BREAKING NEWS
Official communications from the Unify Pickleball Task Force (UPTF)
to Pickleball National Organizations Worldwide.
In early 2022, a new organization was established to unify the sport of pickleball into a single, international governing body. This group, known as the Unify Pickleball Unification Group (or UPTF), included nine former IFP member countries who came together demanding change. This page and the following communications are official communications from the UPTF to our global pickleball community and is our effort to keep everyone updated, as we work together to establish a single, compliant governing body for the sport of pickleball. As we progress, we will update this page to include future communications until our goal is achieved.
The Unify Pickleball Task Force is Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, England, France, Mexico, Philippines, Spain, and the USA.
The Unify Pickleball Task Force is Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, England, France, Mexico, Philippines, Spain, and the USA.
Official communication #04
(July 2, 2022)
We are very pleased to inform you that the Unify Pickleball Task Force (UPTF) and the World Pickleball Federation (WPF) have completed a signed letter of intent (LOI) with the goal of working towards an agreement. With the LOI now signed, the following steps are now in process:
- An Engagement Team has been established, composed of three WPF delegates and three UPTF delegates chaired by an independent facilitator.
- The purpose of this Engagement Team is to guide and facilitate the transition to a unified international federation for pickleball that complies with the Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance of the Olympics, Paralympics and the general World Sports Movement.
- The Engagement Team will discuss and formulate proposals including critical aspects of the transition such as Name, Branding, Country Membership Criteria, Invitation to Non-member Countries to join, basis of voting at the AGM, etc..
Invitation to follow our action.
As you are aware from our previous communications, the purpose of the UPTF is to guide and facilitate the establishment of an international governing body for pickleball that complies with the Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance of the Olympics, Paralympics and the general world Sports Movement.
While much work remains, we are delighted with the progress made thus far as a result of our communications with WPF.
- The WPF has positively responded to our initial request and already agreed with several proposed bylaw changes.
- The Engagement Team process has been agreed as the vehicle to facilitate the transition.
We are confident that the outcome from the Engagement Team process will be an entity ready to become the international federation for pickleball and fully compliant with international sporting norms.
We therefore invite your organization to engage with either ourselves (UPTF) or the WPF directly in order to obtain all the necessary information to enable you to plan your course of action regarding joining the new entity.
The Unify Pickleball Task Force
Official communication #03
(June 23, 2022)
First, a brief recap of communications you may have previously received from us :
- On April 5 we announced the creation of our Task Force and its Objectives (message subject : “Major International Pickleball Announcement”).
- On April 28 we informed you that the WPF had replied positively to our suggestions of adapting their bylaws and to opt for management of the federation by its member countries. (message subject : “International Pickleball Update”)
On May 14 we were pleased to see the WPF board's announcement to its member countries of its decision to revise and adopt its bylaws - a step it considered as a natural evolution of its original bylaws - giving power to the member countries to elect the board and modify the bylaws. An AGM is planned for September. These bylaws are in line with the changes requested by the UPTF as a first step in favor of further negotiations.
Following the positive developments from the WPF, the UPTF has now invited the WPF to work together on a transition process and agree the path to implement the changes needed to make WPF the international federation for pickleball compliant with any obligations set by the International Olympic Committee.
Areas to be agreed include :
- Additional provisions that need to be adopted into the bylaws,
- Staffing, financial matters, membership etc.,
- Roadmap for implementing the various elements of the transition.
On May 23, WPF replied promptly and positively to our offer with suggestions on how to proceed next. UPTF is preparing its reply in line with their proposals including a formal agreement for the process. We will keep you informed of any further developments in the pursuit of these fundamental goals.
The Unify Pickleball Task Force
Official communication #02
(April 28, 2022)
Dear Valued National Pickleball Organizations,
Since our last communication, much has happened in our plan to develop an International Sports Federation (ISF)
for pickleball capable of meeting International Olympic Committee (IOC) requirements. Specifically:
- The Task force has communicated its requirements to enable it to engage in further negotiations with the WPF with a view to creating an entity to serve as the international sports federation for pickleball. This is critical as to date, no such pickleball organization has been recognized as such by the IOC.
- This entity will be comprised of a democratically elected leadership representing the membership.
- As part of the Task Force requirements an interim constitution and bylaws was sent to WPF which will ensure a diverse, inclusive, transparent and a fully member-country driven organization – to include member country voting rights.
- A positive response has been received from the WPF indicating their board members are in agreement with the overall objectives and plan that the Task Force has set forth
- The Task force is now deliberating next steps to further explore this option.
The Unify Pickleball Task Force
Official communication #01
(April 5, 2022)
Dear Member Country Presidents,
On 26 February 2022, each of you were notified of a “no confidence” letter sent to the IFP President. Since that time, much has happened, in a very positive way and we would like to quickly update you on these changes:
- We seek the establishment of one IOC compliant pickleball organization;
- A Task Force has been established comprised of the Presidents (or their designees) from nine former IFP member countries - several of whom are also WPF member countries. This group is now actively exploring and evaluating the options available going forward, which include joining the WPF, introducing a new international federation and merging the WPF into it, or introducing an independent, new international federation;
- Also, former representatives from the International Federation for Pickleball (IFP) and the World Pickleball Federation (WPF) are meeting in joint sessions to discuss how resources from both organizations may be combined to achieve this goal;
- Nine former IFP full member countries (*5 of whom are also members of the WPF) have resigned from the IFP. These include:
- Australia*
- Canada*
- Czech Republic*
- England*
- France*
- Mexico
- Philippines
- Spain*
- United States
- Additionally, 10 key, IFP directors have resigned their IFP memberships. These include:
- Board Member (Secretary)
- Board Member (At-Large)
- Director of Grants
- Director of Tournament Operations
- Director of Livestream Productions
- Director of Sponsorships
- Director of Education and Youth Development
- Director of Ambassadors
- Director of Social Media
- Director of Country Memberships
Similarly, we have been asked whether the other 61 remaining IFP member countries (Associate, Affiliate and Provisional members) should formally resign from the IFP as well and how to accomplish that. Of course, this is a decision that is entirely up to each member country. To do so, each of you will need to draft your own independent withdrawal letter. If you choose to do so, we believe these additional resignation letters will send a strong message that international pickleball groups can only remain committed to one member-driven organization.
To be effective, each withdrawal email should include the following points:
- Your reasons for withdrawing;
- A demand to remove your member country logo and all references to your organization from the IFP website, IFP promotional and/or educational materials no later than April 8, 2022;
- Please email your letter directly to the remaining IFP Board of Directors:
David Jordan davidjordan55@msn.com
Sunil Valavalkar pbwala9@gmail.com
- Please send a separate email with a copy of your withdrawal letter to: pickleballcommunications@gmail.com
Countries who take the above action will be kept apprised of the progress in structuring a new/revised organization developed by member country participants. There is much work to be done and we will be reaching out to each of you to support these needs through your participation in various working committees. More detail regarding this will be provided soon. Your active participation in the new structure will be important and a foundational element of moving the sport forward internationally.
Should you have any questions, please direct them to: pickleballcommunications@gmail.com
Respectfully,
Unify Pickleball Task Force
Communications Team