A New Elite Standard for Pickleball Tournaments: No More Sandbagging

Nothing kills the excitement of a tournament like mismatched divisions or players competing well below their true level. That’s why the biggest tours and leagues in the sport are moving to DUPR Verified Events in 2026.

DUPR Verified Events are built to deliver trust, fairness, and competitive integrity at the highest level.

What Are DUPR Verified Events?

More than 300 organizations have already applied to run DUPR Verified events. Why? Because players asked for it. They wanted more reliable ways to ensure fair matchups and DUPR listened.

As pickleball continues its exponential growth, DUPR Verified provides a premium framework to protect the player experience:

1. Participant Requirements

Every player must:

• Have an active DUPR+ subscription
• Authenticate their phone number
  

2. Higher Standards‍

All events are reviewed and approved by the DUPR Fairplay Committee. Tours or leagues that fail to meet the eligibility, score reporting, or event standards outlined in the DUPR Verified Event Policy will be removed from the program.

3. Higher Rating Impact

As we have more trustworthy data on participants, match results from DUPR Verified events count more towards your DUPR. 

Note: players can still improve their ratings by competing in non-verified events. DUPR Verified events are simply an extra tier.

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Why the Biggest Tours & Leagues Are On Board

For tours and leagues, this move is about more than branding; it’s about protecting the player experience.

Here’s what leaders across the sport are saying:

The Dink Minor League Pickleball (MiLP)

"The Dink Minor League Pickleball was created to deliver competitive, team-based pickleball in the fairest way possible. Moving to DUPR Verified ensures that our players face true peers and that their results have lasting impact. It’s a game-changer for the integrity of our league." - Caroline Luelf, Director of MiLP 

‍World of Pickleball

“Even better, DUPR verified events carry a higher weight on player ratings, meaning every match you play with us counts more toward your DUPR” - John Campbell, Founder and CEO

Triple Team Pickleball League (TTPL)

“Sandbagging has no place in elite pickleball. DUPR Verified events add a layer of protection, making Triple team one the most trusted amateur tours in the game” -Laurie Lambert, National Program Manager

National Pickleball

“With DUPR Verified tournaments, we’re able to offer a premium experience: higher-level competition, more impactful ratings, and balanced brackets.” - Seth Burleigh, Director of Operations

What This Means for Players

When you step onto the court at a DUPR Verified event, you know:
✅ Your opponents truly belong in your division
✅ Your results will meaningfully impact your pickleball rating.
✅ Your tournament experience will be fair, competitive, and fun

This isn’t just a policy; it’s a movement. Tours embracing DUPR Verified are setting the gold standard for the future of pickleball.

Ready to Run Verified Events?

The 2026 season is your chance to provide fairer brackets, stronger competition, and higher-value matches for players. 

Clubs, tours, leagues, APIs and pickleball organizations are welcomed to provide this premium experience. 

👉 Apply to run verified events.

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