The PPA Tour is introducing a new anti-cheating policy designed to hold players accountable for bad line calls starting this week at the Newport Beach Open.

Zane Navratil, the president of the United Pickleball Association’s Pro Player Committee, announced the policy on social media earlier this week.

“Fired up to announce that we passed a solution to deter cheating in pro pickleball,” Navratil said.

The new policy and details about the punishments for making repeated bad calls were sent in an email to UPA contracted players last weekend.

The system involves in-match penalties, post-match video review and a running total of bad calls that can result in penalties such as fines or possibly suspensions.

The policy only applies to courts where challenges are not available and only applies to PPA Tour matches. 

Penalties during the match

Players can ask a referee for a point review during a match, which is similar to what’s called the Point Penalty System in professional tennis. If a player makes multiple incorrect calls during a game, it results in increasingly harsh penalties.

First offense: Warning
Second offense: Point penalty
Third offense: Game penalty
Fourth offense: Match penalty

Post-match review

Players can now ask for a review of a call by the UPA’s Fining Committee, which will involve the committee viewing the match footage afterward.

It will cost $100 for the committee to review the call, and if it’s unanimous that the call was incorrect, the player who made the call will be fined $250 for the first offense. The player who made the challenge will be refunded the $100.

Identifying repeat offenders

The Fining Committee will keep a record of incorrect calls by players. The email did not specify how many bad calls would trigger further action, but said additional offenses could result in a player being put on probation, more fines and possibly a suspension.

“Offenders will be penalized and reviews will build a record of misconduct that informs future penalties,” the email said.