How much does it cost to play in the NPL?

Registration is $70 per player, and you must hold an active USPA membership. During the city stage, home teams pay for court time. From regionals onward, all costs including courts, food, and drinks are covered by the NPL.

How many players do you need for an NPL team?

You need a minimum of 6 players to form a team, but 10-12 is recommended to handle scheduling conflicts and ensure you always have enough players for match day.

What is the match format in the NPL?

Each match has three lines (pairs). Each line plays best-of-three sets with a full third set. The team that wins two out of three lines wins the match. Lineups are submitted blind — neither team knows the other's lineup until play begins.

Do I need to belong to a specific club to play?

No. Anyone can form a team and choose any padel club as their home venue. You don't need to be a member of the club, and teammates don't need to play at the same facility.

What Is the National Padel League (NPL)? A Complete Guide

Q: What is the National Padel League (NPL)?

The NPL is the organizing body behind the USA National Team League, the largest amateur padel team competition in the United States. It is part of Racquet 360 and operates across 40+ cities in six U.S. regions.

Q: When does the NPL Spring 2026 season start?

Registration closes April 18, 2026. City stage play runs from April 20 through May 29, followed by regional championships and a national championship later in the summer.

The National Padel League (NPL) is the organizing body behind the USA National Team League — the largest amateur padel team competition in the United States. Part of Racquet 360, the NPL has quickly become the go-to competitive pathway for recreational and competitive padel players across the country.

In its inaugural Fall 2025 season, the league drew over 1,900 registrants across 37 cities. With Spring 2026 registration now open, here's everything you need to know.

How the NPL Works

The USA National Team League follows a three-stage tournament structure that takes teams from local play all the way to a national championship:

City Stage — Teams compete within their city or region over several weeks. The number of matches depends on how many teams are in your area.
Regional Championships — Top teams from each city advance to one of six regional events (Florida, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Texas, Southwest).
National Championship — Regional winners compete at a single national venue. The Fall 2025 National Finals were held across Reserve Sole Mia in North Miami and RacquetX in Fort Lauderdale — the premier racquet sports industry conference in the U.S. The championship match was played live at RacquetX in front of thousands of attendees, with 380 qualified players competing over three days.

All court time, food, and drinks are covered from regionals onward — teams only pay for courts during the city stage.

Who Can Play

Anyone. Unlike club-organized leagues, the NPL is open to all players. You don't need to belong to a specific club or even live in the same city as your teammates.

To participate, you need:

A USPA membership (required)
$70 registration fee per player
A team of at least 6 players (though 10-12 is recommended to handle scheduling conflicts)

Three friends can form a team, pick a name, and choose a home club — it's that simple. Clubs are encouraged to field teams, but the league is player-driven, not club-driven.

Match Format

Each match consists of three lines (three pairs). Each line plays a best-of-three sets match with a full third set (no tiebreak). The team that wins two out of three lines wins the overall match.

One of the NPL's most popular features is the blind lineup: teams submit their lineup at the last moment, and neither side knows who they're facing at each line until play begins. This prevents stacking — you can't put your best pair on the line where you think the opponent is weakest.

The Role of the Captain

Every team needs a captain. The captain's responsibilities include:

Creating the team and sharing the join code with players
Managing the roster throughout the season
Coordinating match times with opposing captains
Booking courts at the home club for home matches
Submitting lineups and reporting scores via Tournated

Captains can also play on the team — most do.

Home Clubs and Court Booking

Every team selects a home club — a padel facility where they play their home matches. During the city stage, the home team is responsible for booking and paying for court time. Captains coordinate match days and times directly with each other, offering flexibility to play on weekdays or weekends.

With 40+ clubs participating across the country, chances are there's an NPL-active facility near you.

How to Sign Up for Spring 2026

Registration for the NPL Spring 2026 season is open now and closes April 18, 2026. City stage play runs from April 20 through May 29, followed by regional championships in Boston, Charlotte, San Diego, Dallas, Philadelphia, and Miami.

The 2026 season introduces a dual-season format (Spring and Fall) and expanded women's divisions with four dedicated categories matching the men's.

Use discount code NPLPBROWSER for an exclusive discount when you register here.