New NCPA College Pickleball Rules Deem Contracted Pros Ineligible to Compete

The college pickleball landscape is largely unregulated in terms of who can compete, when and where — these new eligibility rules mark a legitimate shift toward standardization

Since 2020, the average age of pickleball players has dropped by six years, from 41 to now less than 35. And all signs point toward that downward trend continuing.

Pickleball is no longer growing from the top down; it's growing from the bottom up. And nowhere is that better displayed than in college pickleball. 

But because it is not recognized as an NCAA sport, pickleball’s emergence in college athletics is not centrally regulated.

The Association of Pickleball Players (APP), College Pickleball Tour and DUPR, National Collegiate Pickleball Association (NCPA) and USA Pickleball all play different roles in the landscape.

This week, with the release of new player eligibility rulings, the NCPA took a major step toward increased regulation.

The New NCPA Participation Rules

To compete on the NCPA Collegiate Tour, the new rules stipulate:

• Players must have graduated from high school and be enrolled in a degree program, taking at least 12 undergraduate credits or six credits for graduate students
• Credits must be enrolled in the same school a student represents
• If a student is deemed eligible during the qualification period, their eligibility remains valid for the entire season

Players have four years of eligibility, which must be used within a five-year window. The season is from September to April. 

Redshirt eligibility is available, too. If players only practice throughout a season and do not play in any games, the season will not count toward their four-year eligibility. Medical redshirting will be available if a student plays in less than 30% of games and events, and must be applied for and approved by the NCPA. 

All the above rules will go into effect in September 2026, the beginning of the 2026-27 season. 

As for players with an official amateur status, sponsorships, endorsements and NIL agreements are allowed, but a pro contract with the PPA Tour, Major League Pickleball, or the APP Tour make players ineligible. 

A former professional who steps away from the pro scene must complete a one-year cooldown period before competing in collegiate events.

Why This Matters

At the 2026 NCPA Nationals in late February, Florida Atlantic University took first place, but not without sparking a little controversy along the way. With several registered pros in their lineup, FAU dominated the field and left many questioning fairness. 

FAU’s winning team featured Jayden Broderick, who is a pro who has a bronze medal in Men’s Doubles on APP tour, and Ava Cavataio, who has played in 16 professional tournaments and has a 5.621 DUPR in doubles. 

While pickleball remains a “club sport” by technicality, the NCPA’s newest rulings are a big step in its advancement towards becoming a legitimate collegiate sport.