iPadel Club League Rules

League Rules

    Eligibility
  1. Players must register and pay the season subscription fee before they are eligible to play.
  2. Matches will not be approved (result will not go through to the online table) until all players in that fixture are registered.
  3. The Club Leagues are aimed at club level players and are open to anyone apart from any player who has competed in the 2026 LTA Division 1 National League.
  4. The Premier Leagues are open to anyone, male or female.
  5. The Men’s event is an open one; therefore a player may be male or female to compete in this event.
  6. A player may play up to a higher team once if someone is needed to make up a team (better to have a match played) but not down from a higher to a lower team.
  7. Once a player has played up for a higher team twice, they are then 'locked' in to that higher team and can no longer play for their original (lower) team. This applies to the rest of that season, which includes the finals. The following season they can register back to their chosen team.
  8. Players may play for different clubs in different events i.e. a man or a lady can play in the Men or Ladies event for one club and Mixed for another, but not in the same event.
  9. Often, the Premier and the Club leagues are mixed together in the National Finals, especially the Ladies and Mixed events, where there are fewer teams taking part. This means that you cannot play for 2 different teams in the same event, as both teams might end up in the finals and having to play against each other.
  10. To play in the iPadel Leagues, you must be a member at your club or a regular if it doesn't have a membership.
  11. To be eligible to play in the end of season Finals, you must have played at least one match for the team you plan to represent during that season.

    12. Team Entries, Fees & Player Registrations
  12. iPadel & the League Organisers have the right to refuse any entry, and to transfer any entry where it deems appropriate.
  13. iPadel/the League Organiser may divide any or all of the entries into leagues and/or divisions at their discretion. iPadel cannot control which teams enter the leagues, nor the clubs' locations. iPadel will do its utmost to facilitate competitive matches for all and to limit travel times between clubs within each league.
  14. The person submitting the league entry form must have permission of the bill payer and understand that they are liable for the entry fee in the event of non-payment by their club.
  15. Team Entries - £100 entry fee for each of a club's first two teams, £75 for a 3rd team and £50 per team thereafter. Invoices for the entry fees will be sent to the billing contact on the entry form. These entry fees are payable on receipt of the invoice. If not settled before the end of that season, the club's entry for the next season will be jeopardised. If a team withdraws from the leagues after the fixtures and WhatsApp groups have been determined, it is still liable for the entry fee. iPadel reserves the right to waive the fee in unusual circumstances.
  16. Court Fees - the court costs for all matches are covered by the home team/club at their discretion. In the event of cancellation of less than 48 hours by the away team, the away team will be liable for the cost of the courts if applicable.
  17. Partner Discounts - discounted Tretorn balls are available for your matches and your club. Other discounts from sponsors are available. Please see the 'Partners'/Registered Players'/Members' page for links, discount codes and more details.
  18. Player Registration & Subscription Fees - all players must be registered before playing a match. Player Registration Fee - £5.50 per season (£11 for the year/2 seasons) payable when registering. Only paid-up players are eligible to play. This nominal fee allows access to exclusive iPadel Partner discounts; gives players automatic inclusion in the PadelLevels global rating system (all iPadel Club League matches will be exported to it) and it will also help support iPadel in the maintenance and further development of the Club Leagues and its online system.

    19. Arranging Matches
  19. Each season is 5 months. Captains are responsible for arranging their home matches and must offer at least 3 dates, with times, to the away captain. This should be done as soon as possible at the start of the season, not in the final weeks, where players' and court availability becomes constrained. If none of the dates offered are acceptable, the away captain must respond within 2 weeks or a walkover may be awarded. The idea is to try to play at least one match per month. It is not always about getting your best team out, it is about having an enjoyable yet competitive match.
  20. It is a requirement for the home team to supply new balls for the match and it is a courtesy, not a requirement, for the home team to offer drinks & snacks to the away team, especially if the away team has travelled a fair distance for the fixture.

    21. Playing Format
  21. 2 full sets with a championship tie-break (to 10) at 1 set all. If there are time constraints, a silver (1 normal deuce then 2nd deuce sudden death) or golden point/sudden deathmay be played but only with both team's agreement and before the start of each round/rubber. And golden point/sudden death, the receiver chooses side.
  22. Playing Order:
    • HOME 1 v AWAY 1
    • HOME 2 v AWAY 2
    • HOME 1 v AWAY 2
    • HOME 2 v AWAY 1

    Submitting Match Results
  23. Result entry: The result must be entered online within 48 hours of match completion by the home team captain in their ‘Club Captain’s Area’ > ‘Results Uploader’. We urge the fixture's other captain to check the result has been entered correctly as soon as possible after receiving the result entry email. If there is an issue, please contact the league organiser.
  24. It is the team captains' responsibility to ensure that:
    • Their players for each fixture are all registered before the match.
    • The result is submitted as soon as possible (within 48 hours) after the match.
    • All scores and players’ full names are known and agreed by both captains.
    • The result is entered according to the fixture (home/away) as it should be in the fixtures list, regardless of where the match ends up being played.
    • The home team’s score is always entered first in the relevant fields in the result form ie P1 (home) v P1 (away), P2 (home) v P2 (away) etc.

    Unusual Circumstances
  25. Please use the 'Match Notes' field on the result form to explain any unusual circumstances ie. injury, time, weather, no-show etc.
  26. Walkovers can only be given/conceded after communicating with the referee, Ian Colligon or Frances Allberry. Walkovers are a last resort and will only be awarded in exceptional circumstances.
  27. Teams must give as much notice as possible (at least 48 hours) if they have to withdraw from a fixture, or they will be liable for court costs. They should also concede a walkover, unless both captains agree to rearrange the fixture.
  28. If inclement weather prevents the first round from being completed, then the match will be replayed at the venue selected by the away team, provided that the original away team had travelled to the fixture. If not, the match will be replayed at the original venue by the scheduled end of the round, or by permission of the League Organiser. If the first round of a match has been fully completed and inclement weather prevents the whole match from being completed, then the result will be obtained on the first round, first on rubbers, then sets, then games as before. Please note, if both captains agree, then the match can be continued from the point of cessation when the weather permits. If this decision is agreed, then the exact same team of players must return to compete.
  29. If a player retires due to injury, their games/sets won stand and the opposition can claim the unfinished games to complete the sets and match (ie if the score was 6-1 4-3 to the injured pair, the final score will be 6-1 4-6 0-1). Players play at their own risk and must play according to the FIP rules. iPadel takes no responsibility for on court play other than to act as league organiser and Referee in the event of disagreement and unusual circumstances.
  30. If any of the 8 nominated players is not on court ready to play within 30 minutes of the match start time, then the opposing team shall be awarded a set (6-0) and another set per 30 minutes (ie if they are an hour late, they must forfeit the whole rubber 6-0 6-0). No substitutions or alteration to the nominations or playing order may be made.
  31. Home teams are required to book courts for a minimum of two and a half hours, playing golden/silver deuces if necessary, with the agreement of both captains. If a rubber is unplayed due to being timed out, the home team will lose that rubber and the score will be put in as a 6-0, 6-0 to the away team. If the rubber is partly completed, then the completed games stand, but the remaining games & sets of the incomplete rubbers will be awarded to the away team.

    32. Complaints
  32. Conduct which could warrant further investigation/disciplinary procedure includes, but is not limited to: abusive or insulting language; aggressive, threatening or intimidating behaviour; persistent unsporting conduct; deliberate cheating; deliberate damage to equipment or facilities; physical aggression; discriminatory language or behaviour; inappropriate behaviour towards a junior player; repeated behaviour which has previously resulted in a formal warning.
  33. If there is an incident where no referee is present, then any complaint about the conduct of a player and/or their entourage should be made to iPadel/the League Organiser by the individual players or the Captain of the team. All complaints must be made within 2 days of the alleged incident occurring. The complaint must be made in writing via the online 'Contact Us' form and should set out the full details of the incident giving rise to the complaint and identifying all the players involved. Any supporting evidence must be submitted with the complaint.
  34. Once a written complaint is received, iPadel/the League Organiser will:
    • Record the complaint and date received.
    • Confirm receipt to the person making the complaint.
    • Determine whether the matter falls within the disciplinary procedure.
    • Decide whether any immediate action is required.

    Disciplinary Procedure
  35. Where a complaint is upheld, iPadel may impose an outcome proportionate to the seriousness of the conduct:
    • Level 1: Through the player's captain - used for minor or first-time incidents where formal disciplinary action is unnecessary.
    • Level 2: A written warning - iPadel refers the matter to the player's club for investigation or action, explaining how the player's conduct fell below the standards expected in the iPadel Club League, by including the written complaints. The club/captain will be allowed to deal directly with their player who is representing them.
    • Level 3: A formal final warning - any further upheld misconduct could result in suspension from the League.
    • Level 4: Suspension - the player may be declared ineligible to play in iPadel Club League matches for a specified period. Registration fees for that season will not be refunded.
    • Level 5: Removal - for the most serious conduct or repeated breaches following previous disciplinary action, iPadel may remove the player's eligibility to participate in the iPadel Club Leagues until further notice.
  36. There is no requirement for sanctions to progress through each level. A sufficiently serious incident may result immediately in a higher-level sanction..

    37. End of Season
  37. Summer 2026 - all group stage matches must be played by and results submitted by midnight 13th September 2026 All unplayed matches/result submissions after this time will be voided and these matches will not count toward the season's final standings.
  38. Qualifiers for the National Finals will be the league winners if a league of 6 or less and both the winners and runners-up, if from a league of 7 or 8.
  39. Points are awarded as follows: 1 point for a played loss, 2 points for a draw, 4 points for a played win, 3 points for a claimed walkover and 0 points for a conceded walkover.
  40. League positions will be decided by points. If teams are ties on points, then they will be decided by rubbers, sets, then games won.

    41. The iPadel National Club Leagues Finals
  41. The Summer Finals 2026 will take place on Saturday 10th/Sunday 11th October 2026 at Advantage Padel, Kingsley, Hants.
  42. Generally, the Winter Finals take place on the 1st or 2nd weekend of April and the Summer Finals on the 1st or 2nd weekend of October. Venue and exact date will be announced & confirmed nearer the time, as it is largely dependent on venue availability.
  43. The match format for the Finals is not the same as the group stages; where normally both pairs play each other, in the finals you only play your own pair. Then, if it’s one rubber each, a shootout tiebreak to 10 is played, with one player from pair 1 and one player from pair 2. Pair 1 and pair 2 can change throughout the day but both captains need to nominate before each match. All deuces will be sudden death and any tiebreak, be it a set tiebreak at 6-6 or a deciding shoot-out championship tiebreak to 10, will be two clear points to win.

League Organisers/Referees

Frances Allberry
07931 703134
frances@ipadel.co.uk

Ian Colligon
07765 403769
ian@ipadel.co.uk

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