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Organisations

Pickleball: organisations

Who sets the rules for pickleball, internationally and nationally.

Importance 4 out of 5Importance rating
RacketWiki EditorsVerified 25 October 202631 sources

Organisations

World governing body

World Pickleball Federation (WPF)
An international federation for pickleball that has unified with the International Pickleball Federation (IPF) and is pursuing recognition within the Olympic Movement. It groups national federations under five continental confederations and is one of more than one body claiming to govern the sport worldwide.
Global Pickleball Federation (GPF)
A world body for pickleball whose members are continental federations; it was launched with the support of national bodies including USA Pickleball and Pickleball Canada. It is one of more than one organisation claiming to govern the sport internationally.
International Pickleball Federation (IPF)
An international federation for pickleball, founded as the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP). World governance of pickleball is split between more than one body, and plans announced in 2024–25 to merge the IPF with the World Pickleball Federation mean its current name and status should be checked.

Professional tours

Major League Pickleball (MLP)
A co-ed professional team league for pickleball with 20 teams in 2026, whose matches combine women's, men's and mixed doubles games. In 2024 it merged with the PPA Tour to form the United Pickleball Association.
PPA Tour (PPA)
The professional pickleball tour run by the Professional Pickleball Association, founded in 2019 by Connor Pardoe and now sponsored as the Carvana PPA Tour. It stages about 20 events a season and in 2024 merged with Major League Pickleball to form the United Pickleball Association.
Association of Pickleball Players (APP)
A pickleball tour that combines professional and amateur events, running the APP Tour in the United States alongside an Asia tour and collegiate series.

Americas

Pickleball Canada (formerly the Canadian National Pickleball Association)
The national body for pickleball in Canada, created in April 2009 as the Canadian National Pickleball Association at a tournament in the Okanagan. It works with provincial and territorial associations and runs the national championships.
USA Pickleball (USAP)
The national governing body for pickleball in the United States. Its Official Rulebook is also used by many other countries, and it runs paddle and ball approval with its equipment programme.

Asia

Asia Federation of Pickleball (AFP)
A non-profit continental federation for pickleball in Asia, registered in Singapore as a company limited by guarantee. Its bylaws describe it as the Asian continental confederation under the Unified World Pickleball Federation.
All India Pickleball Association (AIPA)
An Indian pickleball association, incorporated in December 2008, that runs national tournaments and rankings. In 2025 the Sports Ministry recognised a different body, the Indian Pickleball Association, as the national federation; the AIPA's court challenge to that decision was dismissed by the Delhi High Court in February 2026.
Indian Pickleball Association (IPA)
The body recognised by India's Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports as the National Sports Federation for pickleball, by an order of 25 April 2025 that relaxed some Sports Code requirements. The Delhi High Court upheld that recognition in February 2026.

Europe

European Pickleball Federation (EPF)
The continental federation for pickleball in Europe, a not-for-profit association based in Luxembourg and created on 31 May 2023 with 25 founding countries. It reported 39 country members in September 2025 and runs European championships, rankings and referee programmes.
Fédération française de tennis (formerly the Fédération française de lawn tennis)
France's national tennis federation, which also governs padel, beach tennis, pickleball, para tennis and courte paume (real tennis) and runs Roland-Garros. It began in 1888 as a lawn tennis commission and took its current name in 1976.
Pickleball England
The national governing body for pickleball in England, recognised as such by Sport England in December 2024. A not-for-profit organisation, it selects England teams, runs national competitions and was a 2019 founder member of the World Pickleball Federation.
Asociación Española de Pickleball (AEP)
A Spanish not-for-profit sports association for pickleball, founded in 2012 and based in Madrid, which is listed by the European Pickleball Federation as its full member for Spain.
Deutscher Pickleball Bund (DPB)
A German pickleball association founded in Gelsenkirchen on 15 January 2017, which reports more than 150 clubs and is a member of both the Global Pickleball Federation and the World Pickleball Federation. Germany has more than one national pickleball body.
Deutscher Pickleball Verband (DPV)
A German pickleball association founded in June 2023 and registered in Cologne, which aims to promote the sport from grassroots to top level. The European Pickleball Federation lists it as its full member for Germany; Germany has more than one national pickleball body.
Federazione Italiana Tennis e Padel (formerly the Federazione Italiana Tennis)
Italy's national federation for tennis, padel and beach tennis (with pickleball as an experimental discipline), based in Rome. Founded in Florence in 1910, it was the Federazione Italiana Tennis (FIT) until it added padel to its name from 1 January 2023.
Koninklijke Nederlandse Lawn Tennis Bond (formerly the Nederlandsche Lawn Tennis Bond)
The Netherlands' national tennis federation, which also governs padel, pickleball and beach tennis. Founded in Amsterdam in 1899, it has represented padel since 2016 and took over all padel activity when the Nederlandse Padelbond merged into it on 1 July 2020.
Pickleball Ireland
The national governing body for pickleball across the island of Ireland, established in 2014 and constituted as a not-for-profit company in 2021. It supports clubs, coaches and players and runs national tournaments.
Pickleball Scotland
The national governing body for pickleball in Scotland, a wholly volunteer-run organisation that began in late 2018 and was recognised by sportscotland in December 2024.
Pickleball Wales
A volunteer-run, not-for-profit body for pickleball in Wales, trading name of Y Ddraig Goch Ltd, which began in March 2024. It says it aims to be recognised as the sport's National Governing Body in Wales.

Oceania

Pickleball Australia (PA)
A national body for pickleball in Australia.

Coaching and qualification bodies

Racquet Sports Professionals Association (formerly the United States Professional Tennis Association)
A US-based membership and certification organisation for racket sports teaching professionals, founded in 1927 as the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) and renamed in 2024. It certifies coaches in tennis, pickleball, padel, squash and platform tennis.
International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association (IPTPA)
A US non-profit, founded in 2015, that trains and certifies pickleball coaches worldwide at three levels, with a separate junior instructor credential and a player rating programme.
Pickleball Coaching International (PCI)
An online pickleball coach education and certification organisation founded by coach Mark Renneson, offering Level 1 instructor certification; it is an official partner of USA Pickleball.
Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR)
A pickleball coach education and certification organisation, run as a division of Professional Racquets Registry, Inc, the company behind PTR.

Sources

  1. Global Pickleball Federation website, Global Pickleball Federationglobalpickleballfederation.orgOfficial rulebook or governing body (tier 1 of 5)
  2. USA Pickleball: About, USA Pickleballusapickleball.orgOfficial rulebook or governing body (tier 1 of 5)
  3. About IPTPA, International Pickleball Teaching Professional Associationiptpa.comNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  4. AFP Bylaws, Asia Federation of Pickleballafpickleball.orgNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  5. All India Pickleball Association v Union of India, W.P.(C) 5736/2025 (judgment of 2 February 2026), High Court of Delhidelhihighcourt.nic.inNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  6. Asia Federation of Pickleball website, Asia Federation of Pickleballafpickleball.orgNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  7. Asociación Española de Pickleball website, Asociación Española de Pickleballpickleballspain.orgNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  8. Der Deutsche Pickleball Verband e.V. stellt sich vor, Deutscher Pickleball Verband e.V.deutscher-pickleball-verband.deNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  9. DPB: About the DPB e.V., Deutscher Pickleball Bund e.V.deutscher-pickleball-bund.orgNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  10. DPV: Impressum, Deutscher Pickleball Verband e.V.deutscher-pickleball-verband.deNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  11. EPF By-Laws (June 2026), European Pickleball Federationeuropeanpickleballfederation.orgNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  12. EPF is born, European Pickleball Federationeuropeanpickleballfederation.orgNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  13. EPF: About, European Pickleball Federationeuropeanpickleballfederation.orgNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  14. FFT: Mentions légales et CGU, Fédération française de tennisfft.frNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  15. FFT: Qui sommes-nous ?, Fédération française de tennisfft.frNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  16. IPTPA: home page, International Pickleball Teaching Professional Associationiptpa.comNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  17. KNLTB: Contact, Koninklijke Nederlandse Lawn Tennis Bondknltb.nlNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  18. KNLTB: Historie, Koninklijke Nederlandse Lawn Tennis Bondknltb.nlNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  19. La FIT cambia nome: è nata la Federazione Italiana Tennis e Padel, Federazione Italiana Tennis e Padelfitp.itNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  20. Pickleball Canada History, Pickleball Canadapickleballcanada.orgNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  21. Pickleball Canada website, Pickleball Canadapickleballcanada.orgNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  22. Pickleball England: Affiliations, Pickleball Englandpickleballengland.orgNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  23. Pickleball Ireland: About, Pickleball Irelandpickleballireland.ieNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  24. Pickleball Scotland: About Us, Pickleball Scotlandpickleballscotland.orgNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  25. Pickleball Wales: About Us, Pickleball Wales (Y Ddraig Goch Ltd)pickleballwales.orgNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  26. PPA Tour: Tournament History, Professional Pickleball Associationppatour.comNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  27. PPR: Professional Pickleball Registry website, Professional Pickleball Registrypprpickleball.orgNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  28. Racquet Sports Professionals Association: home page, Racquet Sports Professionals Associationrspa.netNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  29. RSPA: History & Legacy, Racquet Sports Professionals Associationrspa.netNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  30. Statuto della Federazione Italiana Tennis e Padel, Federazione Italiana Tennis e Padelfitp.itNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)
  31. World Pickleball Federation website, World Pickleball Federationworldpickleball.orgNational body or tour (tier 2 of 5)