REGULATIONS
VIETNAM PICKLEBALL OPEN CUP 2025 – SAI GON STAGE (VPC 2025)

I. PURPOSE AND SIGNIFICANCE

The Vietnam Pickleball Open Cup (VPC) is organized to promote the systematic and oriented development of pickleball across Vietnam. The VPC 2025 – Saigon Stage aims to provide a professional platform for players of all backgrounds from the northern, central, and southern regions of the country. This tournament offers athletes opportunities to connect, compete, and improve their skills, contributing to the growth of a strong and vibrant pickleball community in Vietnam.

These regulations are designed to prepare Vietnamese athletes for regional and international competitions, elevating the status of Vietnamese pickleball on the global sports map. Beyond its competitive nature, this annual event serves as a meaningful goal and reward for athletes’ dedication and training efforts. With innovative organizational approaches, the tournament seeks to popularize pickleball, attract widespread community interest, encourage greater participation, and lay the foundation for the sport’s sustainable, long-term development.

The tournament is divided into two main categories:

• Category 1: Amateur & Pro Tournament (5 events)
• Category 2: VPC Team Format

II. GENERAL REGULATIONS

1.    Participants

• All participants must comply with the rules set by the referee panel and the regulations established by the Organizing Committee (OC).
• Athletes are responsible for ensuring their own health throughout the tournament.
• Participants must strictly adhere to the competition schedule outlined by the OC.
• Participants are divided into two age groups: under 35 and over 35. Athletes under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Competition Events

The tournament consists of three main divisions:

1.    Amateur Tournament

2.    Pro Tournament

3.    VPC Team Format

1.1 Requirements for Amateur Tournament Participants

• Men: DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) below 4.0
• Women: DUPR below 3.5
• For athletes without a DUPR rating: Eligibility is based on not having won Formats in previous VPC amateur tournaments, VVP Tour, events organized by the General Department of Sports, WPC, AOPC, Thanh Nien Newspaper VinFast tournaments, PWR, or PPA Australia events in Vietnam.
• Eligible to register for the VPC Team Format.

1.2 Requirements for Pro Tournament Participants

• Open registration for all athletes.
• Eligible to register for the VPC Team Format.

1.3 Requirements for VPC Team Format Participants

• Open registration for teams. Each team must have a minimum of 4 athletes and a maximum of 10 athletes.
• The OC will continuously update the list of registered teams and reserves the right to refuse additional registrations once the maximum number of teams is reached, ensuring the tournament’s schedule and quality are maintained.

2. Competition Events and Awards

2.1 Amateur Tournament – Under 35

• Men’s Singles: 24–32 athletes
• Women’s Singles: 24–32 athletes
• Men’s Doubles: 32–48 pairs
• Women’s Doubles: 32–48 pairs
• Mixed Doubles: 32 pairs

Awards:

• Men’s Singles: 

• Champion: Trophy + 3,000,000 VND + Sponsor gifts (if available)
• Runner-up: Medal + 2,000,000 VND + Sponsor gifts (if available)
• Joint Third Place: Medal + 1,000,000 VND + Sponsor gifts (if available)
• Women’s Singles: Same as Men’s Singles
• Men’s Doubles: 
• Champion: Trophy + 5,000,000 VND + Sponsor gifts (if available)
• Runner-up: Medal + 3,000,000 VND + Sponsor gifts (if available)
• Joint Third Place: Medal + 2,000,000 VND + Sponsor gifts (if available)
• Women’s Doubles: Same as Men’s Doubles
• Mixed Doubles: Same as Men’s Doubles

2.2 Amateur Tournament – Over 35

• Same event structure and awards as the Under 35 category.

2.3 Pro Tournament

• Men’s Singles: 24–32 athletes
• Women’s Singles: 24–32 athletes
• Men’s Doubles: 32–48 pairs
• Women’s Doubles: 32–48 pairs
• Mixed Doubles: 32 pairs

Awards:

• Men’s Singles: 

• Champion: Trophy + 10,000,000 VND + Sponsor gifts (if available)
• Runner-up: Medal + 5,000,000 VND + Sponsor gifts (if available)
• Joint Third Place: Medal + 3,000,000 VND + Sponsor gifts (if available)
• Women’s Singles: Same as Men’s Singles
• Men’s Doubles: 
• Champion: Trophy + 30,000,000 VND + Sponsor gifts (if available)
• Runner-up: Medal + 15,000,000 VND + Sponsor gifts (if available)
• Joint Third Place: Medal + 5,000,000 VND + Sponsor gifts (if available)
• Women’s Doubles: Same as Men’s Doubles
• Mixed Doubles: Same as Men’s Doubles

2.4 VPC Team Format (4-player teams)

• Events: Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles
• Awards: 

• Champion: Trophy + 60,000,000 VND + Sponsor gifts (if available)
• Runner-up: Medal + 30,000,000 VND + Sponsor gifts (if available)
• Joint Third Place: Medal + 10,000,000 VND + Sponsor gifts (if available)

Note: Each event requires a minimum of 8 athletes or 8 pairs to proceed.

3. Rules, Format, and Scoring

• Rules: 

• Amateur and Pro Tournaments follow current pickleball rules.
• VPC Team Format follows the MLP (Major League Pickleball) format and rules.
• Team Format matches consist of 4 games: Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, and 2 Mixed Doubles. Each win earns 1 point. If the score is tied at 2-2, a singles tiebreaker determines the winner.
• Format: Games are played to 21 points, with a court switch at 11 points. Direct scoring applies until 20 points; at game point, indirect scoring is used. Player positions remain fixed. Each team has 3 substitution opportunities (during a timeout, court switch, or by notifying the referee at any time), and substitutions must be reported to the head referee.
• Event Limits: Athletes may register for a maximum of 3 events across the Amateur and Pro Tournaments, with a limit of 2 events per age group. Athletes in these divisions may also join the VPC Team Format.
• Age Restrictions: Athletes over 35 may compete in under-35 events, but under-35 athletes cannot participate in over-35 events.
• Time Regulations: Athletes absent for more than 15 minutes when called to compete will forfeit the match.
• Referee Decisions: The referee's decision is final in all match situations.
• Competition Structure: Group stage followed by knockout rounds.

Scoring System

• Group Stage: Round-robin format (1 point for a win, 0 for a loss). If a team withdraws mid-tournament, prior results stand, and unplayed matches are scored as 11:0 or 15:0 (determined by the OC after the draw).
• Partner Changes: No partner changes are allowed during the group stage for the Amateur Tournament.
• Team Format Rosters: Teams must submit a roster (4–10 players) and cannot add members after final confirmation with the OC.
• Group Stage Ranking: 

1.    Points

2.    Head-to-head results

3.    Point differential (total points won minus total points lost)

4.    Total points won

5.    Random draw (Amateur & Pro Tournaments)

·       For Team Format, a 2-2 tie leads to a Dream Breaker singles match.

Attire

• Athletes must not wear green clothing (to avoid clashing with the ball color).
• Athletes provide their own uniforms; the OC will provide wristbands and competition badges.

III. TIME AND VENUE (TENTATIVE)

(All official information will be updated on the tournament’s fan page.)

• Press Conference: April 11, 2025 

• 7:00–9:00: Tournament press conference
• 10:00–12:00: Amateur Tournament draw
• 14:00–16:00: VPC Team Format draw
• Technical Meeting and Draw: April 13, 2025
• Competition Dates: 
• April 16, 2025: 8:00–22:00 – VPC Community Event
• April 17, 2025: 8:00–22:00 – Pro Tournament
• April 18–19, 2025: 8:00–22:00 – Amateur Tournament
• April 20, 2025: 8:00–22:00 – VPC Team Format
• Registration Period: From the issuance of these regulations until 13/April/2025
• Venue: The Dinker Club – Premier Pickleball Arena (2-4 Street No. 9, Him Lam Urban Area, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City)
• Registration Contact: Hotline: 0353 553 808 – VPC or via link: https://vpc2025.pickleballplus.vn/ 

Participation Fees

• Amateur Tournament: 

• Singles: 500,000 VND/athlete
• Doubles: 1,000,000 VND/pair
• Pro Tournament: 
• Singles: 500,000 VND/athlete
• Doubles: 1,000,000 VND/pair
• VPC Team Format: 2,000,000 VND/team

Payment Details

• Account Holder: Nguyễn Hải Long
• Account Number: 9333 9333 333 – TP Bank
• Payment Format: [Athlete’s Name] – [Event] – [Phone Number] 

• Example: NAME – MEN’S SINGLES AMATEUR U35 – 0902xxxxxx

IV. ORGANIZATION RESPONSIBILITIES

• The OC is responsible for preparing courts, balls, referees, drinking water, and lunch for participants.
• The OC reserves the right to disqualify participants who violate these regulations or exhibit behavior contrary to sportsmanship.
• The OC holds the final authority over the regulations and athletes’ eligibility to participate.