Minor League Pickleball New Zealand (MiLP NZ) – Rules & Regulations

Issued by the MLPA League Commissioner - 18th Feb 2026

Overview

What is MiLP NZ?

The Dink Minor League New Zealand (MiLP) is the official co-ed amateur team pickleball competition in New Zealand and the exclusive qualification pathway into Major League Pickleball Australia (MLPA) Challenger and Masters 50+ teams, along with the pathway to  MiLP Austalasian Finals then onto the US MiLP Nationals.
It provides a transparent, merit-based progression from grassroots events to national and international competition.

League Philosophy

MiLP promotes accessibility, competitive integrity, and a clear performance pathway. All participants must compete in good faith and adhere to Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR) and Pickleball New Zealand Association (PNZA) fair-play standards.

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Competition Structure

4v4 Team Format (Primary Format)

• Roster: 4 players (2 male, 2 female)
• Match Format:
  
  • Women’s doubles
  • Men’s doubles
  • Two mixed doubles
  • DreamBreaker if tied 2–2
• Matches: Minimum 3 pool matches + elimination finals
• Duration: Best-of-5 team format (~90 minutes)

3v3 Team Format (Select Events Only)

• Roster: 3 players (same gender)
• Match Format: 3 doubles combinations
• Matches: Minimum 3 pool matches + elimination finals
• Duration: Best-of-3 (~60 minutes)

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Divisions

Divisions are determined by combined team DUPR ratings:

• DUPR 12
• DUPR 14
• DUPR 16 
• DUPR 16 50+
• DUPR 18
• DUPR 20 / 50+ (Champions Division Combined)

Season Structure

• Regional Showdown Events: 4+ nationwide (March–August)
• Leaderboards: National team and individual tracking
• Australian MiLP Nationals: September 18–20, 2026 (Melbourne)
• USA MiLP Nationals: December 2026

Pathway to MiLP Nationals (Australia)

MiLP is the sole pathway for amateur teams to qualify for Australian MiLP Nationals.

• Top 2 teams in each DUPR division at Regional Showdowns qualify
• If spots are declined, invitations pass to 3rd place teams
• Division leaderboard winners also qualify
• Teams may substitute players provided the DUPR cap remains valid, and those players have played in at least one MiLP NZ event.

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Pathway to Major League Pickleball Australia (MLPA)

MiLP is the sole qualification pathway into MLPA Challenger and Masters 50+ teams.

Qualification:
The Rotorua event (July 31–August 2) will be the qualification event for MLPA.

• The top 2 Teams from each Regional event NZ DUPR 20 → invited to Rotorua qualification event.
• The top 2 Teams from each Regional event NZ DUPR 20 50+ → invited to Rotorua qualification event.
• The winning team from DUPR 20 → invited to NZ Hustle Challenger team
• The winning team from DUPR 20 50+ → invited to NZ Hustle Masters team

**MLPA in conjunction with PNZA may select up to 2 additional athletes from the runners up team to join the MLPA squad for Challenger and Masters.

Key Conditions:

• No draft or captain selections, qualification is performance-based
• Qualified teams receive official MLPA team branding and uniforms
• Players drafted into Premier MLPA (June 2026) are ineligible for MiLP National Qualifiers
• If drafted into Premier after qualification, teams may replace that player in addition to the standard substitute allowance

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MLPA Integration

• Qualified teams enter MLPA Challenger or Masters 50+ competitions
• Challenger teams may serve as alternates or substitutes for Premier teams
• MiLP matches follow official MiLP rules
• MLPA competition follows the 2026 MLPA Rules & Regulations

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Event Rules & Conduct

Match Rules

All matches follow official MiLP rules:

• Gender doubles + mixed doubles + DreamBreaker
• Certified referees at official events
• Disputes follow MiLP resolution pathway

Official rules:
https://www.dupr.com/minorleague/rules

Player Eligibility

• Valid DUPR rating required
• Players from Australia and New Zealand eligible
• Must be Pickleball Australia member for Australian events
• 50+ division: players must be 50+ in 2026
• Registration closes per event schedule
• For DUPR 20 Champions Division events, minimum 3 players must reside in the represented country

Code of Conduct

All participants must follow MiLP and PNZA - codes of conduct.
Unsportsmanlike behaviour (abuse, delays, manipulation of results) may result in disqualification or suspension.

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FAQs

Who can form a team?
Any eligible players (2 male, 2 female) with valid DUPR ratings. For DUPR 20 Champions Division, at least 3 players must reside in the country represented.

How are divisions determined?
By aggregated team DUPR ratings. Division cut-offs are published per event.

How many qualifiers are there?
Eight regional qualifiers across Australia/New Zealand. Champions Division winners qualify for MLPA.

Can teams play multiple qualifiers?
Yes, but teams may only qualify for one MLPA team. Once qualified, they cannot qualify again in another region.

Is there prize money?
MiLP awards medals for top 3 teams (Gold, Silver, and Bronze), but there is no prize money. MLPA prize structures will be confirmed for 2026.

Where are schedules and results?
Published via official MiLP New Zealand channels throughout the season.

Definitions

DUPR: Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating used for division placement.
Champions Division: Highest competitive tier within each DUPR bracket qualifying to MLPA.
DreamBreaker: Singles rotation tiebreak played if teams are tied 2–2.

Governance

MiLP NZ is governed by:
League Commissioner: Sange Carter
MiLP Co-ordinator: Dan Sypkes

Delivered in consultation with Pickleball New Zealand Association (PNZA).

Rules and formats may be updated annually to support growth and competitive balance. Participants will be notified of material changes prior to the season.

Contact:
Dan Sypkes - dan@ppatour.com.au

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