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International Pickleball Federation
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International Pickleball Federation
The International Pickleball Federation (IPF) was created in 2023 to act as the world-wide governing body for the sport of pickleball. The IPF is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to perpetuate the international growth and development of pickleball, create and maintain official rules across all of pickleball and organize international tournaments. One of the IPF's main goals is to have the sport of pickleball accepted to the Olympic Games.
Originally the IPF was founded as the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) in 2010 by the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA), now USA Pickleball (USAP), and several other national organizations. Internal conflicts, financial issues and loss of its not-for-profit status resulted in the IFP being shut down as an entity, and the new IPF was formed in April 2023 to take its place.
In November 2024 the IPF and World Pickleball Federation (WPF) announced that they would merge, and in June 2025 the members of each organization voted to affirm the merger. The merged organization will operate under the World Pickleball Federation name and adopt the IPF's core mission of, "No country left behind". The newly merged entity will be based in Lausanne, Switzerland, home of the International Olympic Committee.
The International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) was founded in the wake of the first National Pickleball Open competition, held in Surprise, Arizona in 2009. The tournament was hosted by the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) and drew almost 400 players from 26 American states and several Canadian provinces. The interest of the Canadians, among other factors, influenced the USAPA to establish a committee dedicated to the formation of an international governing body for pickleball. This committee was formed in 2010. The IFP's constitution and bylaws were officially ratified in 2015 by its four inaugural member countries: the United States, Canada, Spain, and India.
In 2018 a rival organization, the World Pickleball Federation (WPF), was formed by Seymour Rifkind, who had previously established the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association (IPTPA). Both the IFP and WPF sought to promote pickleball worldwide, and both seek to obtain Olympic recognition for the sport.
On April 22, 2022, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, England, France, Spain, Philippines, Finland, Cayman Islands and the Czech Republic withdrew their membership in the IFP (sic), reducing the number of member countries from 70 to 59. This was due primarily to governance concerns, and loss of the IFP's non-profit status in the United States. The remaining members of the IFP then shut down the old organization and formed the new International Pickleball Federation (IPF) in 2023.
As of April 22, 2022[update] there are 63 national organizations in the International Federation of Pickleball, including the special administrative region of Hong Kong, China. These national associations are organized into four categories: full members (1), Associate members (22), Affiliate members (37), and Provisional members (3). Each member country is organized under the umbrella of a continental federation. Full member countries can have members elected to the IPF's board of directors, while associate and affiliate member countries cannot. All member countries are required to follow the rules of pickleball as established by the IPF.
The IPF has five continental federations. These are the Asia Federation of Pickleball (AFP), North American Pickleball Federation, South American Pickleball Association, European Pickleball Federation (EPF), and Oceanic Pickleball Federation.
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International Pickleball Federation
The International Pickleball Federation (IPF) was created in 2023 to act as the world-wide governing body for the sport of pickleball. The IPF is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to perpetuate the international growth and development of pickleball, create and maintain official rules across all of pickleball and organize international tournaments. One of the IPF's main goals is to have the sport of pickleball accepted to the Olympic Games.
Originally the IPF was founded as the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) in 2010 by the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA), now USA Pickleball (USAP), and several other national organizations. Internal conflicts, financial issues and loss of its not-for-profit status resulted in the IFP being shut down as an entity, and the new IPF was formed in April 2023 to take its place.
In November 2024 the IPF and World Pickleball Federation (WPF) announced that they would merge, and in June 2025 the members of each organization voted to affirm the merger. The merged organization will operate under the World Pickleball Federation name and adopt the IPF's core mission of, "No country left behind". The newly merged entity will be based in Lausanne, Switzerland, home of the International Olympic Committee.
The International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) was founded in the wake of the first National Pickleball Open competition, held in Surprise, Arizona in 2009. The tournament was hosted by the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) and drew almost 400 players from 26 American states and several Canadian provinces. The interest of the Canadians, among other factors, influenced the USAPA to establish a committee dedicated to the formation of an international governing body for pickleball. This committee was formed in 2010. The IFP's constitution and bylaws were officially ratified in 2015 by its four inaugural member countries: the United States, Canada, Spain, and India.
In 2018 a rival organization, the World Pickleball Federation (WPF), was formed by Seymour Rifkind, who had previously established the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association (IPTPA). Both the IFP and WPF sought to promote pickleball worldwide, and both seek to obtain Olympic recognition for the sport.
On April 22, 2022, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, England, France, Spain, Philippines, Finland, Cayman Islands and the Czech Republic withdrew their membership in the IFP (sic), reducing the number of member countries from 70 to 59. This was due primarily to governance concerns, and loss of the IFP's non-profit status in the United States. The remaining members of the IFP then shut down the old organization and formed the new International Pickleball Federation (IPF) in 2023.
As of April 22, 2022[update] there are 63 national organizations in the International Federation of Pickleball, including the special administrative region of Hong Kong, China. These national associations are organized into four categories: full members (1), Associate members (22), Affiliate members (37), and Provisional members (3). Each member country is organized under the umbrella of a continental federation. Full member countries can have members elected to the IPF's board of directors, while associate and affiliate member countries cannot. All member countries are required to follow the rules of pickleball as established by the IPF.
The IPF has five continental federations. These are the Asia Federation of Pickleball (AFP), North American Pickleball Federation, South American Pickleball Association, European Pickleball Federation (EPF), and Oceanic Pickleball Federation.