New framework for rules, officiating, and governance takes effect May 22, 2026, with the start of the Major League Pickleball season
The United Pickleball Association of America (UPA-A) is proud to announce three major milestones in its continued effort to build a stronger, fairer, and more unified future for competitive pickleball: the launch of the new Official UPA-A Rulebook, the creation of the UPA-A Referee Program, and the appointments of Onisha C. Smith as Director of Competitive Governance and Compliance and Howard Hepworth as Director of Referee Training and Development.
The new Official UPA-A Rulebook will take effect on May 22, 2026, in alignment with the start of the Major League Pickleball (MLP) season. This milestone establishes a unified framework for competition across organized play and marks a significant step toward standardizing rules across the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) and MLP, both domestically and internationally.
Developed to support the continued growth of the sport, the UPA-A Rulebook delivers greater clarity, consistency, and fairness for players, referees, and tournament operators.
“This rulebook is about more than rules, it’s about trust, consistency, and the integrity of competition,” said Onisha C. Smith, Director of Competitive Governance and Compliance for UPA-A. “Our goal was to create a standard that can be applied uniformly while still respecting the realities of match play.”
The Official UPA-A Rulebook is now available on the UPA-A website: https://upaa.unitedpickleball.com/official-rulebook/
In tandem with the launch of the rulebook, UPA-A is also introducing the UPA-A Referee Program, a new initiative created to educate, train, and evaluate referees at the highest levels of competitive pickleball, including PPA and MLP.
As the governing body of professional and competitive pickleball, UPA-A is establishing clear standards for officiating and bringing greater consistency, accountability, and professionalism to the referee experience. The UPA-A Referee Program is designed to ensure that matches are officiated fairly, accurately, and with confidence, while also creating a clear pathway for referees to develop, advance, and be recognized for their expertise.
“These are foundational steps for the future of competitive pickleball,” said Jason Aspes, President of UPA-A. “Rules and officiating shape the integrity of the sport. With a unified rulebook, a formal referee development program, and experienced leadership in place, UPA-A is building the infrastructure needed to support the game at the highest levels.”
Further information can be found at the UPA-A Referee Program website: https://upaara.com
KEY LEADERSHIP HIRES
As part of this next phase of development, UPA-A is pleased to announce the hiring of veteran officials Onisha C. Smith and Howard Hepworth.
Smith’s first initiative in her new role is leading the development of a comprehensive rulebook for organized amateur and professional pickleball, both domestically and internationally.
Smith began officiating pickleball in February 2022 and quickly earned recognition for her strong court presence, sound judgment, and consistent, equitable rule enforcement. After gaining experience across multiple organizations and leagues, Smith chose to commit her expertise to the PPA and was selected to work for MLP in 2023. She has since officiated at the sport’s highest levels across both tours.
With a legal background and extensive on-court officiating experience, Smith brings a rare and valuable perspective to governance in pickleball. She is a passionate advocate for fair play and player-centered officiating, guided by her philosophy: “A good referee knows the rules, but a great referee knows the players.”
Smith holds a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Media Publishing from Rochester Institute of Technology and a Juris Doctor from the University of Cincinnati College of Law.
In his new role, Howard Hepworth will lead the design, implementation, and oversight of the UPA-A Referee Program, establishing professional-level training and performance standards that will elevate the player experience at all UPA-A sanctioned events.
“This is a big step toward building the infrastructure pickleball needs as it grows, especially at the professional level,” said Aspes. “Howard is recognized as one of the top pickleball referees, and we are thrilled to have his experience and expertise guiding our program.”
Hepworth has been a pickleball referee for more than 10 years, officiating thousands of matches across PPA, MLP, and other organizations, including numerous championship matches. He has officiated throughout the United States as well as in China, Japan, Vietnam, and Malaysia, and has served as a full-time professional referee since March 2024.
Prior to full-time officiating, Hepworth spent 22 years with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals in sales and 10 years in flight operations with a regional airline, working in training, supervision, and continuous improvement roles. He is based in St. George, Utah, and enjoys farming, golfing, and fishing in his time at home.
As UPA-A continues building a comprehensive ecosystem to promote fairness and integrity in professional and competitive pickleball, these developments represent an important step in aligning professional and competitive play under a unified standard through consistent rules, officiating, and sanctioning.