DCPL RULEBOOK
Dink Club Pickleball League (DCPL) – Rule Book
League Overview
This league operates on a season-long format where teams compete in scheduled matches. At the end of the regular season, the top 4 teams in each division advance to the playoffs to determine the league champion.
All games will be DUPR rated.
Team Structure
Roster Requirements
- Minimum of 4 players per team: 2 men and 2 women.
- No reserves are permitted.
- Once players are registered to a team, they are bound to that team for the entire season and cannot transfer mid-season.
Team Captain
- One player must be designated as the team captain to manage lineups and league communication.
Substitutions
- No reserves are permitted. Teams must compete only with their registered rostered players.
- Substitutions are allowed only under the following strict conditions
1. Injury Exception:
- If a player suffers a verifiable injury during warm-ups or in a match and cannot continue, the game in progress is automatically forfeited.
- The team may bring in a pre-approved emergency substitute only for subsequent games that day
2. Absence Exception:
- If a player cannot attend a match day for unavoidable reasons, the team may request an emergency substitute.
- Substitutes must be submitted to and approved by league officials at least 6 hours prior to match time.
- Substitute Eligibility:
- Substitutes must not already be rostered on another team in the league
- A substitute may not serve as a substitute for multiple teams during the season.
- The team’s division DUPR cap (12 or 14) must still be maintained when including the substitute.
- The substitute’s current DUPR will be added to the original roster players’ registration DUPR to confirm compliance with the division limit.
- Each team is limited to a maximum number of substitute appearances **less than the total round robin games**.
- For example, in a 7-game round robin season, no more than 3 substitute appearances are permitted.
- After that limit is reached, original roster players must participate, or the match will result in a forfeit.
- Weather or Unforeseen Circumstances Clause:
- If a substitute starts a game and completes a match, and the game is later canceled due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, that same substitute is required to finish the rescheduled matches for that game.
- Playoff Restriction:
- No substitutes are permitted in playoffs or Finals Night under any circumstances.
- Teams must compete with their registered roster only.
- Violations:
- Use of an unapproved substitute will result in automatic forfeiture of all games for that match day.
- Repeated violations may result in suspension or expulsion from the league.
Match Format
Each team match includes 4 games:
- Women’s Doubles
- Men’s Doubles
- Mixed Doubles #1
- Mixed Doubles #2
The team that wins more games (best of 4) wins the match.
If tied 2–2, a Dreambreaker will be played:
- Format: Singles game to 21, win by 2.
- Players rotate every 4 points.
- Each team must cycle through all rostered players before repeating.
Scoring Rules
Side-Out Scoring
- Games to 11, win by 2. Only serving teams score.
Timeouts
- One timeout per team per game (60 seconds).
Side Switching
- Optional switch at 6 points, recommended for outdoor play.
Equipment
All paddles and balls must be USA Pickleball-approved.
Approved Equipment
- Paddles must be commercially manufactured and designed specifically for pickleball. - Paddles must be on the USA Pickleball-approved paddle list.
Surface and Materials
- Paddle surface must be smooth and non-spin-enhancing. - No holes, rough textures, or reflective surfaces.
Size and Weight
- Paddle length + width ≤ 24 inches; max length = 17 inches. - No weight restriction.
Alterations
- Lead tape and stickers allowed if not affecting surface performance. - Subject to approval by league officials.
Paddle Inspections
- League officials may inspect paddles at any time.
- Violations may result in forfeits or point deductions.
Sportsmanship Expectations
Players are expected to remain competitive while demonstrating respect, integrity, and good sportsmanship throughout the league. No formal penalties will be issued; however, league officials may intervene if conduct disrupts the spirit of fair play or the enjoyment of others.
Standings & Points System Team Standings
- Team standings will be determined by overall team record first, then total points scored.
- Tiebreakers will follow the order of match differential, point differential, and head-to-head results if needed.
Individual Player Rankings
- In addition to team standings, there will be individual player rankings based on total points scored across all matches during the season.
Divisions
DCPL will consist of two competitive divisions:
- DUPR 12 Division
- DUPR 14 Division
Each division will consist of 8 teams. Teams will play each other once, resulting in 7 total matches per team in the regular season. This round-robin structure determines standings for playoff qualification.
A team's DUPR level will be calculated using the average of the 4 highest-rated DUPR players on the roster.
Schedule Format & Finals Night
The season schedule is structured as follows:
Match Day 1:
- Player briefing to go over league rules, format, and expectations.
- Each team plays 1 match.
Match Days 2–4:
- Each team plays 2 matches per day.
At the end of the regular season, the top 4 teams in each division qualify for Finals Night, which includes:
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Semifinal Matchups
- #1 seed vs. #4 seed
- #2 seed vs. #3 seed - Final Matches
- Championship Final: Winners of each semifinal
- Bronze Match: Losers of each semifinal
Seeding is determined by regular-season standings, using match differential, point differential, and head- to-head as tiebreakers.
Rule Revisions
League officials may revise rules mid-season with majority team approval if necessary for fairness, scheduling, or safety.