This list of pickleball organizations identifies key organizations around the world that promote or support the sport of pickleball.
USA Pickleball
editUSA Pickleball, established in 1984, was the first organization to provide oversight of the sport. It was the de facto world governing body for pickleball until the International Federation of Pickleball was established in 2010. Initially named the United States Amateur Pickleball Association (USAPA), it reorganized as the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) in 2005. The organization adopted the name USA Pickleball (USAP) in 2020. USAPA published the first official rule book in 1984, and published the USA Pickleball Association Official Tournament Rulebook in 2008.[1] USAP's annually updated rulebook continues to be referenced as the official rule book for most recreational games and amateur tournaments around the world.[2]
Worldwide governing bodies
editInternational Pickleball Federation
editThe International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) was established in 2010. Inaugural members were the United States, Canada, Spain, and India.[3]
The IFP had 70 member nations at the end of March 2022, but a conflict in the organization resulted in 7 of 8 full member nations, and 2 associate member nations, withdrawing, including United States, Canada, and Spain.[4] In 2023 the IFP reorganized and changed its name to the International Pickleball Federation (IPF).[5]
The annual Bainbridge Cup, named for the island where pickleball was invented, was established by the IPF in 2017. It became the sport's first intercontinental team event. The inaugural event was held in Madrid, Spain and pitted North America against Europe. The winning team earns the Bainbridge Cup trophy.[6] Both the 2020 and 2021 Bainbridge Cup team competitions were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
World Pickleball Federation
editThe WPF was established in 2018 and had 37 member nations as of November 2022[update]. Part of the WPF's stated mission is to "govern the infrastructure of pickleball". The WPF declared October 10 of each year World Pickleball Day and set the goal of introducing 10,000 new players to the game of pickleball every October 10.[7]
The World Pickleball Games were first announced by the WPF in 2021 and are intended to serve as a format for possible future Olympic games.[8] The inaugural World Pickleball Games had been scheduled for May 2022 in Austin, Texas,[9] but due to on-going impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic the games were postponed indefinitely.[10]
Global Pickleball Federation
editThe GPF was initially conceived by a task force formed by Pickleball Australia and Pickleball Canada.[11] In 2022 USA Pickleball, and several other IPF member nations, withdrew from the International Pickleball Federation due to internal disagreements. In November 2023 USAP joined 28 other countries to formally launch a new world-wide governing body for pickleball, the Global Pickleball Federation.[12] By November 2024 the organization had 52 member nations.[13]
The GPF is organized into four continental federations which include the Confederation of African Pickleball (CAP), the Pickleball Federation of the Americas (PFA), the Asian Pickleball Association (APA), and Oceana Pickleball Association (OPA). In addition, seven European countries are represented independently, outside of a continental federation.[14]
Pickleball International Committee
editThe Pickleball International Committee (PIC) was established in 2023 claiming to be the "global governing body for pickleball".
United Pickleball Association of America
editThe United Pickleball Association of America (UPA-A) was formed in May 2024 by the United Pickleball Association, the parent company of the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) and Major League Pickleball (MLP). Initially it was formed to act as the governing body for the PPA and MLP in the United States, but with the expansion of the UPA to Australia, India, and Canada, the UPA has become a transnational organization, resulting in the UPA-A also becoming an international governing body.[15]
Continental regional bodies
editEuropean Pickleball Federation
editCreated in May 2023, the European Pickleball Federation (EPF), was created as a not-for-profit organization that would bring together all the national organizations that promote pickleball in Europe.[16] As of November 2024[update] the EPF had members representing 34 European countries.[17]
In October 2023, the EPF, along with the Asian Federation of Pickleball (AFP), the Confederation of African Pickleball (CAP), the Oceana Pickleball Federation (OPF), and the Pickleball Federation of the Americas (PFA), announced a single alliance of continental federations to "... provide the base for the recognition of a single international governing body by all pickleball playing countries ...".[18] Since then, the CAP, OPF, and PFA have all joined the Global Pickleball Federation.
References
edit- ^ "History of the Game". USA Pickleball. 27 June 2013. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
- ^ Nair, Dax (May 22, 2024). "Inside the World of Professional Pickleball Organizations". Request Social. Archived from the original on May 25, 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ "About the IFP". International Federation of Pickleball. Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- ^ "International Pickleball". USA Pickleball. April 4, 2022. Archived from the original on April 12, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ^ "About the International Pickleball Federation". International Pickleball Federation. Archived from the original on April 9, 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ "The Bainbridge Cup History". IFP: International Federation of Pickleball. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ Townsend, Stacie (October 10, 2020). "What Is World Pickleball Day & Why Should It Matter to You?". The Pickler. Archived from the original on July 2, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
- ^ "WORLD PICKLEBALL FEDERATION (WPF) announces the venue for the first World Pickleball Games". PR Distribution. Archived from the original on February 9, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
- ^ "World Pickleball Games 2022". World Pickleball Federation. December 7, 2020. Archived from the original on March 17, 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
- ^ "The First World Pickleball Games are postponed to 2023". World Pickleball Federation. Archived from the original on April 13, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ "Global Pickleball Federation: Leading the Sport's Growth Worldwide". Global Pickleball Federation. 30 July 2024. Archived from the original on November 11, 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ^ "USA Pickleball Unites With Nearly 30 Countries to Launch the Global Pickleball Federation". USAPickleball.org. USA Pickleball. November 3, 2023. Archived from the original on March 17, 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
- ^ "GPF Countries". Global Pickleball Federation. 2 November 2023. Archived from the original on November 11, 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ^ "GPF Countries". Global Pickleball Federation. 2 November 2023. Archived from the original on July 16, 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ Waston, Jeff (July 18, 2024). "United Pickleball Association (UPA) Announces Further International Expansion via Five 2025 PPA Tour Events in Australia, India, Canada, Asia and Europe". Carvana PPA Tour. Professional Pickleball Association. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ "History". EPF European Pickleball Federation. European Pickleball Federation. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
- ^ "Membership". EPF European Pickleball Federation. European Pickleball Federation. Archived from the original on November 13, 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
- ^ "Five Pickleball Continents - Single Continental Alliance" (PDF). EPF European Pickleball Federation. European Pickleball Federation. October 3, 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 14, 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.