Increased participation, greater competition, and encouraging more clubs and players to get involved in Yorkshire’s fast evolving padel scene are at the heart of plans to expand the Dunlop Yorkshire Padel Leagues for the 2026 season.
Clubs are also being invited to enter a number of new events, including an additional mixed division, a junior league for 16&U and a new Dunlop Yorkshire Padel Club Superleague, where the top teams go head-to-head for the overall championship title.
LEAGUES & REGIONAL DIVISIONS
The following competitions are envisaged, run in two regional divisions as last year, with fixtures taking place between mid-May and the end of August.
Clubs listed above are those that have already expressed interest in the 2026 league but other clubs, both commercial and recognised LTA venues, can enter.
| North East Region | South West Region |
| Scarborough | Rawdon |
| David Lloyd York | Chapel Allerton |
| Wetherby | Huddersfield |
| Ripon | Ilkley |
| Harrogate SFC | Skipton |
| Harrogate Spa | Play Padel Sheffield |
| David Lloyd Harrogate | Wakefield |
| Harrogate Surge | Slazenger Leeds |
MATCH DAY FORMAT
Two clubs in each regional division to host ‘Match Day 1’ on a Sunday (1-7pm), where four clubs all play against each other with a format of two pairs playing two rubbers, with a deciding ten-point ‘masters’ tiebreak played by one player from each pair in event of a draw.
‘Match Day 2’ will be hosted by different venues, where teams finishing first and second in each regional division after ‘Match Day 1’ will play off against each other at one venue, while the clubs finishing third and fourth play off at the other venue.
This will give a further split for finishing 1st – 4th at venue A, and in 5th-8th place at venue B.
League organiser Simon Bickerton said: “The plan is to repeat this for each division, with every club having the chance to host one match day if they have two courts. It means less travelling and less commitment on court times for clubs,” explained Simon Bickerton.
He continued: “We also plan to introduce the YPL Dunlop Club Superleague, where the top four teams from each region compete for the overall championship. The new ‘superleague’ will be fully open, so all player of all levels can compete. The aim is for the best players in the county to represent their clubs and battle it out for the title.”
The new event will take place in September/October at an indoor venue (to be confirmed).
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
Clubs entering teams in any league this season must become associate members of Yorkshire Tennis in order to compete. There is no cost to clubs for doing this and, on completion, clubs receive a grant of £150 from Yorkshire Tennis. Players must also be registered with the LTA.
Clubs can enter teams in any league at a cost of £25 per team payable to Yorkshire Tennis, with the maximum cost to clubs fixed at £100. So, for example, entering three teams would cost £75, but six teams would be just £100.
Leagues will be administered using the LTA match software system that many players will already be familiar with. This will help ensure all clubs are affiliated, all teams correctly paid for and all players registered with the LTA, which is free to do. It will also help with data analysis to show growth in the game as the season progresses.
Simon added: ““Rules for the open and women’s divisions have been reviewed and relaxed from feedback last year, the main change being that county-level players will be eligible to play. County players will be able to compete in the Mixed and Seniors Divisions as last season.
“Affiliated clubs that do not have padel courts will also be able to enter teams in the leagues, to support our aim of expanding competitive opportunities for all clubs.”
NEXT STEPS
All clubs interested in playing should contact simonbickerton@talktalk.net by Friday 25th April expressing their interest and the teams they wish to enter in each competition.
Please be sure to include the name and email address for the nominated club contact(s), to whom entry fee requests will be sent, and whether you are willingness to host an event. Details of the leagues for each event and match days will then be finalised and circulated so courts can be booked by host clubs, which should have a minimum of two courts.
“Thank you in advance for your interest and have a great summer of padel in Yorkshire!”