New Five-Month Professional Pickleball League Launches in Philippines

The Pickle Yard revealed the Pickleyard Conference League (PYCL) as a new, professional franchise-style pickleball league for the Philippines, set to run over a full five-month season. Modeled on established basketball systems like the NBA and PBA, the PYCL will use team drafts, corporate-backed franchises, weekly matches, rankings and team standings to create a season-long competitive structure and fan narrative.

Organizers said the league will support drafted players with monthly salaries, performance bonuses and additional pro-level services intended to raise standards for athletes. The PYCL also plans national broadcast coverage, a move that could expand audiences beyond courtside crowds and attract sponsors and investment into local clubs and programs.

To populate teams, the league scheduled nationwide tryouts for 30 January 2026 at The Pickle Yard PH facility in Parañaque. Women’s tryouts will begin at 08:00 and men’s tryouts at 13:00. The tryouts are positioned as the first practical opportunity for players to enter the professional pathway the league is building.

The Pickleyard Conference League positions itself as a bridge between grassroots play and higher-level competition in the Philippines by combining structured team competition with athlete development support. For local players, the PYCL offers a clearer career pathway: competitive exposure through weekly matches, financial support via salaries and bonuses, and the potential for media visibility if national broadcasts materialize. For clubs and coaches, a franchise model tied to corporate sponsors could mean new funding streams and more predictable scheduling across a five-month calendar.

Communities hosting tryouts and league matches can expect increased foot traffic, new spectator events and opportunities to integrate youth programming with professional showcases. Weekly matches and published rankings also give recreational players and local leagues clearer benchmarks for progression and scouting.

Players intending to attend the 30 January tryouts should plan travel to The Pickle Yard PH in Parañaque and aim to arrive well before the scheduled start times. Coaches and club organizers will want to monitor how the PYCL’s season calendar aligns with local tournaments and training cycles to avoid conflicts and to maximize player development opportunities.

The Pickleyard Conference League represents a significant step toward professionalizing pickleball in the Philippines, offering athletes paid opportunities and communities more high-level competition to rally around.