Byron Freso and Don Stanley Join USA Pickleball Rules Committee

Monday, June 26, 2023

USA Pickleball, the National Governing Body for the sport, has announced the addition of Byron Freso and Don Stanley to the USA Pickleball Rules Committee as voting members.

Freso represents the Association of Pickleball Players (APP), while Stanley represents the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA). The committee aims to provide rules consistency across professional, amateur, and recreational players. Mark Peifer, Chairman of the USA Pickleball Rules Committee, expressed excitement about working with Freso and Stanley, and the rest of the committee to ensure practical, enforceable, and sportsmanship-promoting rules.

Right to left: Don Stanley, Byron Freso

Byron Freso has an extensive background in pickleball, serving as the Director of Officials for the APP Tour since its inception in 2019. With experience as a senior competitor and a certified referee, Freso brings practical insights to the committee.

“In my experience, the best rules are those that are practical, enforceable, and promote sportsmanship,” Freso said. “I am excited to be a part of this committee and look forward to working with the other members who share my passion for pickleball.”

Don Stanley, the Director of Officiating for the PPA, boasts over 43 years of officiating experience in various sports. Having transitioned from player to referee, Stanley is a certified referee and has conducted training classes for many new potential referees. He has actively participated in the rules documents for the past three years as Rules Committee Recording Secretary and as the main creator for the annual Change Document. Stanley is committed to promoting the sport he loves through his involvement on the committee.

Freso and Stanley join existing committee members Ken Schoonover, Jeff Shank, Karen Parrish, and Mark Peifer. Together, they will contribute to the development of the 2024 USA Pickleball Rulebook. The committee is currently considering rule revisions, which can be found on the USA Pickleball website here.

The addition of Freso and Stanley to the USA Pickleball Rules Committee strengthens the expertise and diversity within the committee, ensuring that rules are well-crafted and inclusive for players across different levels of the sport.