Official UPL Rules - Powered by VAIR

WHAT IS UPL PLAYER FORMAT?

The Ultimate Pickleball League (UPL) brings men and women together on a level playing court in a true team-based format powered by VAIR—the Visually Assessed International Rating System.



Each UPL match consists of five games to 21 points (win by 2), blending strategy, teamwork, and endurance. Teams compete through three tiered doubles games (A, B, and C) followed by two signature formats:

• Game 4: Doubles Dream Maker – all six rostered players rotate in a pre-set order after every point.
• Game 5: Singles Dream Breaker – all six players rotate in singles after every two points to close the match.

UPL’s format emphasizes team depth, adaptability, and mental toughness—every player contributes to the team’s success.

SKILL LEVEL & PLAYER ELIGIBILITY:

Each team is organized by a Team Owner, who registers the team under a verified VAIR skill rating (intermediate, advanced, etc.) within their regional division (West, Central, or East).

Players of all genders and ages may compete. Every player must be verified by both UPL and VAIR prior to participation.

TEAM UNIFORMS?

Uniforms are required for all teams.
The official uniform partner of the Ultimate Pickleball League is Leorever, providing exclusive, high-performance apparel designed specifically for league play.

Teams are encouraged to customize their uniforms with city branding, colors, and sponsor logos, while maintaining the UPL and Leorever co-branding standards.

RULES OF PLAY?

• Scoring Format: Rally scoring to 21 points, win by 2. Points are awarded at every rally, regardless of which team serves.
• Games Per Match: Five total games must be played (A, B, C, Doubles Dream Maker, Singles Dream Breaker).
• Match Pace: Teams have 5 minutes to warm up before the first game and 2 minutes between each game.
• Timeouts: Each team is allotted one timeout per game. Failure to be ready within a 2-minute interval forfeits that timeout.
• Court Monitors: Ensure all matches remain on schedule. No extra warm-ups are permitted between games.

UPL’s rally scoring is designed for fast-paced, spectator-friendly competition that rewards consistency, teamwork, and mental focus.

ROSTER REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum Roster: 6 verified players (must include 1 female).
• Maximum Roster: 10 players (must include at least 2 females).
• Substitutions: Allowed only for verified VAIR-rated players who do not elevate the team’s aggregate rating.
• Junior Division: Mirrors the same structure as adult play.

If a team cannot field the minimum roster during competition, the affected game is recorded as a 21–0 forfeit.

* To prevent forfeits, it is imperative that each team maintains an active roster of 8–10 verified players, ensuring adequate coverage for absences, injuries, or scheduling conflicts.

REGIONAL POD PLAY & CHAMPIONSHIP PATH

Teams will compete within regional pods (West, Central, East) throughout the regular season, allowing for local rivalries and minimized travel.

Each regional pod will host its own standings, with the top-performing teams advancing to the 2026 UPL Championship in Omaha, Nebraska — the official home of the UPL Finals.

The Omaha Championship will crown the Ultimate Pickleball League National Champions, recognizing excellence in both athletic performance and sportsmanship.

TEAM OWNERS

Each Team Owner is responsible for:

• Managing communication between players, referees, and league officials.
• Submitting lineups and overseeing match compliance.
• Ensuring player readiness and adherence to the match schedule.

Owners may be active or in-active members but must be present for all matches.

SUBSTITUTIONS & INJURIES

• Substitutions must be VAIR-verified and approved by UPL officials.
• Substitutions are allowed only for rostered players whose inclusion does not alter the team’s approved VAIR rating.
  Non-rostered or unverified players are strictly prohibited from competing in any UPL match.
• Once substituted out, a player may not re-enter play for the duration of that event day.

COACHING & BOUNDARY CALLS

• Non-playing teammates may provide coaching only between points, as long as it does not delay play or interfere with opponents.
• Only the active players on court may make boundary and fault rulings during live play.
• Referees or UPL officials may review and make final determinations on any disputed calls or rule interpretations.