Pickleball
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A Guide to Pickleball Organizations
As pickleball has grown, organizations serving the sports players, facilities, and fans have been formed to provide order, instruction, competition, facilities, and equipment to the millions who play the game.
Here is a list of the significant governing bodies, leagues, and associations which impact the growth of the sport. It should be noted that many have regional and/or state chapters that serve more localized Pickleball constituencies.
These governing bodies and associations are good reference sources for pickleball-related products and services as their credibility, as well as those of their sponsors, is at stake as millions of players rely on their vetting process in accepting commercial support.
International & National Federations
These are organizations offering international governance of the sport.
International Federation of Pickleball
IFP, formed in 2010 is a repository of Pickleball rules, has 63 member countries, provides training online and via IFP Academy, curates a worldwide directory of IFP certified instructors, publishes a magazine and stages The Bainbridge Cup, promoted as the World Cup of Pickleball. Dates and locations of the 2022 Bainbridge Cup tournaments are yet to be announced. IFP invites individual memberships.
World Pickleball Federation
WPF is currently comprised of six regional federations in Asia, Africa Europe, North and South Americas and an Oceanic federation. WPF currently lists 35 countries as members. WPF hosts Pickleball Global’s ranking of worldwide pickleball players and will stage the inaugural World Pickleball Games, team competitions consisting men’s and women’s doubles and singles and mixed doubles in May of 2023.
USA Pickleball
USA Pickleball is the national governing body for the sport of pickleball in the US and provides players with official rules, tournaments, rankings and a searchable places to play. It partners with Professional Pickleball Registry in certifying professionals and stages National Championships and a National Championship Series, Diamond Amateur National and Regional Championships and the APP Tour as well as providing a tournament calendar of many sanctioned and non-sanctioned events.
Pickleball Professionals
Association of Pickleball Professionals
Primarily organized to stage the APP tour of tournaments for professionals APP has online and network coverage agreements with ESPN+, Tennis Channel Plus, CBS Sports Network, Facebook and YouTube. The APP schedule includes 32 events and $2 million in prize money for the 2022 season. It also conducts APP clinics at tour stops and stages the Next Gen series for aspiring young players.
Professional Pickleball Association
The PPA Tour consists of professional tournaments where pro players compete for Franklin PPA Points, seedings, and the prize money. PPA 2022 events are scheduled to reach $3 million, according to PPA. It conducts team and singles and doubles competitions as well as mixed doubles. PPA Tour also provides viewing via Fox Sports, Tennis Channel, CBS Sports, Regional Sports Networks, Facebook, and YouTube.
Major League Pickleball
Professional Pickleball Registry
A home to certification, education, and resources needed to become a qualified pickleball instructor. PPR provides access to its specialty courses, coaching magazine, and resource library.
National Pickleball League,
(NPL) promoted as the “league of all leagues” is an open format league for all pickleball players across the United States, allowing members to make all recreation games count toward rankings.
During the NPL Season, any rated NPL member can play with/against any other rated NPL member; the more games played, the better players’ chances are to qualify for State/Regional Finals and onto the National Pickleball League™ Championship.
Anyone can join. All ages. All skill levels. NPL keeps individual stats.
Other Pickleball Resources
PlayTime Scheduler is a FREE scheduling tool created exclusively for pickleball. Using this site, you will be able to create and join play sessions with other players in your local area.
Pickleball Advisor is an organization that provides players with free access to a court finder with over 13,000 courts, paddle finder quizzes, skill rating tests, downloadable pickleball brackets, pickleball images, and more!
The Pickleball Clinic
The Pickleball Clinic is pickleball’s #1 online community for ALL players, from beginners to seasoned pros! Here you can chat with fellow pickleball players about technique, strategy, rules, ideas, and anything else! You’ll also find news, polls, debates, highlights, and coaching tips, along with frequent giveaways and player interviews.
Global Pickleball Network
Global Pickleball Network is USA Pickleball-endorsed online facility that provides software and online opportunities in the pickleball community to organize ladders, leagues, and tournaments. Finding a court or a partner and getting a calculated level from the matches you play is another feature.
Super Senior International Pickleball – US Senior Pickleball
Built by seniors for seniors, Super Senior International Pickleball is a Facebook group with a strong online division, US Senior Pickleball, both of which have a mission to support the growth of pickleball around the world through a social, competitive environment for players of all skill levels ages 50 plus.
International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association
The International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association conducts certification programs for aspiring pickleball teaching professionals, globally. Its members access training, rating systems, and professional services. IPTPA also conducts a junior development program.
World Pickleball Tour
Focused mostly on amateur play, WPT has tournaments, mostly in America in major markets and resorts. Its championship series boasts a $175K purse.
Amateur Pickleball Association
APA is focused on tournament formats designed to foster the growth of the sport. Players curate the events, providing encouragement toward more places, and easier access to enjoyable atmospheres.
National Pickleball
NP not only stages pickleball events, but they also sell them to sports promoters. NP is part of the Advanced Sports Media Group organized to promote and grow amateur athletics in the USA.
Pickleball Global
Providing pickleball players with a league and tournament online platform for global pickleball rankings and tournament software. The organization also stages the World Pickleball Championships series.
Pickleball Tournaments
This comprehensive facility built for players and tournament directors provides a daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly searchable tournaments resource to find pickleball events, among its most popular features. Others include player lookup, ratings, and ranking services.
Pickleball Desk
Pickleball Desk is a source for Pickleball volunteer management, designed by pickleball players, referee coordinators, and volunteer coordinators with the intention of streamlining volunteer management.
