League Rules & Format
The South African Padel League is a structured, promotion-and-relegation competition built around fair play and anti-sandbagging through the League Index (LI) system.
Divisions
Teams compete across 4 divisions of 8 teams each. Win your division to earn promotion; finish at the bottom and face relegation play-offs against the division below.
Match Format & Scoring
Each fixture is a multi-category match night. Teams earn 1 point per set won, plus a 1-point bonus for the overall fixture winner. The 7-week regular season is followed by play-offs.
Standings are ranked by, in order:
- League Points
- Match Wins
- Sets Won
- Head-to-Head
- Points Difference
Pairings & Eligibility (League Index)
Each team fields four pairings — three mens tiers split by the pair's average League Index, plus one open ladies pairing. A player's LI reflects their highest Playtomic rating over the last six months, keeping line-ups honest.
| Pairing | Session | Pair Average LI |
|---|---|---|
| Mens Beginner | 1 | Up to 2.5 |
| Mens Intermediate | 1 | Up to 3.5 |
| Mens OpenFeature | 2 | Over 3.5 |
| Ladies OpenFeature | 2 | Any |
Team Power Rating (TPR)
Every team carries an ELO-style Team Power Rating starting at 1000. Results adjust TPR based on opponent strength, margin of victory, division strength and play-off weighting. Club Performance Index (CPI) averages an organisation's best two teams to crown the SAPL Club of the Year.
The Road to the Tshwane Masters
Division champions and play-off winners progress through regional finals to the season-ending Tshwane Masters — the pinnacle of the competition.