League Rules
VERSION 1.08
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Official CNPL match rules and procedures
Published Jun 16, 2026
1Version Information
Document Version
Version 1.08
Published:April 8, 2026
Status: Published.
Previous Version:1.07 (January 31, 2026)
This is Version 1.08 of the CNPL Standard Rules. Key changes include new International Players eligibility rules, expanded Franchise Tags & Free Agency provisions, detailed playoff bracket, Lineup Finality rules, Event Hosting Requirements, and updated Official Equipment specifications.
4)COMPETITION FORMAT
4.1BEFORE A MATCH
The team designated as the away team will decide their lineup for mixed doubles no later than 15 minutes before the match. The team designated as the home team will then counter with their lineup for mixed doubles. 5 minutes before the match begins the team captains will meet the referee(s) at the court to set the scoresheets.
Lineup Finality: Once lineups have been declared by both teams, they are considered final. No changes to the declared lineup may be made except through the use of a team timeout as outlined in §4.6. Any unauthorized lineup change will result in a technical warning for the first offense and a technical foul for subsequent offenses.
Lineup Finality: Once lineups have been declared by both teams, they are considered final. No changes to the declared lineup may be made except through the use of a team timeout as outlined in §4.6. Any unauthorized lineup change will result in a technical warning for the first offense and a technical foul for subsequent offenses.
4.2WARMUP
Each team will have a one-minute warmup period prior to each game. Players are expected to practice on a court nearby and be ready to play all matches including their first match, fully equipped. Additional warmup courts and times will be determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the day's immediate format and scheduling needs. Players should not expect additional warmup time after team matches have started.
4.3STARTING A MATCH
The team designated as the away team will make the choice for a coin flip. The winner of the coin flip will choose the order of games to be played in the match OR the end they start on and the loser will choose the other. The home team will serve.
4.4MATCH STRUCTURE
Each CNPL event format and order will be determined by the league officials. Each game will be played with standard rally scoring to 21 points, win by 1, with any winning point to be scored on a teams own serve. There will be four games played each match in the order selected by the winner of the coin toss. Teams will change ends between games only and not at half-score. This order and format are subject to change by the CNPL officials. In rally scoring, players do not switch serving (playing) sides after each point. Players may only switch playing sides during a time-out or between games and must advise the referee of the change.
4.5FREEZE
A team being frozen means they can only score their remaining point(s) in the game on their own serve. The first team to reach 20 points will freeze and will reduce the freeze threshold to 19. If the trailing team is not at 19 points, they will continue to score rally points until they reach 19 points and will then be frozen.
4.6TEAM INITIATED TIME-OUTS
Each team will be allowed 2 time-outs per game up to one-minute each time. Only the players on-court or the team designate (coach or manager) can call "time-out" directly to the referee who will acknowledge and commence setting a timer. A non-playing player cannot call a time-out for their team.
4.7REFEREE INITIATED TIME-OUTS
Additional time-outs may be called by the CNPL referees (or CNPL officials) for purposes of livestream and/or broadcast, to address equipment issues, for referee, fan, equipment operator and/or player injury or for any other reason deemed necessary by CNPL or the Commissioner. Referee time-outs should be held to a maximum of 15-minutes unless otherwise determined at the discretion of the Commissioner.
4.8COACHING
Coaching during live play is not permitted by anyone. This includes coaches, non-playing players, referees, and spectators. Penalties will be applied if coaching occurs during live play.
Coaching by coaches, non-playing players, and general managers is permitted when the ball is dead providing that it does not interrupt or disrupt the opposing team in any way. The ball is considered dead between rallies, during time-outs, between games, and at tie-breaker end change.
Coaching by spectators is never appropriate.
Coaching by coaches, non-playing players, and general managers is permitted when the ball is dead providing that it does not interrupt or disrupt the opposing team in any way. The ball is considered dead between rallies, during time-outs, between games, and at tie-breaker end change.
Coaching by spectators is never appropriate.
4.9LINE CALLS
Official line calls must come from the players on court directly. Calls must be made immediately, loudly and clearly and with no influence from others (coaches, non-playing players, team manager or spectators). If appealed, once a decision has been made by the referee there are no further challenges allowed on the play.
4.10TEAM SUBSTITUTIONS
Team substitutions can be made prior to a match commencing and not during a match. Teams are not allowed to substitute a player during a live match and must wait until the match is over, only then can a team substitute for an alternate to be used in subsequent matches to follow.
If a player becomes injured, ill, or required to leave for emergency personal/family events the team must forfeit the current game and any subsequent games in the current match the player would have played. A player that does not finish a match will be ineligible for the remainder of that day. If a player is substituted off for an injury and subsequently recovers from that injury the next day their return will be at the discretion of the medical staff.
If a player becomes injured, ill, or required to leave for emergency personal/family events the team must forfeit the current game and any subsequent games in the current match the player would have played. A player that does not finish a match will be ineligible for the remainder of that day. If a player is substituted off for an injury and subsequently recovers from that injury the next day their return will be at the discretion of the medical staff.
4.11REFEREES
Assessed referees will be provided for all matches. On the court will be one lead referee and a second referee. The CNPL may include additional tracking methods at a later date. Based on the availability of referees and at the discretion of the Commissioner games may be played with only one referee.
4.12REVIEWS
There will be no live instant replay of results for the purpose of review. We will not rely on technology for the purpose of reviews or challenges. All reviews and challenges will be at the discretion of the referee(s).
4.13FOULS, WARNINGS, AND UNSPORTSMANLIKE BEHAVIOR
Verbal warnings, technical warnings, and technical fouls can be issued from the time players are on the court for a match until match scorecards have been submitted to the tournament desk. Any unsportsmanlike action taken by a player after the match is over and before the scorecards have been submitted to the Tournament Desk will result in a warning or foul to be applied to that team's next match, next day's match, and/or next event's match.
The referee is empowered to call verbal warning, technical warnings and technical fouls. When a technical foul is called, one point removed from the score of the offending player/team unless their score is zero, in which case, a point shall be added to the score of the opposing side. Actions or behavior that shall result in a technical foul include:
• Aggressive/reckless throw of paddle, player using extremely objectionable language, or profanity, regardless of to whom or what it is directed.
• Making a threat or challenges of any nature toward or against any person.
• Challenging the referees decision or ruling, any actions considered extreme unsportsmanlike behavior.
• Deliberately throwing/hitting a ball that is not in play with negligent disregard of the consequences which inadvertently hits a person.
• Loss of challenge to referee ruling.
• Invalid Medical Time-Out. (when no standard time-out available)
The referee is empowered to call verbal warning, technical warnings and technical fouls. When a technical foul is called, one point removed from the score of the offending player/team unless their score is zero, in which case, a point shall be added to the score of the opposing side. Actions or behavior that shall result in a technical foul include:
• Aggressive/reckless throw of paddle, player using extremely objectionable language, or profanity, regardless of to whom or what it is directed.
• Making a threat or challenges of any nature toward or against any person.
• Challenging the referees decision or ruling, any actions considered extreme unsportsmanlike behavior.
• Deliberately throwing/hitting a ball that is not in play with negligent disregard of the consequences which inadvertently hits a person.
• Loss of challenge to referee ruling.
• Invalid Medical Time-Out. (when no standard time-out available)
4.14CHALLENGES
Teams may appeal to a referee about a line call. If a referee is able to overturn a blatantly incorrect line call a technical warning shall be issued. As is standard, a second overturned call and subsequent second technical warning will result in the loss of a point to the player (team) who made the incorrect call.
It remains in the referee's power to issue a technical warning for repeatedly appealing line calls. Repeatedly making line call challenges for any purpose other than to correct a questionable call is considered unsportsmanlike behavior.
It remains in the referee's power to issue a technical warning for repeatedly appealing line calls. Repeatedly making line call challenges for any purpose other than to correct a questionable call is considered unsportsmanlike behavior.
4.15TIE BREAKERS
In the event that each of the two teams win two games within a match, those teams will compete in a head-to-head rotational singles match. Each member of a team will play a combined 3 points until a total score of 21 is reached. The teams will switch ends of the court when one team reaches a score of 11. Normal freeze rules will apply to tiebreakers.
36.4 EVENT HOSTING REQUIREMENTS
The host team for each CNPL event is responsible for ensuring that the venue meets all league standards for competitive play. Host team responsibilities include:
- Facility: A suitable indoor venue with adequate court space, lighting, and climate control for competitive pickleball.
- Seating: Spectator seating with a minimum capacity appropriate for the event level, including designated areas for team personnel.
- First Aid: On-site first aid supplies and personnel, with clear emergency procedures posted and communicated to all participants.
- Ticketing: A ticketing and entry management system that complies with CNPL standards for spectator access and revenue tracking.
Failure to meet hosting requirements may result in loss of hosting privileges and/or league penalties as determined by the CNPL Board of Directors.
46.5 OFFICIAL EQUIPMENT
All CNPL-sanctioned events must use the following official equipment:
- Ball: Owl CK40
- Net: C&D Flat Based Championship Net OR C&D Inground
- Flooring: Total Sports Solutions
Teams and venues are required to use only CNPL-approved equipment during official league play. Any exceptions must be approved in writing by the CNPL Board of Directors prior to the event.