General League Information
1. Commitment: We ask if you sign up for a Pickleball Flex League that you commit to playing all of your matches. Following through on your commitment to your local Pickleball Flex League will make it a fun and rewarding experience for you and for your fellow players.
2. League Options:
- Adult Co-Ed Singles League (ages 16 & above)
- Women's Doubles League (ages 16 & above)
- Men's Doubles League (ages 16 & above)
- Mixed Doubles League (ages 16 & above)
3. Cost:
- Singles leagues cost $29
- Doubles leagues cost $58 per team
4. Scoring Format: All matches must be best two out of three games to 11 points each, win by two points. Only the serving team or player may score a point.
5. Player Divisions/Matchups: Each team or player will be placed into a group of 4-10 round-robin teams/players and assigned 4 matches over the course of the five-week league session. Makeup matches may be played up to one week after the league session end date.
Note: Divisions will be based on UTR-P Rating (or equivalent rating) and approximate location.
6. Guaranteed Matches: All players/teams will be guaranteed 4 matches in 5 weeks unless a player withdraws from the league, is unresponsive, or there is a limited number of players registered at your level (UTR-P Rating).
7. Reporting Match Scores: When your match is complete, the winning player or team must post the score using the "Post Score" option on the match card found on the homepage of the mobile app or at UTRSports.net. Choose your opponent and report the score. If the match is not listed, please reach out to your Flex League Manager. We also recommend you get your opponent to confirm the score while still on-site after the match.
8. Confirming Match Scores: Players have 7 days to confirm or edit the score once posted. If no action is taken, the match will be automatically confirmed at the end of 7 days. If a score is not able to be agreed upon by the players, please fill out this match protest form. The match outcome will then be decided by the team at UTR Sports and/or the local Flex League Manager.
Note: All Flex League match results must be entered and confirmed within one week after the league end date in order to be included in the session Standings.
9. Withdrawal from a League: Players must provide valid reasoning for withdrawal. No refund will be given after the league session start date unless we cannot find a league division that fits your level.
10. Finding your Match Schedule: League schedules are available after the league session start date and can be found within the Flex League event page under the "Matchups" tab.
11. Standings: League Standings can be found by selecting the "Standings" tab where your matchups are shown on the event page. This will update automatically within one week from when your posted score is confirmed.
12. Match Protests: You can formally submit a match protest here. This should be a last resort between you and your opponent. Three separate match protests against a player may result in a ban from participation in future UTR Sports Flex Leagues.
13. Prizes: All division winners will receive prizes for their Pickleball Flex League. To receive a prize you must complete at least 3 matches. If one player is undefeated, and another has one loss but has completed more matches, the prize will go to the player who completed more matches. Prize notifications are sent out approximately three weeks after the league's end date. Any match results not submitted within a week after the league end date may not count toward the final league Standings.
Scheduling Rules
1. Scheduling Match Times and Locations: Players are responsible for scheduling their own match times with their opponent at a mutually agreed-upon court location. We do not specify home vs. away courts in order to allow players the most flexibility when scheduling matches.
Pro Tip: Try to meet in a neutral location with your opponent if it's too far of a drive to one of the player's local courts.
Balls: All players should bring their own ball.
2. Contact Information: Contact information can be found on the match card by clicking "Schedule Match" or by going to the "Matchups" tab and clicking the phone icon next to your opponent's name. You must be logged into the account of the player who is registered for the Flex League in order to see the opponent's contact details. It will also be provided in a text message from your Flex League Manager after the start of the event session.
IMPORTANT: Ensure your phone number, email, and the home club are correct on your profile before the league begins. Please see directions on how to update your home club here and your phone number and email here.
3. When to Contact Your Opponent: We recommend being proactive and contacting all four of your match opponents as soon as the matchups are released. Be courteous when contacting your fellow players. Call or text your opponent between 9 am and 9 pm. Email is okay at any time.
4. Canceling Matches: If you need to cancel a match, please try and reschedule for a different week or during the 5th week of the flex league, which is a makeup match week. If it cannot be played during a different week or the matchup week. please send your opponent an email with your Flex League Manager's email copied. You will receive a default for this match or be given a new opponent. For more information on defaults, please see the full default policy below.
5. Playing Multiple Matches in a Week: Remember, matches can be played during any week of your Flex League session...you can even play all 4 matches in the first week if you'd like!
6. Unresponsive Opponents: UTR Sports is not responsible for unresponsive opponents. That being said, we have some helpful guidelines for steps to take should an opponent be unresponsive to match scheduling attempts!
i. When reaching out to your opponent initially, reach out via both the preferred phone and email contacts listed on the match cards. Sometimes, players are more responsive via one contact method over the other Allow your opponent 72 hours to reply.
ii. If there is no reply after 72 hours, contact your opponent once more via both contact methods. Allow them another 72 hours to reply.
iii. If there is no reply at that point, you may contact your Flex League Manager at the mail listed for them on the league session event page. Your Flex League Manager will then reach out to your opponent on your behalf with you copied on the message.
iv. If there is still no reply from your opponent 48 hours after the Flex League Manager reaches out, you may mark the match as a default on the match card.
In the case of unresponsive or injured opponents, our team will do our best to ensure you have a replacement match in your league group. However, after a certain point in the league session, finding a replacement match may not be possible. Due to this, the last day to request an extra regular group match due to an unresponsive/injured opponent is 4 weeks from the league start date.
Keep in mind, if you would like additional matches in the meantime, you can absolutely utilize the Challenge Match option to connect with any other players in the league session!
Match Day Rules
1. Local Court: If you and your opponent choose to play at your local court, know your court. Factors such as when the lights shut off when you have the court reserved and cracks in the court should be communicated to your opponent ahead of time. If a match is interrupted for any reason, please try to agree on another day and time to complete the match during the 5-week session. If this is not possible, the match score may be posted as an incomplete score.
Note: If your local court has fees, you are required to notify your opponent in advance. If they don't want to pay court fees, you will have to cover their cost or find a new facility. UTR Sports is not responsible for and will not reimburse any court fees.
2. Rain: Do not assume the match is canceled. If you don't show up and the courts are okay to play, you will receive a default.
3. Line Calls: There are no officials on site and players must call their own lines and scores. We expect the highest level of honesty and integrity. Flex League Managers reserve the right to disqualify you from the league if they receive three or more complaints.
4. Warm-up: A 5-minute warm-up is our recommendation. Please do not go over 5 minutes for your warm-up.
5. Game Breaks: There should be up to a 2-minute break between games of play. If players split sets, another 2-minute break may be taken. Remember, there are no umpires, so we ask that you be courteous and do not go over the recommended times.
6. Unsportsmanlike Behavior: We ask that you DO NOT play this league if you cannot act maturely and respectfully. If someone is not upholding these values, please utilize the Match Protest Form to report it to the Flex League Manager. Three reports and a player may be banned from the league and any future UTR Sports Flex Leagues.
7. Coaching: No coaching is allowed during Pickleball Flex Leagues at any time during the match, including if players split games.
8. Hindrance: If there is a hindrance caused by a player (hat falls off, the ball falls out of pocket, etc), there will be one replay of the point. After the second offense, the point goes to the opposing player. If there is any sort of hindrance from outside the court (a ball from another court rolls in), please redo the point.
9. Filming: Filming matches is allowed only if you have obtained written permission from your opponent in advance.
10. Canceling Matches: If you are canceling a match more than 24 hours in advance and cannot play it later in the league session, you may simply leave the match score blank.
11. Late: Players have 30 minutes from the agreed-upon match time to show up. After 30 minutes, the player has the right to leave and submit the match as a default.
12. No Show: If a player does not show up to a scheduled match, this will go on their record as a default.
13. Injuries: We know injuries are a part of pickleball. If you drop out of a match once, you may still play in the league. If it happens twice, you may default from the league.
14. Leaving the Court/Bathroom Breaks: You may only leave the court during a Flex League match to use the bathroom or get treatment for an injury, such as a bandaid. We ask that you try to save your bathroom breaks for game breaks unless an emergency. You may not leave the court during a Flex League match for any other circumstances. If you do, your opponent has the right to submit the match as a default.
15. Injury Breaks: Players may take an injury timeout, up to 5 minutes for an injury. If another extended timeout is needed for the same injury, we ask that you default the match. At the same time, players can choose to give their opponents as long as needed for injuries if they would like to continue the match.
16. Incomplete Matches: If you cannot finish your match for reasons outside of player control (ie: court time is up, court lights are turned off, the weather makes play dangerous, etc.), you have until the end of the league session to complete it. At the end of the session, all incomplete matches will be input with the score as it was when the match was stopped. You and your opponent may also agree to not post the match at all. Should play be stopped due to the player's personal reasons during the match (ie: injury, illness, being tired), the score should be entered as it is and marked as a defaulted/withdrawn match.
17. Default Policy: If an opponent cancels the match within 12 hours or more of a scheduled match, we recommend rescheduling the match at a later date or leaving the match card blank with no score if rescheduling is not possible. If an opponent cancels 12-1 hour before the match start, we recommend rescheduling if possible but it may be marked as a default if rescheduling is not possible. If an opponent no-shows or cancels the match less than an hour before the scheduled match time, it may be noted as a default and win for yourself. If an opponent is completely unresponsive, please follow the 'Unresponsive Opponents' section above under 'Scheduling Guidelines' and reach out to your flex league manager if the opponent remains unresponsive.
Playoff Rules & Regulations
1. Pickleball Flex Leagues in 2023 will have one playoff at the end of the year.
2. Playoffs are determined by your first four matches played in the Flex League. This does not include Challenge Matches.
3. At the end of the league session, the top two players of each division will qualify for the end-of-season playoff tournament.
4. Your opponents will be the qualifying players closest to you in UTR-P Rating.
5. You must compete in at least two Flex League sessions in 2023 and complete at least three league event matches per session to qualify for the season playoffs.
6. Your playoff bracket will consist of a four-person bracket with all players starting in the semifinals.
7. Flex League Managers may promote players to the playoffs on a need basis.
8. You will have one month from the date the season playoff matches are scheduled to complete the match(es).
9. If you need an extension on your playoff matches, it must be approved by your Flex League Manager.
10. The same rules and regulations that apply to regular league event match, apply to season playoff matches.
11. Pickleball Flex League Managers have the final say on all playoff decisions.
Challenge Match Rules & Regulations
1. You may only challenge once you have completed all four matches or have exhausted all outlets to get in touch with your four opponents.
2. Challenge matches must be submitted to flex@universaltennis.com.
3. Your Flex League Manager has the right to deny a challenge match if you have not completed at least two of your regularly scheduled matches or do not have proof of unresponsive opponents.
4. Challenge matches do not count toward your division Standings or season playoff eligibility.
5. Challenge matches must be played during the league dates listed on the event title.