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International Pickleball Federation

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The International Pickleball Federation (IPF) was created to act as the world governing body for the sport of pickleball. Originally the IPF was founded as the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) in 2010 by the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA), now USA Pickleball (USAP). The IPF is a nonprofit organization that focuses its resources on providing support to national and local pickleball organizations.[1] [2] [3][4]

International Pickleball Federation
(IPF)
Formation2010; 14 years ago (2010)
TypeFederation of national associations
HeadquartersGoodyear, Arizona, USA
Membership63 national associations
As of June 2022
Official language
English
President
Sunil Valavalkar
Website[1]

The IPF's goals include creating and maintaining official rules across all of pickleball, organizing international tournaments, and most crucially, spreading the sport of pickleball across the world. [5] The IPF's main goal is to have the sport of pickleball added to the Olympic Games.[3][4][6]

The IPF also organizes international pickleball competitions including the Bainbridge Cup, an international competition in which teams represent their continents and compete on professional and amateur levels.[4][7]

History

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The International Federation of Pickleball was founded in the wake of the first National Pickleball Open competition, held in Surprise, Arizona in 2009. The tournament was hosted by the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) and drew almost 400 players from 26 American states and several Canadian provinces. The interest of the Canadians, among other factors, influenced the USAPA to establish a committee dedicated to the formation of an international governing body for pickleball. This committee was formed in 2010 and is considered to be the founding of the IPF.[2][5] The IPF's constitution and bylaws were officially ratified in 2015 by its four inaugural member countries: the United States, Canada, Spain, and India. Since 2015, the IPF has steadily grown, adding over 20 countries to its ranks in the first half of 2021 alone.

In 2018 a rival organization, the World Pickleball Federation (WPF), was formed by Seymour Rifkind, who had previously established the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association (IPTPA). Both the IPF and WPF seek to promote pickleball worldwide, and both seek to obtain Olympic recognition for the sport.[8]

On April 22, 2022, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, England, France, Spain, Philippines, Finland, Cayman Islands and the Czech Republic withdrew their membership in the IPF reducing the number of member countries from 70 to 59.[9] Subsequently, the IPF has continued to add new country memberships.

Structure

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Map of the world, the darker blue highlighting which countries are members of the IPF as of April 22, 2022

National and regional associations

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Main article: List of pickleball organizations § International Federation of Pickleball

As of April 22, 2022 there are 63 national organizations in the International Federation of Pickleball, including the special administrative region of Hong Kong, China. These national associations are organized into four categories: full members (1), Associate members (22), Affiliate members (37), and Provisional members (3). Each member country is organized under the umbrella of a continental federation. Full member countries can have members elected to the IPF's board of directors, while associate and affiliate member countries cannot. [10] All member countries are required to follow the rules of pickleball as established by the IPF.

The IPF has five continental federations. These are the Asia Federation of Pickleball (AFP), North American Pickleball Federation, South American Pickleball Association, European Pickleball Federation (EPF), and Oceanic Pickleball Federation.

Overall, the IPF gives complete autonomy to member countries in their own nations, except if the actions of a member nation "affect the international image of the sport, the uniform application of one set of rules, or in some way affect the future Olympic status of the sport."[10]

Board of directors

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The IPF's officers on the board are elected by the IPF's full member nations and serve two-year terms. The board consists of four officers, including the President, and lower-ranking members known as "At Large" members. The board may assign a maximum of six at-large members at any given time. The previous President is also reserved an "At Large" spot on the board. [11]

Board of Directors (2023)
Role Board Member National Association
President Arvind Prabhoo   India
Vice President Alicia Wolfgruber   Austria
Treasurer Dwight Crawford   United States
Legal Counsel Marlon Schulman   United States
CTO Adnan El Guennouni   Canada

Competitions

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Bainbridge Cup

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Team North America leader Marcin Rozpedski, holding the trophy earned by Team North America at the inaugural 2017 Bainbridge Cup

The IPF hosts the annual Bainbridge Cup, one of the first international pickleball team tournaments. The tournament is named after Bainbridge Island, where pickleball was invented by Joel Pritchard and his colleagues. It consists of two teams representing geographical regions, usually continents. Originally, the tournament pitted players from Europe against those from North America. In the 2021 Bainbridge Cup, the tournament was organized as "east" versus "west", with players west of the Mississippi River and those from Asia on one team, and players east of the Mississippi and those from Europe on the other.[12][13]

The tournament consists of divisions organized by age and skill level for men's, women's, and mixed doubles. Men's and women's singles were played for the first time at the Bainbridge Cup as a demonstration event in 2021.[12] The inaugural competition was held in Madrid, Spain in 2017.[12][13][14]

Year Date(s) City Country Results Notes
2017 Sep 15 Madrid   Spain 201 North America
119 Europe		 The inaugural was played concurrently with the Spanish Open Pickleball Championships.[15]
2018 Jul 20 Montesilvano   Italy 106 North America
82 Europe		 Played concurrently with the Italian Open Pickleball Championships.[16]
2019 Jul 12 Essen   Germany 193 Team World
173 Europe		 Played concurrently with the German Open Pickleball Championships.[17]
2020 Jul 3 Nottingham   England Event
Cancelled		 Originally scheduled to be played concurrently with the English Open Pickleball Tournament. Both events were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[18]
2021 Apr 7–11 Holly Hill, FL   USA Team cup
Cancelled		 Event title: Humana-Island Doctors Bainbridge Cup by International Federation of Pickleball. Originally scheduled to be played using an East vs. West team format. Players east of the Mississippi River and Europe would be on one team, and players west of the Mississippi and Asia would be the other team.[19] The team format was eliminated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[20]
2022 Nov 30–Dec 4 Mumbai   India TBD[21]

List of IPF members

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Listed below are International Pickleball Federation member countries in order by member type and when they joined. As of April 2022 eleven member countries have withdrawn their memberships from the IPF.[22]

Type Joined Country Formed Abbr. Name Website and comments
Full
Withdrawn 		2015   USA 1984 USAP USA Pickleball Official website.
Originally formed as the United States Amateur Pickleball Association in 1984. Reorganized as the USA Pickleball Association in 2005 and then USA Pickleball in 2020.[23]
Full
Withdrawn 		2015   Canada 2009 PCO Pickleball Canada (organization) Official website.
Originally formed as the Canadian National Pickleball Association in May 2009, it later became the Canada Pickleball Organization, but is now commonly referred to as Pickleball Canada.[24]
Full
Withdrawn 		2015   Spain 2012 AEP Spanish Pickleball Association Asociación Española de Pickleball official website.
Founded in 2012 by Michael Hess, a Southern California native.[25]
Full 2015   India 2008 AIPA All India Pickleball Association Official website.
Founded in 2008 by Sunil Valavalkar.
Full
Withdrawn 		2018   Australia 2020[26] PAA Pickleball Australia Association Limited Official website.
Full
Withdrawn 		2019   Philippines 2019 PPF Philippine Pickleball Federation Official website.
First formed as the Philippine Pickleball Sports Association (PPSA) on April 15, 2019, then rebranded as the PPF six months later.[27]
Full
Withdrawn 		2020   Mexico LPPM Professional Pickleball League Mexico Liga Profesional de Pickleball México official website.
Full
Withdrawn 		2021   Czech Republic Czech Pickleball Association Piklebal ČR official website.
Associate
Withdrawn 		2015   France PF Pickleball France Association Nationale Pickleball France official website.
Associate 2015   Italy AIP Italian Pickleball Association L'Associazione Italiana Pickleball official website.
Associate 2016   Holland Pickleball Holland Official website.
Associate 2018   China China/Shenzhen Pickleball Association Official website.
Associate 2018   Taiwan 2016 CTPA Chinese Taipei Pickleball Association Official website.
Associate 2018   Hong Kong Pickleball Association of Hong Kong, China Official website.
Associate 2018   South Korea Korea Pickleball Association Official website.
Associate 2018   Scotland Pickleball Scotland Official website.
Associate
Withdrawn 		2019   England Pickleball England Official website.
Associate 2019   Germany 2017 German Pickleball Association Deutschen Pickleball Bund official website.
Associate 2019   Singapore 1995[28] SPA Singapore Pickle-Ball Association Official website.
Associate 2019   Pakistan PAP Pickleball Association of Pakistan See Pickleball Association of Pakistan on Facebook.
Associate 2019   Poland Polska Pickleball Polski Pickleball official website.
Associate 2019   Malaysia Malaysia Pickleball Association See Malaysia Pickleball on Facebook.
Associate 2020   Sweden 2017 Swedish Pickleball Association Svenska PickleballFörbundet official website.
Associate 2020   Denmark Pickleball Denmark Official website.
Associate 2020   Japan JPA Japan Pickleball Association Official website.
Associate 2020   Costa Rica Pickleball Costa Rica Official website.
Associate 2020   Belgium Pickleball Belgium Official website.
Associate 2020   New Zealand PNZA Pickleball New Zealand Association Official website.
Associate 2021   Samoa PAS Pickleball Association of Somoa For Pikopol Asosi A Somoa, see Samoa Pickelball Group [sic] on Facebook.
Associate 2021   Peru Pickleball Peru See Asociación Deportiva de Pickleball Perú on Facebook.
Associate
Withdrawn 		2021   Finland 2014 Pickleball Finland Official website.
Associate 2021     Nepal NPA Nepal Pickleball Association See Nepal Pickleball Association NPA on Facebook.
Associate 2021   Malta Malta Pickleball Official website.
Affiliate 2020   Tonga Tonga Pickleball Association See Tonga Pickleball Association on Facebook.
Affiliate 2020   Armenia Armenian Pickleball Federation See Armenian Pickleball Federation on Facebook.
Affiliate 2020   Turkey
Affiliate 2020   Georgia Georgian Pickleball Federation See Georgian Pickleball Federation on Facebook.
Affiliate 2021   Serbia Pickleball Serbia Official website.
Affiliate 2021   Indonesia
Affiliate 2021   Lithuania Pickleball Lithuania See Piklbolas Lietuva on Facebook.
Affiliate 2021   Bangladesh Pickleball Bangladesh See PiCkleball BD on Facebook.
Affiliate 2021   Dominican Republic Dominican Pickleball Association
Affiliate 2021   Egypt Pickleball Egypt See Pickleball Egypt on Facebook.
Affiliate 2021   UAE Pickleball UAE See Pickleball UAE on Facebook.
Affiliate 2021   Panama Panama Pickleball Association See Panama Pickleball Association on Facebook.
Affiliate 2021   Argentina Argentina Pickleball Association See Asociación Argentina de Pickleball on Facebook.
Affiliate 2021   Brazil Brasil Pickleball Oficial See Brasil Pickleball Oficial on Facebook.
Affiliate 2021   Norway Norwegian Pickleball Association Pickleball Norge official website
Affiliate
Withdrawn 		2021   Cayman Islands Pickleball Cayman Islands See Pickleball Cayman on Facebook.
Affiliate 2021   Palestine Pickleball Palestine See Pickleball Palestine on Facebook.
Affiliate 2021   Nigeria Nigeria Pickleball Players Organization See Pickleball Players Association Of Nigeria on Facebook.
Affiliate 2021   Uruguay Uruguay Pickleball Association See Pickleball.uy on Facebook.
Affiliate 2021   Portugal Portuguese Pickleball Association See pickleballportugal on Facebook.
Affiliate 2021   Aruba Aruba Pickleball Federation See Aruba Pickle Ball Federation on Facebook.
Affiliate 2021   Uganda Uganda Pickleball Association See Uganda Pickleball Association on Facebook.
Affiliate 2021   Chile Chile Pickleball Association See Asociación Chilena De Pickleball on Facebook.
Affiliate 2021   Isle of Man Isle of Man Pickleball See Ellan Vannin Pickleball Club 🇮🇲 on Facebook.
Affiliate 2021   Russia Pickleball Russia
Affiliate 2021   Guam Guam Pickleball Association See Pickleball Guam on Facebook.
Affiliate 2021   Venezuela Venezuela Pickleball Association See Pickleball Venezuela on Facebook.
Affiliate 2021   Colombia Columbia Pickleball Association See Pickleball Col on Facebook.
Affiliate 2021   Ireland Irish Pickleball See Irish Pickleball on Facebook.
Affiliate 2021   Estonia Estonian Pickleball Association Eesti Pickleball Liit official website.
Affiliate 2021   South Africa Pickleball South Africa Official website.
Affiliate 2021   Cameroon Cameroon Pickleball Association See Cameroon Pickleball Association on Facebook.
Affiliate 2022   Tanzania Tanzania Pickleball Official website, or see Tanzania Pickleball on Facebook.
Affiliate 2022   Gambia Gambia Pickleball Federation See The Gambia Pickleball Federation on Facebook.
Affiliate 2022   Belize Belize Pickleball Association Official website.
Provisional 2021   Northern Mariana Islands Pickleball CNMI See Pickleball CNMI on Facebook. CNMI is Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Provisional 2021   Northern Ireland Pickleball Northern Ireland See Pickleball NI on Facebook.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "What's The Difference Between the APP and PPA". Sarasota Pickleball Organization. May 16, 2021. Archived from the original on July 20, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "History of the Game". USA Pickleball. June 27, 2013. Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PICKLEBALL". UColours. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "Local man elected president of International Federation of Pickleball". Paso Robels Daily News. January 16, 2019. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "About the IFP". International Federation of Pickleball. Archived from the original on July 18, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  6. ^ "What is pickleball and why do people play?". Pickleball Rush. Archived from the original on March 23, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  7. ^ "Can Pickleball Go Global?". The Dink. January 7, 2021. Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  8. ^ Walters, John (May 24, 2022). "'Pickleball Is the Wild, Wild West': Inside the Fight Over the Fastest-Growing Sport in America". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  9. ^ "International Pickleball". USA Pickleball. April 4, 2022. Archived from the original on April 12, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  10. ^ a b "CONSTITUTION for the INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION of PICKLEBALL" (PDF). International Federation of Pickleball. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 20, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  11. ^ "IFP Bylaws" (PDF). International Federation of Pickleball. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 20, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  12. ^ a b c "Humana-Island Doctors Bainbridge Cup Tournament". Pictona at Holly Hill. February 23, 2021. Archived from the original on July 23, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  13. ^ a b "The Bainbridge Cup History". International Federation of Pickleball. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  14. ^ Park, Clayton (October 26, 2020). "Holly Hill's new Pictona complex to host international pickleball tournament in 2021". MSN. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021.
  15. ^ "Spanish Open Pickleball Championships and Bainbridge Cup 2017". Pickleball Tournaments. Pickleball Station, LLC. Archived from the original on April 12, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  16. ^ "Italian Open Pickleball Championships and Bainbridge Cup 2018". Pickleball Tournaments. Pickleball Station, LLC. Archived from the original on April 12, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  17. ^ "German Open Pickleball Championships and Bainbridge Cup 2019". Pickleball Tournaments. Pickleball Station, LLC. Archived from the original on April 12, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  18. ^ "2020 English Open Welcome Page". Pickleball England. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  19. ^ "Bainbridge Cup 2021". Pictona at Holly Hill. January 12, 2021. Archived from the original on July 25, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  20. ^ "Humana-Island Doctors Bainbridge Cup by International Federation of Pickleball:Format". Pickleball Tournaments. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  21. ^ "Home page". International Federation of Pickleball. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  22. ^ "International Pickleball". USA Pickleball. April 4, 2022. Archived from the original on April 12, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  23. ^ "History of the Game". USA Pickleball. June 27, 2013. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  24. ^ "PICKLEBALL CANADA HISTORY". Pickleball Canada. Archived from the original on July 8, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  25. ^ unknown, Laura. "Meet Mike Hess – Global Ambassador of Pickleball". Pickleball Central. Archived from the original on June 8, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  26. ^ "All About PAA". Pickleball Australia Association. Archived from the original on July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  27. ^ "Philippine Pickleball Federation: About Us". Philippine Pickleball Federation. Archived from the original on August 30, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  28. ^ "Singapore Pickle-Ball Association: About Us". Singapore Pickle-Ball Association. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
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