Status Update from IFPA – January 2026

The IFPA staff has been working diligently on this Code of Conduct (found HERE). While we recognize it won’t address every issue immediately, it marks an important step toward making IFPA‑sanctioned events more welcoming, inclusive, and enjoyable for all players. We have also expanded the IFPA Diversity and Inclusion Code (found HERE) to include a new Respect for Names and Pronouns policy. The IFPA staff remains committed to improving competitive pinball policies based on community feedback, and we sincerely appreciate everyone who has worked with us as these updates continue to evolve.

We have received questions regarding Women’s Division events for 2026 – there will be no change in the Women’s Division dollar fee or the system which tracks Women’s Division standings.

We have added multiple new staff members and are in the process of finding more, but we will not be creating another Women’s Advisory Board. We will announce new staff once they’ve finished onboarding and settled into their roles.

The amount of work and progress the WAB accomplished cannot be overstated, including increasing participation in our women’s division state championship series, creating the Women’s National Championships, running the Women’s World Championships for the last two years, and creating the initial IFPA inclusion policy. The WAB’s efforts have helped to shape women’s and open division pinball for the better.

That being said, both current and new staff members feel that the IFPA will be stronger and more effective as one entity with a diverse chorus of voices and opinions. We will be covering all of the duties that the WAB was previously responsible for. We will use the WAB as an example of dedication to growing women’s division pinball and to ensuring inclusiveness and fairness in both women’s and open divisions.