Rules & format

The league

The Banner Padel Box League will initially target 40 teams across eight boxes of five, with capacity to expand to 60 teams across 12 boxes in later cycles.

The final number of boxes will depend on confirmed entries.

Depending on entry numbers and the spread of playing levels, teams may be split into two separate leagues to create balanced divisions and competitive matches against opponents of a similar standard.

Entry fee

Entry is €20 per person / €40 per team for the full six-cycle league.

Book and pay through the league event on Playtomic:

Sign up on Playtomic →

Registration closes Sunday 1 November 2026 at 8pm. Places are first come, first served and secured on payment.

Full terms and conditions are available on Playtomic when signing up.

Court bookings

The entry fee covers league participation only. Court hire is paid separately at the applicable booking rate.

Teams agree a suitable match time and booking duration with their opponents and book through Playtomic. Players are responsible for allowing enough time to complete the match.

All league matches must be played at Banner Padel, subject to court availability and the club’s booking and cancellation policies.

League placement

Initial box placement is based on the combined Playtomic ratings of both registered players.

Teams will be placed into the box that most closely reflects their combined playing level. Banner Padel may review placement where ratings do not accurately reflect a team’s standard.

If entries are split across two leagues, the same approach will determine each team’s league and box.

Dates & cycles

The league begins Monday 9 November 2026 and runs for six cycles. Each cycle provides four weeks of playing time.

• Cycle 1: Monday 9 November – Sunday 6 December 2026
• Cycle 2: Monday 7 December 2026 – Sunday 17 January 2027
• Cycle 3: Monday 18 January – Sunday 14 February 2027
• Cycle 4: Monday 15 February – Sunday 14 March 2027
• Cycle 5: Monday 15 March – Sunday 11 April 2027
• Cycle 6: Monday 12 April – Sunday 9 May 2027

Cycle 2 spans six calendar weeks to accommodate the two-week Christmas break.

Once each cycle finishes, standings are finalised, promotion and relegation are applied, and the next cycle begins.

Christmas break

The Christmas break runs from Wednesday 23 December 2026 to Tuesday 5 January 2027 inclusive.

The courts remain open, and teams may complete league matches during this period if it suits both teams. These two weeks do not count towards Cycle 2’s four-week playing window.

Box format

Each standard box contains five teams. Every team plays each of the other four teams once during the cycle.

This gives each team:

• Four matches per cycle.
• Six cycles.
• Up to 24 competitive matches across the season.

Teams should expect approximately one league match per week during active cycles.

Where entry numbers require a four-team box, each team plays the other three teams once. No points are awarded for a bye.

Substitutes

A substitute may be used when one registered player is unavailable, provided their Playtomic rating is within 0.75 of the player they replace.

At least one registered team member must play in each fixture.

The opposing team must be told about the substitute before the match. Any concern about eligibility must be referred to Banner Padel before play begins.

Promotion & relegation

For five-team boxes:

• 1st and 2nd: promoted one box.
• 3rd: remains in the same box.
• 4th and 5th: relegated one box.

For four-team boxes:

• 1st: promoted one box.
• 2nd and 3rd: remain in the same box.
• 4th: relegated one box.

Teams cannot move above the highest box or below the lowest box within their league.

Where different box sizes, new entries or withdrawals affect movement, Banner Padel may make the minimum adjustments needed to maintain balanced boxes. Any adjustments will be explained before the next cycle.

Standings & tiebreakers

Teams are ranked by total league points.

If two teams finish level on points, they are separated by:

• 1. Head-to-head result.
• 2. Set difference across the cycle.
• 3. Game difference across the cycle.

If their head-to-head match was not played or was recorded as a draw, that step is skipped.

For three or more tied teams, a mini-table using only matches between those teams will be used, ranked by points, then set difference, then game difference. If teams remain tied, overall cycle set difference and then game difference will apply.

If teams still cannot be separated, Banner Padel will arrange a deciding tie-break where practical. Otherwise, positions will be decided by a random draw overseen by the club.

A championship tie-break counts as one set and does not count towards game difference.

Cycle winners

The team finishing first in each box after all results and tiebreakers are settled receives:

• €20 Playtomic credit per player — €40 per winning team.

There are six cycles and six opportunities to win a box prize.

Match format

Matches consist of two full sets.

Each set is first to six games, with a two-game margin. At 6–6, a seven-point tie-break is played, with a two-point margin required.

If the match is level at one set each, a championship tie-break decides the winner. This is first to 10 points, with a two-point margin required.

If both teams agree and sufficient court time is available, a full third set may be played instead.

Teams must finish within their booked court time unless an extension has been booked and confirmed.

Deuce rule

The first two deuces in each game are played with advantage.

If the game reaches deuce for a third time, the next point is a golden point and wins the game. The receiving pair chooses which side receives that point.

League points

• Win in two straight sets: 4 points.
• Win after losing one of the opening two sets: 3 points.
• Lose after winning a set: 1 point.
• Lose in two straight sets: 0 points.

A 2–0 result therefore awards 4 points to the winners and 0 to the losers.

A match decided by a championship tie-break or an agreed third set awards 3 points to the winners and 1 to the losers.

Unfinished matches

If court time expires before a match is completed, teams should arrange to resume it from the recorded score before the cycle deadline. Any additional court hire is paid separately.

If two full sets have been completed and the score is one set each, but no deciding set or championship tie-break is completed before the deadline, Banner Padel may record a draw.

A draw awards 1 point to each team, with no win or head-to-head advantage. Completed sets and games count towards the relevant differences.

Other unfinished matches are subject to the unplayed-match rule unless a walkover is awarded.

Unplayed matches

All fixtures must be completed by the published cycle deadline.

A fixture left unplayed or unfinished without an approved draw or walkover is declared null and void. Both teams receive a −1 point penalty.

There are no individual extensions for holidays, work commitments, player availability or difficulty arranging a fixture.

Teams should contact all opponents and arrange their fixtures as soon as each cycle opens.

Please only enter if you and your partner can commit to completing your fixtures during every cycle.

Walkovers

If a team cannot field an eligible pair, it should concede a walkover promptly.

A walkover awards:

• 3 points to the team ready and able to play.
• 0 points to the team conceding.

It is recorded as a 2–0 result in sets, with no games counted towards game difference.

A team may concede a walkover through the league site using its registered email. A concession takes effect immediately.

A team claiming a walkover must submit the claim before the cycle deadline. The opposing team has 48 hours from notification to confirm or dispute it, including where that response period falls after the deadline.

Disputed claims are decided by Banner Padel using the available evidence of fixture arrangements, availability and communication.

A lack of response within 48 hours allows the claim to stand, subject to club review.

New entries & withdrawals

New teams may join between cycles where space is available. They cannot join a cycle already underway.

For later entries, the team entry fee is calculated proportionately at €40 multiplied by the number of remaining cycles, divided by six, rounded to the nearest cent.

New teams are placed according to their combined ratings and assessed playing level. Banner Padel will adjust boxes where necessary and explain changes before the next cycle.

Teams wishing to withdraw should notify Banner Padel before the next cycle begins. Entry fees are not refundable for cycles already started or completed.

If a team withdraws during a cycle, Banner Padel will determine how its remaining fixtures and existing results are treated to keep the box standings fair.

Weather & club disruption

As an indoor venue, ordinary rain or wind does not automatically justify an extension.

Where severe weather, a club closure or another significant disruption prevents access or substantially reduces court availability, Banner Padel may extend the affected cycle.

Any extension will be communicated to all affected teams. Individual scheduling and availability issues do not qualify.

Logging results

Either team may enter the result on the league site using its registered email.

Results remain provisional until the opposing team confirms them. Entering the same score also confirms a result.

Teams should submit results promptly after play and no later than the cycle deadline. Opponents have 48 hours from notification to confirm or dispute a submitted result.

If different scores are submitted, the result remains provisional until both teams agree or Banner Padel resolves the dispute.

An undisputed result may be finalised after the 48-hour response period, subject to club review.

Fair play & administration

Players are expected to communicate respectfully, make reasonable efforts to arrange fixtures and record scores honestly.

Banner Padel makes the final decision on eligibility, disputed results, walkovers, box placement and any situation not covered by these rules.

Any necessary rule changes will be communicated before they take effect.