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LI Pickleball Paddlers Players’ League Rules (Match Play)

Structure

The Long Island Pickleball Paddlers Players’ League Play will be a structured team league play event where teams compete in their division of eight teams. Each team will play a seven-match schedule in a modified rally scoring fashion. Each match is broken down as follows:

Seven doubles games per match plus a singles “HopeCrusher”; game play is a modified rally scoring game to 15 points.

  • Women’s Doubles
  • Men’s Doubles
  • Four Mixed Doubles
  • “Home” team choice of additional Women’s, Men’s or Mixed Doubles game
  • Full-Court Singles “HopeCrusher”
  • If necessary, tie-breaker is a mixed doubles match of the “Away” team’s choosing to a hard seven points. It is not a “win by two” scenario.

Teams will consist of four players; two men and two women. A team may place two additional players on their roster and can utilize them at any match they choose. Only four players will play in any match and cannot be substituted unless there is an injury. Unfortunately, if an injury occurs and a team cannot substitute for the injured player, the match will be forfeited.

Each team will have one (1) 30-second timeout per game.

Each game is played in a modified rally scoring fashion to a score of 15 points. A modified rally scoring game is scored as a regular rally scoring game, but the server who starts the play remains the server until the serve is lost. As an example, Player 1 and 2 play on Team A. Player 1 serves to start the game from the right side. If Team A scores the point, Player 1 remains the server, but is now serving from the left side at 1-0. If Team A now loses the serve, Player 1 remains on the left side of his end, and the score is 1-1, with Player 4 serving for Team B from the left side because the score is odd. Play continues in this manner.

The first six games will be, in order, followed by “Home” team choice and Singles “HopeCrusher”:

  1. Women’s Doubles
  2. Men’s Doubles
  3. Mixed Doubles 1
  4. Mixed Doubles 2 (This is a different pairing from MD 1)
  5. Mixed Doubles 3 (This is a different pairing from MD 1 & 2)
  6. Mixed Doubles 4 (This is a different pairing from MD 1, 2 & 3)
  7. Home Team Doubles Choice (Men’s, Women’s or any Mixed)
  8. Singles “HopeCrusher”

After the first six games of the match are played, the “Home” team may choose to play a Women’s, a Men’s or any combination of a Mixed Doubles game as the seventh game of the match. If a Mixed Doubles game is chosen, the opposing team will set their players up first and the “Home” team will counter. After all seven doubles games are complete, a final singles “HopeCrusher” will be played to 15 points in a modified rally-scoring style.

League Divisions

There are three separate divisions with eight (8) teams per division.

  • Advanced Beginner (for players with ratings between 3.0-3.49)
  • Intermediate (for players with ratings between 3.5-3.99)
  • Advanced (for players with ratings between 4.0-4.49)

If you are unsure of your rating, you will be asked to get evaluated by the staff at Pickle n Par Club. You may do that at your leisure but should schedule that as soon as possible.

All team members should be at the same level. If it is determined that a team is significantly better than the division in which it is playing, that team may be removed by the League Administrator and a refund will not be granted. The League Administrator reserves the right to make final decisions on player rankings so long as decisions are not arbitrary or capricious.

Rules of Play

Each team is guaranteed seven divisional matches played once every two weeks. League play will be scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday night, depending on your division. Each team will play one match every two weeks.  The schedules will be provided by March 15, 2025 or sooner if all divisions are filled.

  • Advanced Beginner – Tuesday Nights 7-9p
  • Intermediate – Wednesday Nights 7-9p
  • Advanced – Thursday Nights 7-9p

If teams are unable to play on the given night scheduled, Team Captains can reschedule the match with a two-week advanced notice sent to the League Administrator. Failure to schedule the match will result in a loss for both teams. As an example, Game 1 is scheduled for Tuesday April 1. If the Team Captains have decided their match will be played on Friday April 4, the League Administrator must be notified by no later than March 21, two weeks prior to the match. As the schedules will be sent to all Captains by the beginning of March, it is advisable that you determine all your match dates as soon as possible. Captains will be sharing cell phone numbers and email addresses to keep lines of communication open between all Captains and the League Administrator.

“Home” teams are determined by the League Administrator and schedule. All teams will be given either three or four “home” games, depending on their division. The “Home” team has the choice of starting the serve for the entire match, receiving the serve for the entire match, choosing which end to begin play, or defers the options to the opposing team. After the team chooses their option, the opposing team chooses any remaining options. Whichever end a team begins their first game will be the end the teams play on for the entire game. After the first game, teams begin their second game on the opposite end. Teams rotate ends after each game, NOT at the middle point of a game. The team serving first remains the same throughout the match, i.e. Team 1 is the “Home” team and chose to serve first and, therefore, will serve first for every game.

The “Away” team must declare their mixed teams first and the “Home” team will counter. Each mixed game must be a different pair of players. For the “HopeCrusher”, the “Home” team must set their lineup first and the “Away” team will counter and set the matchups accordingly.

A “HopeCrusher” is a singles game, played to 15, winning by two points, rally-scoring style. It is a full-court singles game played in four-point increments. After four points are played, the next player from each team will play another four points, and so on, until the game concludes at 15 points. Players serve from the right side when their score is even and serve from the left side when their score is odd.

All calls will be made by the individuals playing, which includes fault serves, out balls, and non-volley zone (“kitchen”) violations. There is an expectation of good sportsmanship and should a fault at the non-volley zone occur, a team is expected to call their own violation. If a stray ball should roll onto the court during play, regardless of where the ball is, it is expected that a player noticing the ball will immediately put his/her paddle in the air and yell “Ball” and play will stop. The point will be replayed.

For each game, a team has one (1) 30-second timeout.

A score sheet will be provided that should be completed and sent to the League Administrator within one day of the conclusion of a team’s match.

Rules of play are governed by USA Pickleball rule book.

Modified Rally Scoring

Modified Rally Scoring is a different style of play. With rally scoring, each team chooses which side of the court you are going to play, either the right (even) side or the left (odd) side. Players never switch sides during play. With a modified rally scoring, players switch sides, but only if they win on their serve. Only one person serves until the rally is lost to the opposing team.

When a team reaches a score one point below the winning score (in this league, that is 14 points), a team’s score is “frozen” and another point cannot be earned until it is earned on the team’s serve. As an example, Team 1 is winning 14-10. Team 2 is serving at “10-14” and wins
the point. The new score is “11-14”. Team 2 is still serving, but loses the rally. Team 1 is now serving for the game and the announced score from the right (even) side player is “14-11”. If Team 1 scores a point, Team 1 wins the game. If Team 1 loses the point, Team 2 is serving and the new score is “12-14” because Team 2 earned a point in that rally. If Team 2 should eventually tie the score at 14 points each, the scores are “unfrozen” until a team reaches 15 points, and then must win on their serve.

The score must be announced before every point is played. Unlike traditional scoring, there is no third number in calling out a score.

Standings and Seasonal Play

Top four teams in the division make the playoffs.

  • Matches 1 – 7: Regular season play
  • Match 8: Division Semi-Final
  • Match 9: Division Final and Bronze Medal Matches

League begins the week of March 31. Below is the list of the designated two-week period for each match. Games must be played during that two-week period. Failure to schedule a match within that timeframe results in a loss for both teams. Games can be played at any time during that timeframe.

Weeks of Play

  • Match 1: March 31 – April 13
  • Match 2: April 14 – April 27
  • Match 3: April 28 – May 11
  • Match 4: May 12 – May 25
  • Match 5: May 26 – June 8
  • Match 6: June 9 – June 22
  • Match 7: June 23 – July 6
  • Match 8 (Division Semi-Final): July 7 – July 20
  • Match 9 (Division Final): July 21 – August 3

Miscellaneous Rules

Team cost is $900 ($225 per player, if four players), plus membership to the Pickle n Par Club. This fee covers all court fees, shirts, trophies and administrative fees. Teams will receive a team shirt for all players. Winners of the Division receive trophies and bragging rights.

Captains must notify the League Administrator of roster, team name, cell phone number and email for each player on the team by February 28 to ensure shirts will be received by the first match. Captains should also notify the League Administrator of the team shirt choice and sizes as well as team color (color will be granted in the order requested).

Matches are two hours in length. A match is won after all eight games are played. If a match is tied at four games each, a five-point mixed doubles match of the “Away” team’s choosing will be played to determine the winner of the match. Standings are based on Match Victories, followed by “Total Points For”, followed by “Total Points Against” and finally “Mixed Doubles Victories” (The tie-breaker, if played, will not be counted into the mixed doubles victories).

The Player’s League is design to be a fun league with competitive play. Players who display poor sportsmanship or dangerous play will be asked to no longer participate in league play.

We are looking forward to an enjoyable season. Good luck to all participants!