Rules & Policies
Skip to:
1.0 League Overview
First Coast Pickle offers three Club V. Club divisions:
• Mixed Doubles
• Women’s Doubles
• Men’s Doubles
Within each division, there are three flights based on player rating:
• 3.0 and below
• 3.5
• 4.0 and above
Each league is played within a 10-week season , and one match is played each week.
Each team belongs to a home facility. A home facility can be considered any country club or park that has dedicated pickleball courts which can be reserved during the allocated match time. Each week, a team will play either a home match at their own facility or an away match at another team’s facility.
At the end of the season, an award will be given to the winning team within each flight.
Anyone who is a member of a participating facility with dedicated pickleball courts which can be reserved during the allocated match time is eligible to form a team.
Each division/flight will have an allocated day & time period in which the matches will take place each week.
Please refer to the league schedule for up-to-date match times.
The exact match time will be determined by the home team based on court availability.
Each match will consist of 3 lines (courts) of doubles play. All three lines must play at the same time.
A match consists of 3 games to 11 points (win by 2 points). Even if one team wins the first two games, continue to play all three games.
After each game, players will switch sides. If a third game is played, spin a paddle to determine the side. In the third game of a regular match, switch sides after 6 points.
The overall match is won by the team which wins 2 out of 3 matches.
2.0 Registration Process
If you are interested in forming a team, please notify your facility to ensure that they are able to meet the facility requirements. If they do, you can start recruiting players at your facility to form a team.
Teams are required to have a minimum of 7 players, and a maximum of 12 players.
If facilities have enough interested players in one division to form two teams, they are able to do so.
[Instructions to be added]
[Instructions to be added]
[Instructions to be added]
3.0 Match Format
Each flight will have a dedicated day per week in which matches must take place, which will be decided prior to the start of the season.
As a home team captain, we recommend contacting the opposing team’s captain ahead of time and to notify them of the following:
Your facility’s address
Any facility-specific information they may need to know in advance, such as dress code requirements
If you are unable to fill all positions
As an away team captain, please also notify the opposing captain if you are unable to fill all positions.
[Instructions to be added]
Each match will have 3 lines (courts) of doubles play.
A match consists of 3 games to 11 points (win by 2 points). Even if one team wins the first two games, play all three games.
After each game, players will switch sides. For the third game, spin a paddle to determine the side. In the third game of a regular match, switch sides after 6 points.
The overall match is won by the team which wins the most games.
[Instructions to be added]
4.0 Match Rules
Official rain out is one hour after the original match start time unless BOTH captains agree to declare it sooner. Players/teams must be available to play in case of a rain delay. Matches can be called or delayed with the assistance of the pro on property, or if both captains agree.
Matches started and resumed (same day) if the match has started and rain occurs, the original line must be used. IF play is resumed on the same day, at a rescheduled time, match play will resume with the same players and play will begin at the score when the match had to be stopped.
Matches stopped and started on a different day, if the team match has started and the rain stops the match for that day, a new lineup may be presented for any match that HASN’T started. For all matches that were halted due to weather, the original lineup must be present and the start of the match will resume at the exact point, game, and serve location that was recorded by the captains at the halt of the original match.
Both captains should mutually agree upon a time to reschedule a rain-delayed match. Every attempt should be made to complete the match either on the next “rain date” or if that is unavailable, each match will be rescheduled based on the “individual” team’s schedules.
Matches that are rained out or canceled due to inclement weather will not be made up and will not have any relevance in the standings.
Match default time is 15 minutes after the scheduled time, provided courts are available. Please use discretion when calling for a default. If the opponent is late for just cause, please try to be understanding and play the match.
In the event of a default, the scoring of the defaulted match is 12-0, 12-0, 12-0.
In the case of retirement (unable to finish a match), the non-retiring team will be created with 12 points, the retiring team will keep whatever points they won and will be reflected in the reporting of the score.
All teams must play all scheduled matches. The league coordinator should be consulted before a team defaults their entire match (all positions). Any team deliberately forfeiting an entire team match is subject to disqualification. All matches should be played before the last match of the regular season.
Each team must play their doubles teams in order of strength. If a team does not play in order of strength and another team files a grievance with First Coast Pickle. Our team will review the dispute and penalize if necessary.
If a team can’t field the required number of players, default the bottom position. Notify the opposing captain if you are unable to fill all positions. Having insufficient players is not a valid reason to reschedule a match.
Line calls or disputes during a match can only be resolved by players participating in that match.
General supervision of all aspects of play belongs to the facility and their professional staff.
New balls should be used for the match and should be provided by the home facility.
5.0 Facility, Team, & Captain Requirements
For a facility to be eligible to host teams in a Golden Coast Pickle league, they must have dedicated pickleball courts that are able to be reserved during the allocated match time.
All team members must be registered within Swish and be active members of the facility that is hosting their team.
Teams must have a minimum number of 6 players.
The captain is responsible for coordinating with their facility, recruiting players for their team, and managing all aspects of their team. Additionally, the captain is responsible for communicating with other captains and reporting scores.
Captains need to ensure that a minimum of three courts are reserved at their home facility during their home match times. Courts should be reserved for a minimum of 2 hours so that teams have enough time to finish their matches.
6.0 Additional Info
The contact information for Pickleball Leagues of America participants included in our software platform(s) is considered confidential and is exclusively for use by Pickleball Leagues of America coordinator(s) and for contact between and among league participants. The information in this site should not be used for business, commercial, political, or any other non-Pickleball Leagues of America purposes and it should not be disclosed or published to anyone outside of Pickleball Leagues of America.
Acceptance of my entry in the Pickleball Leagues of America is without assumption of responsibility of any kind by this organization, the host club, committees or the management and offices of Pickleball Leagues of America, in which I may be entered or may participate.
In consideration of the acceptance of my entry, I do hereby for an on behold of the myself and my heirs and legal representatives and their successors and assigns, of and from any and all claims and demands of every kind, nature, and character which I may have or may hereafter acquire for any and all damages, losses or injuries which may be suffered or sustained by me in connection with my activities during the period for which such permission is waived and released and I covenant no to sure therefore. I understand that this league(s) applicable organization rules and regulations, the rules and regulations of this league(s), the rules and procedure governing discipline of players in Pickleball Leagues of America sanctioned league(s), and ranking regulations, and agree to conduct myself accordingly.
Participants in Pickleball League of America pickleball leagues authorize Pickleball Leagues of America to photography and or/participate them and grant Pickleball Leagues of America and its partners the right to use their photograph or video recording in perpetuity in advertising, trade, promotion, exhibition, or any other lawful purpose. Participants understand that they will not receive any monetary compensation for the permissions they are granting herein. They hereby waive any right of inspection of approval of the uses to which the Organization may put the Photograph, Audio, and/or Video.
Participants that do not wish to participate may opt out of this waiver by notifying a league coordinator. If your photo has been taken or posted online and you wish for it to be deleted please notify a league coordinator.