Only paddles that are on the USA Pickleball or UPA-A Pickleball list of certified paddles on the date of play are eligible for play in APC Championship Series events.

The official ball of the Championship Series is the standard ball used at the Ace Pickleball Club where the tournament is being played.

• Line calls are the responsibility of the players. In matches that involve a referee a line call can be appealed to the referee. If the referee can make a definitive call, the referee’s call will stand. In situations where the referee is unable to make a definitive call, the player call will stand.

• A player can stop a point if they feel that the pickleball in play is cracked. If the ball is in fact cracked, the point will be replayed. If the ball is not found to be cracked, the team that stopped play will lose the point.

• Players are allowed to receive coaching from outside parties only during timeouts and between games.  Coaching during play is not permitted.  In situations where players feel the opponents are getting outside coaching during play, they should halt play and seek a club representative to resolve the issue.

• Timeouts

  • Each team can take a single 1-minute timeout in each game that is played.

  • Medical timeouts are granted on an as-needed basis. Any time a medical timeout is requested, players should seek a club representative to cheek on the player and assess the situation and determine if a medical timeout will be granted. A max of 10 minutes will be allocated to the medical timeout and that clock will start at the time the player states that they need a medical timeout.

• Any on-court dispute within a match without a referee that can’t be resolved by the players, should be brought to the pool manager or tournament staff so that they can help resolve the dispute.

• Club Representative Referees - in games where a club representative is the referee for a match, that referee will be responsible for: watching for service faults, foot faults at the kitchen line and will be available to appeal line calls made by players.  If the referee can make a definitive call on the appealed ball, the referee’s call will stand.  In situations where the referee is unable to make a definitive call, the player call will stand.  These referees will be tracking along with the score, but players will be calling the score prior to each point.

• Official Referee - in games where an official/certified referee is the referee for a match, that referee will be responsible for: all items mentioned above for a Club Representative Referee as well as being the official scorekeeper for the match.

• Club officials have the right to disqualify players and remove teams from play for any action deemed to be unsportsmanlike.  Examples of unsportsmanlike conduct include but are not limited to the following:

  • Objectionable language directed at another person

  • Profanity (including hand gestures)

  • Aggressive arguing

  • Throwing a paddle

  • Intentional or aggressive abuse of a pickleball

  • Intentional or aggressive physical contact with a player, official, or spectator

  • Intentionally or aggressively hitting a pickleball outside of game play

Players are not permitted to wear headphones or earbuds during play unless they are needed for a medically approved hearing need.

The first-place team from each Skill Level/Age Group in these tournaments will qualify for and be invited to the APC National Championship which will take place the week of January 26th, 2026.  The location for that event will be announced at a later date.