Chicago Pickleball League

DUPR Caps

Schedule

• Week 1: Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026
• Week 2: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026
• Week 3: Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026
• Playoffs: Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026

League Format

Same for CPL 22 and CPL 20.

The league season consists of an 8-team round robin, with every team playing each of the other 7 teams once. Each team match consists of 4 games: Men's Doubles, Women's Doubles, and 2 Mixed Doubles. If the match is tied 2–2 after those 4 games, a singles tiebreaker is used to decide the match.

With 7 matches throughout the season, each team plays 2 matches in 2 of the regular-season weeks and 3 matches in one of the weeks. All matches for each team are played consecutively, so wait times between matches are relatively short. See the example schedule below for how each regular-season week will look.

Playoff Qualification

At the end of the regular season, the top 4 teams from each league advance to the playoffs. The top 4 are decided based on:

1. Overall record
2. Head-to-head record
3. Game differential (games won – games lost)
4. Point differential (points won – points lost)

Scoring

In all regular-season doubles games, games are played to 11, win by 2. Switch sides at 6.

In the event of a singles tiebreaker, the game is played to 21, rally scoring. All 4 players play in the singles tiebreaker, with teammates rotating out every 4 points. Switch sides at 11.

In the playoffs (semifinals and finals), all doubles games are played to 15, win by 2. Switch sides at 8. The singles-tiebreaker scoring format stays the same as the regular season.

Coin Toss

Before each match, a coin toss decides several aspects of the match. The randomly assigned "Home Team" selects heads or tails. The winner of the coin toss has 4 options to choose from:

• React to Mixed Line-Ups — if you select this option, the other team is able to react to the singles-tiebreaker line-up, if applicable.
• Choose to Receive or Serve
• Choose Starting Side — applies to all doubles games and the singles tiebreaker, if applicable.
• Choose Order of Events — Women's or Men's Doubles first.

After the coin-toss winner makes a selection, the other team decides next from one of the remaining options. Teams alternate making selections from these 4 options until all 4 have been decided.

Team Rosters & Sub Policies

Teams may fill rosters with players of any DUPR rating and from any location. The only restriction is that CPL 22 teams must have a total team DUPR of 22.300 or lower, and CPL 20 teams must be 20.300 or lower.

To promote fairness, players are required to play in at least 2 of the 3 regular-season weeks in order to be playoff eligible. Subs are allowed for all regular-season weeks. The only restriction for subs during the regular season is that their DUPR at that time must not push the team DUPR over the stated limit.

Playoff Sub Exceptions

While players are required to play 2 regular-season weeks to be playoff eligible, we understand there are extenuating circumstances (illness, injury, etc.). In this case, an exception can be made. However, playoff subs must meet two additional criteria:

• The sub's DUPR must be equal to or lower than the DUPR of the player he/she is replacing.
• The sub must be a local player residing in one of the following counties: Cook, DuPage, Kane, Will, Lake, McHenry.

The goal is not to punish any team that runs into this situation, but rather to ensure teams don't gain an unfair advantage by using a sub.

Prize Money

This is the guaranteed prize-money payout structure as of now. Prize money will go up if we can secure sponsorships.

Equipment

• Ball: Life Time LT Pro 48. Balls are provided for league play.
• Paddles must be USAP or UPA approved. Check yours against the USA Pickleball approved paddle list or the UPA approved equipment list before your first match day.
• A paddle that is not on either list cannot be used. If it is questioned during a match, the player switches to an approved paddle and play continues — points already played stand.

Additional Info

• Scores will be reported to DUPR.

Example Schedule

Pickled! Batavia courts.

• All teams play 2 matches in Week 1.
• Blaze, Breakers, Storm and Surge play 3 matches in Week 2.
• Express, Freeze, Riot and Skyline play 3 matches in Week 3.
• On the week a team plays 3 matches, they still play all matches consecutively — no 2-hour gap between matches.

Misc

• TBD — referees for matches during the round robin.
• Referees will be utilized in the playoffs.
• Super-majority to make any changes or solve disputes moving forward: 6 of 8 captains must agree.

League Governance & Rule Changes

To ensure fairness and eliminate any perception of bias, league founders do not have unilateral authority to change league rules during the season. Any proposed rule change or exception must be approved by a 6-of-8 captain supermajority within the affected league (CPL 22 or CPL 20).

This approach gives the players ownership of the league while ensuring that any changes reflect the consensus of the teams, not the preferences of league leadership.