About the IFP

The International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) was created in 2010 to perpetuate the international growth and development of pickleball. Inaugural member countries: USA, Canada, Spain, and India came on board in 2012. Since then, the IFP has expanded its footprint to over 60 member countries and growing, as new countries join the IFP to work toward our goal for pickleball be recognized as an Olympic sport.

The IFP has experienced a phenomenal 360% increase in member countries since 2019. IFP Directors are volunteer leaders, responsible for programs that set the global standard for pickleball throughout the world, ranging from training IFP Certified Instructors, to IFP World Ambassadors to IFP Grant Programs that supply much-needed equipment to remote countries.

While IFP headquarters are based in Arizona, the first IFP Liaison Office was established in Shenzhen, China in 2020. Since then, liaison offices have opened in Anhui, Guizhou, Hunan, Hainan, Jiangsu and Henan provinces, to support the enormous potential of pickleball throughout China and greater Asia.

The prestigious Bainbridge Cup Tournament Event was established in 2017, with Spain hosting the IFP’s inaugural signature event. With the global support of players, volunteers and organizations around the world,, no country will be left behind. The future looks very bright for pickleball and the IFP!

• Promoting, developing, and popularizing the sport of pickleball throughout the world.
• Governing and administering the sport of pickleball in all countries and continents in a nondiscriminatory way.
• Maintaining and publishing the decisive text on the Bylaws, Rules and Regulations, introducing such changes as are desirable, doing all that is necessary to uphold them and to achieve uniform interpretation.
• Promoting the highest degree of sportsmanship and integrity among the players.
• Organizing, conducting, and presenting international tournaments and events at the highest level.
• Supporting the development of players, coaches, officials, and event organizers.
• Encouraging and developing the sport with differently abled people.
• Encouraging the formation of new Members and fostering collaboration for the good of the sport worldwide.
• Creating mutually beneficial partnerships to develop and promote the sport.
• Employing the funds of the Federation to achieve development and growth of the sport consistent with these purposes and objectives.
• Maintaining the highest standards of transparency and accountability in managing the financial resources of the IFP.

The sport of pickleball was invented in the summer of 1965 by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum of Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA. In 2005, the United States Pickleball Association (USAPA) became a non-profit corporation with a mission to perpetuate the growth and advancement of pickleball on a national level. The first official rulebook of the USAPA was adopted by the USAPA shortly after its incorporation.

Since 1965, the sport has grown significantly each year in popularity. In the U.S., organized competitions at local, state and national levels have emerged. Additionally, several countries around the world have started their own clubs and are engaged in building their national associations.

The first National Open Pickleball Competition was conducted at Surprise, Arizona in 2009. In early 2010, a committee was formed to advance the concept of an International Federation of Pickleball (IFP). The IFP is organized under this Constitution to perpetuate the international growth and development of pickleball. The IFP officially established its Constitution, Bylaws and Officers in 2015 with the following inaugural member countries: USA, Canada, Spain and India. The IFP has since expanded its membership to include the following Associations: France, the United Kingdom and Great Britain. Membership is expected to grow each year as the sport continues expanding to new countries throughout the world.

2020 IFP Board of Directors

• Pat Murphy (USA) – President (2021-2023)
• Sunil Valavalkar (India) – Vice President (2021-2022)
• David Jordan (USA) – Treasurer (2020-2021)
• Mike Johnson (Philippines) – Secretary (2020-2021)
• Justin Maloof (USA) – At Large (2020-2021)

Contact information can be found for each IFP Board Member under Contacts.

Important Documents

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