Rules & Code of Conduct
How the Victoria Pickleball League is played, and the standards every player, spectator, coach and venue agrees to when they take part.
Competition
- Format
- Teams represent a participating venue. Home and away fixtures rotate between venues across the regular season.
- Teams
- 8 teams per division, 2 representing each venue. Every round, each venue has one team at home and one away.
- Divisions
- DUPR 13 · DUPR 15 · DUPR 17 — graded on combined team DUPR.
- Regular season
- Each team plays every other team in its division once: 7 matches, 3 or 4 of them at home.
- Finals
- The top 4 teams in each division qualify, over 2 weeks of finals. Semi-finals, then the Grand Final; the semi-final losers play for bronze.
- Match day
- Every Sunday, 3:00pm–5:00pm.
- Fixtures
- 4 players per team, in 3 rounds of doubles: 6 matches. Each player partners each of the other 3 once.
- Matches
- Best of 3 sets to 11. The deciding set: rally scoring to 11, frozen at 10.
- Ladder
- 1 point per set won, plus 2 for the team win.
- Rules of play
- Open gender, played under the 2026 USA Pickleball Rulebook.
- Courts
- Up to 6 courts run simultaneously — 2 per division. Each fixture uses 2 courts for 2 hours.
- Roster
- Minimum 4 registered players per team. No maximum.
- Entry fee
- $1,000 per team, including 4 playing tops. Any further player buys their own top for $40.
The fixture (who plays whom, and where) is published once registrations close. The VPL may reasonably adjust divisions, team numbers, fixtures and finals formats to produce a balanced competition.
Venues are responsible for running their home fixtures so that all matches finish by 5:00pm.
Eligibility
Every registered VPL player must hold an active Pickleball Australia or Pickleball Victoria membership for the duration of the season. This is a mandatory condition of participation, and it is what provides insurance cover at sanctioned VPL activities. Eligibility may be verified against the national membership database.
Every player must also hold an active DUPR profile. DUPR ratings determine divisional eligibility, and the league reviews eligibility where a rating changes materially.
A team is not officially registered until its completed roster and its team entry fee have reached the VPL. Entry fees are paid through Lader once your venue has approved your team.
Every registered player must purchase and wear their designated team playing top.
Pickleball Victoria Code of Conduct
Pickleball Victoria is committed to creating a welcoming, safe, inclusive and enjoyable environment for everyone. All participants (players, spectators, officials, coaches and volunteers) are expected to embody the SPIRIT of Australian Pickleball.
Download the Code of Conduct (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
The SPIRIT of Australian Pickleball
- SSporting — Play fairly, honour the rules, and show humility.
- PPassion — Play with energy while respecting your opponents and the game.
- IInclusivity — Treat everyone fairly regardless of age, skill level, or background.
- RRespect — Show courtesy to opponents, partners, officials, and venue staff.
- IIntegrity — Act honestly and compete to the best of your ability at all times.
- TTrailblazing — Lead by example to build a positive pickleball community.
Expected behaviours
On the court
- Know and follow the rules
- Play by the official rules, make honest and fair line calls, and call your own non-volley zone (kitchen) faults.
- Prioritise safety
- Play hard but never endanger yourself or others on the court.
- Respect the officials
- Raise questions or concerns calmly with match officials or event directors. A referee's or event coordinator's decision on the court is final.
- Compete with honour
- Win with grace and accept loss with dignity. Always make your best effort.
Off the court and around the venue
- Positive representation
- Act responsibly before, during and after matches, including at social events, venues and on social media.
- Respect the venue and equipment
- Treat facilities and equipment with care.
- Encourage responsibility
- Players are responsible for the conduct of the friends, family and spectators attending with them.
Unacceptable conduct
- Unsporting behaviour
- Intentionally bad line calling, illegal serving, refusing to play to your potential, or ignoring official directions.
- Verbal abuse & obscenity
- Profanity, yelling, or derogatory remarks toward opponents, partners, or officials.
- Visible obscenity
- Inappropriate gestures with your hands, paddle, or equipment.
- Equipment abuse
- Throwing, kicking, or violently hitting a paddle, ball, or net out of anger or frustration.
- Physical abuse
- Any unauthorised or aggressive physical contact.
- Off-court disruptions
- Intimidating others, uninvited court-side coaching, or bringing the league or sport into disrepute.
If something goes wrong on court
If an issue can’t be resolved amicably between players, pause play immediately and ask the League Coordinator or a referee for help. Never escalate an argument on court.
Violations & penalties
| Action | Points | When |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal warning | — | Minor first offences. |
| Technical foul | 1 | Repeated or moderate breaches. |
| Game forfeit | 2 | Severe infractions during a game. |
| Match default / expulsion | 3 | Serious misconduct or dangerous behaviour — immediate disqualification. |
| Accumulated | Outcome |
|---|---|
| 1–2 points | Official notification of violation |
| 3 points | Formal reprimand |
| 4 points | 1-month suspension from all league on-court roles (playing, coaching, refereeing) |
| 5 points | Additional 1-month suspension |
| 6 points | 2-month suspension (up to 4 months total) |
| 7+ points | Referral to the Disciplinary Tribunal — two venue representatives and a Pickleball Victoria Board member |
This page summarises the competition rules and Schedule 1 of the VPL Participating Venue Agreement. Where a summary and the signed agreement differ, the agreement governs.
