Pickleball Kids USA

09/09/2026

Building Junior Pickleball Takes More Than Courts

I received this email yesterday from a young player in a town just outside Nashville who wanted to play at her local club, only to find that the club’s junior program wasn’t generating enough interest.

I had previously spoken with the club owner, who felt they could build the program themselves. I certainly respect his approach, but it illustrates a challenge I see all too often: having courts and good intentions is a different animal than building a successful junior program.

One of the biggest challenges I have faced in the last six years of organizing junior pickleball is resistance from clubs who believe they can develop the youth program on their own. A sustainable junior program requires curriculum, trained coaches, school relationships, recruitment, parent engagement, competition, and a pathway that keeps kids playing.



We bring the infrastructure to the club rather than asking the club to build it from scratch. We first work with schools and PE teachers to introduce the game, develop players, and create a pipeline back into clubs and competitive opportunities. The club provides the community and courts; we provide the youth infrastructure and pathway.

08/20/2026

08/10/2026

As Pickleball Kids USA begins moving into Kentucky following the state’s adoption of pickleball as a varsity sport for the 2027-28 school year, we were privy to some interesting statistics about the future of high school pickleball through the KHSAA survey.

KHSAA had 254 schools respond. 102 said they would participate in a state championship, while 152 said they would not.

Those numbers mirror what I found as a featured speaker at the BOOST Conference in Palm Springs earlier this year. Schools are interested in pickleball, but many need help turning that interest into a sustainable program.

I don't think those 152 schools necessarily said no to pickleball. My guess is that many were really saying “not yet.” They may need equipment, trained PE teachers, curriculum, programming, and a clear pathway into competitive play.

This is where Pickleball Kids USA can make a real difference—helping schools go from interest to implementation through teacher training, equipment, programming, and ultimately a competitive pathway.

The 102 schools are the early adopters. The 152 may be the bigger opportunity. The real opportunity isn't just creating a state championship; it's building the infrastructure that makes participation possible.

As Pickleball Kids USA begins moving into Kentucky following the state’s adoption of pickleball as a varsity sport for the 2027-28 school year, we were privy to some interesting statistics about the future of high school pickleball through the KHSAA survey.
KHSAA had 254 schools respond. 102 said they would participate in a state championship, while 152 said they would not.
Those numbers mirror what I found as a featured speaker at the BOOST Conference in Palm Springs earlier this year. Schools are interested in pickleball, but many need help turning that interest into a sustainable program.

I don't think those 152 schools necessarily said no to pickleball. My guess is that many were really saying “not yet.” They may need equipment, trained PE teachers, curriculum, programming, and a clear pathway into competitive play.

This is where Pickleball Kids USA can make a real difference—helping schools go from interest to implementation through teacher training, equipment, programming, and ultimately a competitive pathway.

The 102 schools are the early adopters. The 152 may be the bigger opportunity. The real opportunity isn't just creating a state championship; it's building the infrastructure that makes participation possible.

07/30/2026