Terms & Conditions
2025 European Pickleball Championships

General

• The 2025 EPC Team Championships are open to EPF Members' preselected teams.
• The EPC2025 will follow the EPF Rules and Regulations, which include the current year's USAP regulations and amendments approved by EPF relating mainly to Coaching and Approved Paddles.
• To be eligible for Country Selection a Player:
  
  • must be at least 14 years old by the end of the year
  • must be a member and maintain good standing* with their National Association
  • may not have represented another country in a team event in the 24 months preceding the EPC2025
  • must be a national (hold a valid unexpired passport) of the country which is entering such competitor
  
  A player with multiple citizenships can pick one of their nationalities to represent OR player must be a resident of the country continuously for the 24 months immediately prior to the event.
  
  *Good standing requires that players are free from suspensions, respect fair play, comply with all rules, and have no serious criminal convictions or conduct that discredits their National Association or the EPF. National Associations will determine eligibility based on these criteria, and any appeals regarding good standing can only be reviewed under specific conditions by the EPF EPC2025 Committee, whose decisions are final.
  
  Countries are required to select only Players who are eligible to compete for them in the Competition. If requested by the EPC2025_OC, the Country must provide evidence demonstrating the eligibility of the selected Player.
  
  No individual has an inherent right to participate in the Competition, regardless of their eligibility. The EPF retains the authority to reject a Country’s nomination of any Player, and can also bar other Team Members from participation at its discretion, with or without justification.
  
  
• All players are asked to abide by EPC tournament etiquette Click Here
• We will have first aiders at the tournament but all teams and players enter at their OWN risk.
  By participating in the EPC all teams and players agree and accept a waiver of liability:

  "I release and discharge, for myself, my heirs, executors, and administrators, the organizers, the facility, its members, employees, and sponsors and all persons associated with the tournament from all claims, damages, rights of action present or future which may arise in connection with my participation in the tournament. I understand that filming and photographs will be taken at this event and I give permission to the European Pickleball Federation to use the creative content to advertise, promote or showcase the event. I understand that it is my responsibility to make it known that I do not wish to have my picture taken or my games filmed. Persons aged under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult."

• The Competition Draw is published on our Tournament Software (TS). The available Tournament App provides each player with details of the upcoming games on all courts. All teams will be sent a pdf of their schedule via email and a link to TS to enable them to browse their schedules and their standing as the tournament progresses.
• The 30 participating Countries have been divided into 5 groups based on their Medal places and average DUPR rating submitted by each team. The competition format will be round robin group stages where every win and point will count towards where a team ends in the group. Not every team goes forward to the knockout stages. See further information under Competition Format.Click Here
• We have a photographer and video crew attending the tournament. It is assumed that every player has given permission for us to take their picture/film them, unless we are advised otherwise.
• All teams must wear the approved T-shirt for the opening Ceremony and for all games.
• Shorts / Skirts / Skorts to be supplied by the participating team. Each team to decide on a colour out of (Black, White, Cream, Navy Blue, Grey) and all team members are required to have the same colour chosen.
• Any team failing to comply with these kit regulations may face disqualification for a match or from the EPC2025.

Competition Format

• The 30 participating Countries are divided into 5 groups of 6 teams. (Groups A - E)
• Each event will comprise round robin group games followed by a knock out competition.
• Round robin games will be played consecutively on allocated courts except for OPEN and singles events.
• On completion of the these matches, teams will be ranked on results in the following sequence:
  
  • Number of Wins
  • Points Difference
  • Points For
  • Head to Head
• The top 2 teams in each Group will go through to the Knockout Stage.
• Please remember that if the team is through to the semi finals and it loses, there is still the bronze medal match to play.
• Both teams are responsible for confirming their players names at the score control table at least 10 minutes before the game starts.
• The score sheet provided to teams will define whether the game is played to 11 or 15 and win by 1 or 2 and whether it is 1 game or best of 3
• Score sheets should be returned immediately to the designated 'court control' table by one of the players in the winning team. The winning player has to verify that the score has been entered correctly before the court monitor submits the score to TS [Tournament Software]
• Results uploaded into TS are available for players to view online via your mobile phone. The link will be available via https://www.epfpb.org.
• In the round robin matches there will be no time outs allowed. In the knock out rounds, each team is allowed a 1 minute time out per game. In the event of a medical time out, a max of 15 minutes is allowed before the team calling the time out forfeits
• Court times include a maximum of 2 minutes of knock up is allowed before a game starts if required and the schedule is not running late.
• Any team not arriving on court within 5 minutes of their game's start time may forfeit the match
• In the event of a team withdrawing from the competition, all of the team's games will be taken out of the table results
• Late arrivals – any matches forfeited due to late arrival will be scored as 11-0 but the team can continue in the competition if they arrive in time for their second match.
• Medal matches will be refereed if a referee is available.
• Gold, Silver & Bronze medals will be awarded.
• There will be a Medal Ceremony at the end of each day which will include a photo opportunity for medal winners.

EPC tournament etiquette

We want everyone to enjoy the 2025 EPC tournament, here are a few tips to keep things fair and enjoyable:

• Games will start promptly at the notified starting time each day. Please check your schedule to see what time your first game is and arrive at least 30 minutes before your first game is due to be played.
• All teams will be sent a personal match schedule via email before the tournament. The schedule will also be available online (see menu at side of this page).
• Paddle tap and thank your opponents for the game.
• Give your opponent time to get into position before you serve.
• The server should clearly announce the score before they serve.
• If the opponent claims there was a major distraction while hitting a shot (e.g. ball bouncing onto the court), don't hesitate to replay the point.
• Please do not walk behind a court whilst a rally is in progress.
• Please only call a ball out if it clearly is, if in doubt the ball is in!
• Please refrain from swearing whilst on court.
• Please do not throw your paddle.
• Be kind and respectful to each other.
• We will not tolerate bullying, verbal abuse or shouting.
• In the event of any dispute within a game, the game should be halted and the Tournament Director found to address the dispute.
• The decision of the Tournament Director or Technical Director is final. Any player not accepting the decision will be withdrawn from the event. No discussion will be entered into following the decision.