# Update from the IFPA on opt-out policy **Source:** IFPA **Type:** article **Published:** 2026-02-05 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.ifpapinball.com/update-from-the-ifpa-on-opt-out-policy/ --- ## Analysis The IFPA announced on February 4, 2026 that it is eliminating opt-outs from IFPA-sanctioned tournaments, effective for events ending March 1, 2026 or later. The organization cited competitive integrity concerns, as opt-outs had allowed players to alter tournament results without appearing in final standings and to participate without risking their rankings. Players seeking to avoid ranking impacts can now use profile suppression instead, which prevents them from qualifying for IFPA championships that year. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Opt-outs had drastically altered the results of events without showing up in the event results themselves, harming the integrity of IFPA results and rankings — _IFPA official announcement citing reason for policy change_ - [HIGH] Players have used opt-outs in an attempt to play in events while not risking their competitive statistics — _IFPA official statement on opt-out abuse_ - [HIGH] Removing opt-outs ensures accurate tournament results and streamlines the reporting process for volunteer TDs and Staff — _IFPA justification for policy change_ - [HIGH] Profile suppression allows players to participate without the same impacts on competition presented by opt-outs — _IFPA explanation of suppression alternative_ - [HIGH] Suppressed players will not be eligible to participate in SCS, NACS, WNACS, Country, SPC, Worlds, and other IFPA championships — _IFPA official policy on suppression consequences_ ### Notable Quotes > "Players opting-out had drastically altered the results of events without showing up in the event results themselves, harming the integrity of IFPA results and rankings." > — **IFPA STAFF**, February 04, 2026 > _Core justification for banning opt-outs; addresses competitive integrity concern_ > "Removing opt-outs ensures accurate tournament results and streamlines the reporting process for our volunteer TDs and Staff." > — **IFPA STAFF**, February 04, 2026 > _Dual benefit claimed: integrity and operational efficiency for tournament volunteers_ > "Players who wish to participate in IFPA sanctioned tournaments but do not wish to be included in IFPA rankings may still choose to suppress their player profile." > — **IFPA STAFF**, February 04, 2026 > _Introduces suppression as the official alternative mechanism to opt-outs_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | IFPA | organization | International Flipper Pinball Association; announced major tournament policy change eliminating opt-outs effective March 1, 2026 | | SCS | event | State Championship Series; suppressed players ineligible to qualify | | NACS | event | North American Championship Series; suppressed players ineligible to qualify | | WNACS | event | Women's North American Championship Series; suppressed players ineligible to qualify | | SPC | event | Stern Pro Circuit; suppressed players ineligible to qualify | | World Pinball Championship | event | Major IFPA championship; suppressed players ineligible to qualify | ### Topics - **Primary:** Tournament rule changes, Competitive integrity and fairness, IFPA policy enforcement - **Secondary:** Ranking system administration, Tournament director operations ### Sentiment **Neutral** (0) — Official policy announcement presented as matter-of-fact. Tone is administrative and focused on problem-solving. No celebratory or negative language; purely explanatory. ### Signals - **[community_signal]** Opt-out mechanism was being systematically abused by players to manipulate tournament results and avoid ranking consequences (confidence: high) — IFPA explicitly states players used opt-outs to 'play in events while not risking their competitive statistics' and that opt-outs 'drastically altered' event results - **[operational_signal]** Opt-out system was creating burden on volunteer Tournament Directors through complex reporting requirements (confidence: medium) — IFPA cites streamlining reporting process for 'volunteer TDs and Staff' as benefit of removal - **[regulatory_signal]** Major IFPA tournament policy shift eliminating opt-outs and introducing profile suppression as alternative, effective immediately for events ending March 1, 2026 or later (confidence: high) — Official IFPA announcement with specific effective date and implementation details --- ## Transcript Update from the IFPA on opt-out Ryan Policky Posted By IFPA STAFF, on February 04, 2026 The IFPA has been monitoring the impact of opt-outs on competition results and on TD feedback about pressure from players. Given those impacts and the IFPA’s focus on competitive result integrity, the IFPA has decided to no longer allow opt-outs. Any IFPA sanctioned events with an end date of March 1st, 2026 or later will be subject to this Ryan Policky change. Players who wish to participate in IFPA sanctioned events expect fair tournaments with accurate reporting. Players opting-out had drastically altered the results of events without showing up in the event results themselves, harming the integrity of IFPA results and rankings. Additionally, players have used opt-outs in an attempt to play in events while not risking their competitive statistics. Removing opt-outs ensures accurate tournament results and streamlines the reporting process for our volunteer TDs and Staff. Players who wish to participate in IFPA sanctioned tournaments but do not wish to be included in IFPA rankings may still choose to suppress their player profile. Suppression allows all players to participate without the same impacts on competition presented by opt-outs. Suppressed players will not be eligible to participate in that year’s SCS, NACS, WNACS, Country, SPC, Worlds, etc. IFPA championships. Suppression can be requested at any time by emailing the IFPA at ifpapinball@gmail.com. Suppression for any length of time will invalidate the suppressed player from qualifying for the events listed above for the current year. Players who are not suppressed at the start of a year are automatically eligible to qualify for those championships again in that year. Comments Closed Comments are closed. reCAPTCHA Recaptcha requires verification. Privacy \- Terms protected by reCAPTCHA Privacy \- Terms _(Acquisition: web_scrape, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 61a4ac9e-49d9-4032-80bb-a430fa2f98b7*