Tournament & Ranking Regulations

01About these regulations

These regulations explain how NI Padel graded tournaments and player rankings are administered. They apply to every NI Padel ranking event unless different conditions are clearly stated on the event page.

Formats, draw sizes, schedules, scoring systems, entry fees and prizes vary from event to event. Full details are always published on the relevant event page.

02Tournament grades

NI Padel tournaments run at four grades. The grade reflects the intended standard of competition and the number of ranking points available.

Grade 1: NI Championships

Grade 1 is the highest level of NI Padel competition. These events are less frequent and are intended to attract the best available players. They may carry larger prize funds and offer the highest number of ranking points. Grade 1 suits players competing among the leading players in Northern Ireland, alongside other eligible or invited high-level competitors.

Grade 2: NI Open Series

Grade 2 provides regular advanced-level competition. These events may feature some of Northern Ireland’s best players alongside strong competitors who play Grade 3 regularly and are ready to challenge themselves higher. Grade 2 carries significant ranking points and forms an important part of the competitive calendar.

Grade 3: NI Challenger Series

Grade 3 is open to any player who wants to test themselves at a higher standard. There is no rating cap and nothing to qualify for. It suits players who have outgrown the Grade 4 Club Series, and equally anyone who simply wants a stronger test. Players should use their own experience and previous results to judge whether it is the right level for them.

Grade 4: NI Club Series

Grade 4 is designed for regular intermediate players, whether they are beginning their competitive journey or compete at this level often. To enter a Grade 4 event:

• Each player must have an individual Playtomic rating of 4.0 or below, or an equivalent standard, when the entry is submitted.
• Both players must meet the requirement individually. Pair ratings cannot be averaged.
• Places are allocated first come, first served among eligible, completed entries.
• Ranking position gives no priority over an eligible Grade 4 entry submitted earlier.

A later automatic change to a player’s Playtomic rating will not necessarily invalidate an entry that has already been accepted, although NI Padel may review it where the player’s established standard is considered to be above the intended Grade 4 level.

Playtomic ratings are a useful eligibility guide but do not always reflect playing standard accurately. NI Padel may refuse an entry, or direct a player to a higher grade, where previous results, competitive experience, coaching background or established level clearly exceed the intended Grade 4 standard. Players without a current or verifiable Playtomic rating, or with an equivalent rating from another platform, must contact NI Padel for approval before entering.

Two wins and you move up

Regular Grade 4 players are welcome to keep competing at this level while they remain eligible, with one limit. A player who has won two Grade 4 events moves up to Grade 3 and may not enter a further Grade 4 event, whatever their rating says.

• Both members of a winning pair are credited with the win, because both of them won it.
• The count does not reset. Two titles is evidence that a player has outgrown the level, and that is not undone by taking a season off.
• Ranking points already earned at Grade 4 are unaffected and continue to count for their full 52 weeks.
• Moving up is a promotion, not a sanction. It places no restriction on club, league or social play at any level.

Separately from this rule, NI Padel may still direct a player to a higher grade where their results, experience or established level clearly exceed the intended Grade 4 standard.

03Choosing and playing in a grade

Grades are levels of competition, not permanent player classifications.

• Players may enter Grades 1, 2 or 3 provided they meet any published conditions and their entry is accepted. There are no fixed rating caps at these grades.
• Players are encouraged to move up when they feel ready for a stronger challenge. Playing a higher grade does not prevent a later return to any grade for which they remain eligible.
• Grade 4 is the only grade with a protected entry cap. Players who do not meet the Grade 4 requirements must enter Grade 3 or above.
• Movement up from Grade 4 is one way. A player who has won two Grade 4 events does not return to that grade, although they may of course enter any higher one.

NI Padel may refuse or redirect an entry where that is reasonably necessary to protect player safety, competitive balance or the integrity of an event.

04Event eligibility

Individual tournaments may be open, restricted or invitation-based. Any category requirement, whether gender, age, qualification or otherwise, is stated on the event page.

Players are responsible for making sure everything supplied with their entry is complete and accurate. Entering an event does not guarantee acceptance. Unless stated otherwise, a player does not need an existing NI Padel ranking to enter a ranking event.

05Completing an entry

An entry is complete only when all of the following are true:

• Both players have been identified.
• All required entry information has been provided.
• The entry fee has been paid.
• Any eligibility requirements have been satisfied.

An incomplete entry does not reserve a place in the draw. Entries may not be transferred or sold to another pair, and any partner substitution must be approved by the tournament organiser.

06Entry acceptance

Grade 4

Eligible entries are accepted first come, first served. Priority is set by the time a completed entry is received, not by an initial enquiry or an unfinished registration. If an event is full, further eligible pairs may join a waiting list in the order their completed entries arrived.

Grades 1–3

Where an event is oversubscribed, acceptance is normally based on the pair’s combined NI Padel ranking points at the entry closing date. NI Padel may reserve places for qualifiers, wild cards, invited players or pairs, players meeting an event-specific qualification route, or other places identified before entries open. Any alternative method is stated on the event page.

Equal acceptance positions

Where two pairs have the same combined total, priority goes in this order:

1. The pair containing the player with the higher individual ranking total.
2. The pair with the strongest single counting result.
3. The pair that completed its entry first.

07Waiting lists

When a place becomes available it is normally offered to the next eligible pair on the waiting list. A deadline may be given for accepting and paying; if the pair does not respond in time, the place may pass to the next pair.

NI Padel may depart from the waiting-list order where a specific replacement is needed to preserve an event category, a qualification condition or a balanced draw.

08Wild cards and unranked players

A limited number of wild cards may be used at Grades 1–3. They may be awarded to:

• Strong players without an established NI Padel ranking.
• Players returning after an extended absence.
• Visiting or externally ranked players.
• Promising players progressing through the competitive pathway.
• Sponsor or host nominations, where appropriate.
• Players whose inclusion strengthens the standard of the event.

A wild card provides entry but not automatically a seeded position. For ordinary ranking-based acceptance an unranked player is treated as having zero points, though NI Padel may still consider verified results, experience or external rankings when making wild-card and seeding decisions.

Wild cards cannot be used to bypass Grade 4 eligibility requirements.

09Seedings

Seedings keep the strongest pairs apart in the early stages. They are normally based on the combined individual ranking points of both players at the stated seeding date. A player on 400 points with a partner on 250 gives the pair 650.

NI Padel may adjust a seeding where the current rankings do not reflect a player’s established standard, which can apply to new, returning or visiting players and to competitors with significant results outside the NI Padel system. Unseeded positions are drawn according to the tournament format, and seedings may be amended before play begins after a withdrawal, substitution or correction.

10Ranking points

Points are awarded by the grade of the tournament and the pair’s final result or equivalent finishing position.

Where an event does not use a standard knockout draw, NI Padel identifies the equivalent finishing positions before the tournament begins.

11How points are awarded

Points are awarded to players individually, even though tournaments are played in pairs. Both players receive the points for their pair’s final result, so both members of a winning Grade 3 pair receive 300. Points are never divided between partners.

• A player receives only the points for their highest finishing position in an event; results within the same event are not added together.
• A player must take part in at least one official match to receive points. A walkover does not count as taking part, although a pair receiving one may still earn points if they play another match during the event.
• A match that begins and then ends in retirement normally counts as played.
• A pair coming through a qualifying round receives the points for the position they reach in the main draw, and nothing separately for qualifying.
• Ranking points follow a player’s finishing position. The main draw pays down to reaching the knockout, and the Bowl pays its winner and its runner-up. Nothing else in a second draw scores.
• A pair eliminated at the group stage scores no ranking points. Points begin at the row above it: reaching the knockout, or reaching the final of the Bowl.

Where a tournament uses pools, boxes or round-robin groups, the event page explains how final positions map to the points table.

12Reduced or altered points

NI Padel may approve reduced points for a restricted draw, a shortened event or an alternative format. Any reduced structure should be published before entries open; if circumstances change afterwards, affected players are told before competition begins wherever that is reasonably possible.

A category must normally begin with at least four pairs to carry ranking points. With fewer than four, NI Padel may cancel the category, merge it with another, run it as a non-ranking competition, or approve an alternative allocation. An event may also be regraded before play begins if the final entry level or structure differs materially from what was advertised.

13Individual rankings

Separate individual ranking lists are maintained for men and women.

• A ranking total is the player’s best five eligible results from the previous 52 weeks.
• With fewer than five ranking events completed, every eligible result counts.
• With more than five, only the five highest count. A new result replaces a lower counting one where it improves the total.
• No more than four of the five counting results may come from Grade 4. Grade 4 is the only grade with a rating cap on entry, and a ranking covering the whole tour should not be buildable from one protected level alone. A result set aside by this limit is not lost; the next best result from any grade takes the place instead.
• Results stay valid for 52 weeks from the date the tournament finished, then drop out of the total.
• Players may change partners between tournaments without losing points already earned.
• Mixed events do not affect the men’s or women’s rankings unless expressly advertised as a ranking event with a published points allocation.

14Ranking ties

Where players have the same total, order is decided by comparing, in turn:

1. Their highest individual counting result.
2. Their second-highest counting result.
3. Their remaining counting results in descending order.
4. The most recently achieved highest-value counting result.

If players are still level after all of that, they share the same ranking position.

15Ranking updates

Rankings are updated once official results are verified, so there is a short administrative delay after an event finishes. The rankings published on this site are the official rankings unless NI Padel confirms that a correction or review is in progress.

16Partner changes and substitutions

Ranking points belong to the individual player and cannot be transferred to a partner. Where an accepted pair asks to change partner before the tournament:

• The replacement must meet every event eligibility requirement.
• The revised pair may be reassessed for acceptance.
• The pair’s seeding may change.
• A Grade 4 replacement must individually meet the Grade 4 entry requirements.

A change that materially strengthens a pair does not automatically keep the original pair’s place in an oversubscribed event. Substitutions are not permitted once the pair has begun its first match, except where the published format expressly allows it, and only the players who actually compete receive ranking points.

17Withdrawals, walkovers and retirements

Players who need to withdraw must tell the tournament organiser as soon as possible.

• A pair withdrawing before its first match receives no ranking points.
• Withdrawing after the competition has begun normally earns points for the stage legitimately reached. NI Padel may withhold points for an unexplained no-show, deliberate manipulation or serious misconduct.
• A pair awarded a walkover progresses, but still has to play at least one official match to receive points.
• A retirement after a match has begun is normally recorded as a completed match for ranking purposes.

Refunds follow the withdrawal and refund conditions published for the individual event. Repeated late withdrawals or failures to attend may lead to temporary restrictions on future entries.

18Disqualifications

A player or pair that is disqualified may lose some or all ranking points from the event. Disqualification may follow:

• Serious or repeated misconduct.
• Deliberately providing false eligibility information.
• Using an unapproved substitute.
• Attempting to manipulate a rating, ranking or tournament result.
• Refusing to comply with tournament officials.
• A serious breach of the event or venue rules.

Any points decision takes account of the circumstances and the stage of the competition.

19Cancelled or abandoned events

No points are awarded where an event or category is cancelled before play begins. If an event is abandoned after play has started, points are awarded only where NI Padel determines that a fair and reliable final classification can be established. Where that is not possible the event may be declared void for ranking purposes, and any decision is applied consistently across the affected category.

20Results and corrections

Tournament organisers are responsible for submitting complete and accurate results. Players should report an apparent error within seven days of the results or updated rankings being published.

NI Padel may correct incorrect player identities, incorrect match results, duplicate player profiles, points awarded under the wrong grade, ranking-calculation errors, and results affected by an eligibility or disciplinary decision. A genuine administrative error may be corrected after seven days where that is necessary to keep the rankings accurate.

21Eligibility reviews and appeals

A player may ask NI Padel to review an eligibility, acceptance or ranking decision. The request should be made promptly and include any relevant results, records or other supporting information.

An appeal about entry to an upcoming event should be made before the draw is published wherever possible; the event may continue while a later appeal or ranking correction is considered. NI Padel will weigh the available evidence and give a final decision. An appeal does not guarantee entry, reinstatement or a change to the draw.

22Player responsibilities

Players are expected to:

• Enter the grade appropriate to their standard.
• Provide accurate entry and eligibility information.
• Respect opponents, officials, organisers and venue staff.
• Arrive and be ready to play at the stated time.
• Follow the rules and conditions published for the event.
• Tell organisers promptly about withdrawals or other relevant changes.

Players must not attempt to manipulate ratings, rankings, entries, results or player identities to gain access to a protected event.

23Health, fitness and medical

Padel is a physical contact-risk sport played at speed in an enclosed court. Falls, collisions with the glass, the posts, a partner or an opponent, being struck by a ball or a racket, and muscle and joint injuries are ordinary risks of playing it, and they are higher in competition than in a social game.

By entering an event you confirm that you are medically fit to play competitive padel, that you are not aware of any condition that makes it unsafe for you to do so, and that you take responsibility for judging your own fitness on the day. If you are in any doubt, take advice from a doctor before you enter.

Play within your own limits. Stop and tell the organiser if you are injured or unwell, and do not continue a match you are not fit to finish. A player who appears unfit to continue safely may be asked to stop, and that decision is final on the day.

First aid, emergency procedures and any medical equipment at a venue are provided by that venue under its own arrangements. NI Padel does not provide medical cover and does not employ medical staff at events. In an emergency, call 999.

If there is something we would need to know in an emergency, tell the organiser before you play. It is held only for that purpose and only for the event.

24Insurance and liability

NI Padel organises the competition. The venue operates the facility. The courts, glass, nets, posts, surfaces, lighting, lockers, changing rooms, access and parking, and the health and safety arrangements covering all of them, are the responsibility of the venue as occupier of the premises. Anything arising from the condition of a venue or its facilities is a matter between the player and that venue.

NI Padel does not provide personal accident, medical, travel or property insurance for players, and entering an event does not insure you. Arranging your own cover is your responsibility, and it is worth checking that any policy you already hold covers competitive play rather than social play only.

Rackets, bags, phones, clothing and everything else you bring remain your own responsibility throughout. NI Padel is not responsible for loss, theft of or damage to personal property at a venue, including anything left in a changing room, a locker or a car park.

Playing in an NI Padel event, and being at a venue for one, is at your own risk as to the ordinary risks inherent in padel described above.

Nothing in these regulations excludes or limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or for anything else that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited. Subject to that, NI Padel is not liable for indirect or consequential loss, for loss of enjoyment, earnings or opportunity, or for loss or injury caused by the acts or omissions of a venue, another player, a spectator or any other third party.

These are the terms an entry is accepted on. They do not take away rights you have under consumer law, and no term here is intended to have that effect.

25Photography, filming and images

Photographs and video are taken at NI Padel events, by us and by people acting for us, and are used for results and reports, on the NI Padel website and social channels, and to promote the series and future events. By entering you accept that you may appear in them and that they may be published and kept in our archive.

Your name, club, pairing, results, seeding and ranking position are published as a normal part of running a ranked competition, and remain published as part of the record of the event.

If you would rather not be photographed, tell the organiser before you play and we will do what is reasonably possible to keep you out of the images we publish. If an image of you is already published on one of our own channels and you want it taken down, ask us and we will remove it.

We cannot control photographs or video taken by other players, spectators, clubs or the press at a venue, and we are not responsible for how those are used.

Where a player is under 18, we will not publish an identifiable image of them without the written consent of a parent or guardian, and we will not publish anything that identifies where or when they play regularly.

We do not sell event photography or pass it to third parties for their own marketing without asking you first. How we handle personal data, and the rights you have over it, is set out in our privacy policy.

26NI Padel discretion

These regulations cannot anticipate every situation. NI Padel may make a reasonable decision on any matter not expressly covered where that is necessary to protect fair competition, maintain the intended level of a tournament, preserve player safety, correct an administrative error, respond to exceptional circumstances, or protect the integrity of the ranking system. Decisions are based on the available information and applied as consistently as is reasonably possible.

27Changes to these regulations

NI Padel may review and update these regulations as the tournament structure and player pool develop. Material changes normally apply from the date they are published, with an updated effective date. Immediate corrections may be made where necessary to fix an error, remove ambiguity or protect the integrity of an event. The version published on this site is the current official version.