Student Athletes Push to End Sunday Play, Citing Fairness and Religious Rights

College pickleball players across the country are rallying behind a new petition calling for collegiate tournaments to be moved from the traditional Saturday-Sunday format to a Friday-Saturday schedule.

The petition, addressed to DUPR, NCPA, the PPA Tour, APP, Major League Pickleball, and the Adidas Collegiate Pickleball Tour, argues that Sunday play prevents certain student-athletes from fully participating in tournaments due to religious observance. As a result, some players and teams — even those performing at the highest levels — have been forced to withdraw from matches that fall on Sundays.

According to the petition, this issue has become a growing concern as collegiate pickleball continues to expand. Athletes who train and travel long distances to compete often face an “avoidable dilemma”: choosing between their faith and the sport they love. For many, Sunday is a day reserved for worship and rest, and competing on that day is not an option.

When these players or teams have to pull out, tournaments lose key matchups and competitive integrity is compromised. The petition stresses that this situation is unfair, as it prevents certain athletes from reaching their full potential — not because of lack of ability or effort, but because of scheduling decisions that could easily be adjusted.

The players behind the petition emphasize that they simply want equal opportunity to compete, grow, and represent their schools without having to sacrifice their beliefs. They argue that a Friday-Saturday format would both respect religious freedom and strengthen the sport by allowing every qualified team to participate through the final rounds.

The document also points to precedent in other collegiate and club sports, many of which already use Friday-Saturday formats to accommodate athletes’ needs. The petition notes that this structure would promote fairness, inclusivity, and player wellness, as teams would have time to travel and recover before returning to classes on Monday.

Ultimately, the student-athletes are urging collegiate pickleball organizers to adopt a schedule that ensures all competitors — regardless of faith or background — have a fair chance to play and finish what they start.

The petition continues to gather support from players, coaches, and fans who believe that respecting religious conviction and promoting competitive equality can go hand in hand.