SUSSEX PICKLEBALL LEAGUE REGULATIONS FOR ALL SENIOR COMPETITIONS (Amended 2024)

1) These competitions shall comprise such league competitions as the committee shall determine, and shall be confined to clubs within the Sussex area.

2) The competitions shall be managed by one, or more, sub-committees of not more than four Association officials, to be appointed by the committee. The sub-committee(s) shall have the power to decide all questions relating to competitions. Any club being dissatisfied with any decision shall have the right of appeal to the committee, whose decision shall be final and binding.

3) Entry fees shall be fixed by the committee. Clubs wishing to compete must apply to the League Secretary by the 15th of August each year or any alternative date specifically announced by the League Secretary, giving information about the playing strength of the team(s) they wish to enter, as will assist the sub-committee(s).

4) The arrangement of divisions in any of the league competitions shall be made by the sub-committee(s), on or before the first of September in each season, and copies shall be circulated to clubs as soon as possible thereafter. Current League scores and positions will be available on the Sussex Pickleball League Website for all competitions as soon as the first matches are played.

5) The Match Secretaries of participating clubs should contact Match Secretaries of the other clubs before 1st September each year in order to agree the dates, start times and venues for all of the matches to be played by clubs’ teams.

6) The Match Secretaries shall pay their clubs’ affiliation and entry fees before 1st September each year.

7) Each club shall play home and away matches with each of the other clubs in the same division. When a club has two teams in the same division, matches between these teams shall be completed within three months of the first fixture of the season.

8) In all matches, each team shall score one point for each game won (ie. maximum of three games between the same pairs). If two, or more, clubs have the same number of points at the end of the season, final positions will be decided in favour of the club winning the highest number of matches, then games and finally, points won.

9) Qualification to play for a club shall be bona-fide membership of that club, including payment of the usual subscription for playing members for the current season. Any players brought in from another club will concede all games.

A player should not represent more than one club in any competition.

10) In each competition, participating clubs who enter more than one team in the same league shall nominate the players they propose to play for their first team and any lower team, except their lowest.

a) When two teams from the same club are playing in the same division, a player nominated for one team cannot play for the other.

b) A list of nominated players will be made available to any affiliated club by the League secretary on request.

c) A player who has played more than 2 matches in any division will no longer be eligible to play in any matches in a lower division in that league.

10)     Scoring System – Traditional scoring to be used as per the USA Pickleball Official Rulebook (https://usapickleball.org/docs/USA-Pickleball-Official-Rulebook-2024-v1.pdf).
Only alteration is win by 1, so if at 10:10 the next team to win a point on their service wins the game.

All scores will be submitted to DUPR by the league secretaries upon receiving the signed scorecard, at the earliest convenience of the committee.

11) The first pairs shall be ready to play within five minutes of the start time and the other pairs shall be ready to play within thirty minutes of the start time. Teams failing to comply shall forfeit two games in each case, unless the captains mutually agree otherwise. Teams failing to arrive after an hour will be regarded as absent and a walkover awarded.

a) If a match is adjourned, it may, at the discretion of the sub-committee, be replayed and the composition of the teams be changed.

12) Postponement of a match shall be made at least 7 clear days before the date arranged. If a postponed match cannot be rearranged, points will be allocated by the league sub-committee. Postponement of a match within 7 days of the date arranged may result in a walkover for the opposing club. The home team must send an e-mail to the League Secretary explaining the reason for the postponement or cancellation. In every case, costs incurred by a postponement or cancellation are to be paid by the cancelling club, unless shared by mutual agreement.

13) The home team must offer their opponents at least two dates. Offers to begin before 6.45pm on weekdays shall not be regarded as an offer unless agreed in advance by the league committee. The home team shall provide and bear the cost of the court and balls. League matches shall be played with court appropriate balls. All matches shall be played according to the Laws of Pickleball.

14) Secretaries, or match secretaries, of home teams are responsible for ensuring that all match results are entered into the online scoring system on the League website. Failure to do so may result in the loss of league points.

15) Secretaries, or Match Secretaries, of the home team shall confirm matches at least three days prior to playing.

16) Insurance
All clubs must hold sufficient and valid sports club insurance for the duration of the league season.

Pickleball Englands recommended insurance provider: https://www.pickleballengland.org/pickleball-club-insurance/