIR) are not eligible to compete in any UPL match.

This reflects a traditional development pathway:

• PPA & MLP → Major Leagues
• APP → AAA
• Florida Pro League → AA
• UPL → A League

4. Roster Requirements (Semi-Pro Circuit)

4.1 Roster Size and Female Requirement

• Minimum roster: 6 verified players (must include at least 1 female)
• Maximum roster: 10 verified players (must include at least 2 females)

4.2 Roster Depth Recommendation

To prevent forfeits, teams are strongly encouraged to maintain 8–10 verified players.

4.3 Roster Composition Guidance

Teams should maintain sufficient gender and skill depth to cover absences while remaining slot- and rating-compliant.

4.4 Junior Division

If a Junior Division is offered, it may mirror this format but must follow any published Junior Division addendum.

5. Official Match Lineup (Slot System)

Each team submits six (6) required slots:

• A1, A2
• B1, B2
• C1, C2

5.1 Slot Rating Bands

A Slots (Top Tier Semi-Pro)

• A1–A2: 5.25–5.49

B Slots (Core Semi-Pro)

• B1–B2: 5.00–5.24

C Slots (Elite Amateur / Development)

• C1–C2: 4.00–4.99

5.2 Slot Compliance Rule

Players may only be assigned to slots matching their VAIR rating band, except as allowed below.

5.3 A-Slot Availability Exception

If no eligible A-slot athlete is available:

1. No 5.5+ athletes may be used.
2. Highest-rated available players must occupy the highest available slots.
3. The exception may not be used to create a slot advantage.

6. Match Format (Five Games)

6.1 Scoring

• Rally scoring to 21, win by 2
• Points awarded on every rally

6.2 Games Per Match

All five games must be played unless UPL officials determine otherwise.

Games 1–3: Tiered Doubles

1. A1 + A2
2. B1 + B2
3. C1 + C2

Game 4: Doubles Dream Maker
Game 5: Singles Dream Breaker

7. Special Formats

7.1 Doubles Dream Maker (Game 4)

• All six players participate unless injured
• Pre-set rotation order required
• Players rotate after every point

7.2 Singles Dream Breaker (Game 5)

• All six players rotate through singles
• Rotation after every two (2) points
• Standard singles rules apply

8. Warm-Up, Timeouts, and Match Pace

• Warm-Up: 5 minutes before Game 1
• Between Games: 2 minutes
• Timeouts: 1 per team, per game
• Failure to be ready forfeits the timeout
• Court monitors enforce pace and scheduling
• No extra warm-ups between games

9. Team and Match Scoring

• Each game won = 1 match point
• Maximum of 5 match points
• First team to 3 wins wins the match
• All five games are still played

10. Match-Day Submission and Roster Lock

10.1 Lineup Submission

Teams must submit:

• Slot lineup (A1–C2)
• Rotation orders for Games 4 and 5
• Required verification confirmations

10.2 Roster Lock

Lineups must be finalized 30 minutes before match start.
No changes allowed after lock, except under substitution or injury rules with league approval.

11. Substitutions

11.1 Approval Required

All substitutions must be:

• VAIR-verified, and approved by UPL officials before the substitute competes.

11.2 No Rating Advantage / No Slot Advantage

Substitutions are allowed only if the substitute:

• does not create a rating advantage under league standards, and
• remains compliant with the slot system and rating bands (A/B/C), including the 5.5+ prohibition

11.3 Prohibited Players

Non-rostered or unverified players are strictly prohibited from competing in any UPL match. No

exceptions.

11.4 Injury Sub-Out (Match Only) + Return Next Match

If a player is injured during a match, that player may be substituted out for the remainder of that match.

• The injured player may not re-enter that same match once substituted out.
• The injured player may return in the next match if medically able to compete and not otherwise restricted by UPL officials.
• All injury substitutions must remain compliant with verification, roster lock, and slot/rating rules.

12. Injury Replacements (Long-Term)

For injuries exceeding one week:

• Team must notify UPL
• Injured player designated inactive
• Replacement must:

1. Attend a UPL tryout/combine
2. Have VAIR established pre-season
3. Receive league approval
4. Remain roster- and slot-compliant

13. Forfeits

Failure to field the minimum roster results in a 21–0 forfeit for the affected game.

14. Violations and Penalties

Violations may result in:

• Automatic forfeits
• Future forfeits
• League or Board review
• Fines, suspension, or removal from the season

15. Uniform Standards

• Uniforms are required
• Official uniform partner: Leorever
• Teams may customize branding while maintaining required co-branding standards

16. Regional Pod Play and Championship Path

Teams compete in regional pods (West, Central, East) during the regular season to build rivalries and reduce travel.
Top teams advance to the 2026 UPL Championship TBD, the official home of the UPL Finals.

17. Team Owners (Responsibilities)

Team Owners are responsible for:

• Communication with players and officials
• Lineup submission and compliance
• Match-day readiness

Owners must be present unless an approved representative is designated.

18. Coaching and Boundary Calls

• Coaching allowed between points only
• Only active players make line calls
• Referees and UPL officials have final authority on disputes