It’s America’s fastest-growing sport, but pickleball skills have yet to see the “big time” spotlight. As of 2023, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has yet to add pickleball to its lineup. However, that’s not stopping schools from taking the first step!

Both primary and secondary schools across the United States are adding pickleball programs to their lineups, and Pickle Goddesses wants to highlight their hard work! Join us, and keep scrolling to learn more about how officials are letting students play pickleball for fun and education.

No Official Recognition of Pickleball

The National Collegiate Athletic Association does not currently recognize pickleball leagues as “official” sports. Thus, collegiate athletes cannot enroll in the program’s amateur divisions. Likewise, pickleball remains an underappreciated sport in elementary and middle school curriculums. However, this doesn’t prevent other players from forming college-level sports clubs.

Pickleball’s status remains uncertain on campuses, and the NCAA isn’t budging on the issue. In fact, the organization issued a pointed cease and desist to the organizers behind the “National Collegiate Pickleball Association,” citing trademark rights and general confusion.

So, it’s unlikely that we’ll see pickleball advance to the status of NCAA-certified any time soon. Nonetheless, the sport’s reputation is earning hearts across the United States!

The Beginning of the Rise of Competitive Scholastic Pickleball

One of the biggest wins for pickleballers is the recent partnership between Major League Pickleball and Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR). The partnership was realized in April 2023, when the MLP and DUPR hosted the United States’ first National Championship for Collegiate Club Pickleball in Fort Worth, Texas. The event was large enough to attract the attention of Sports Illustrated, which reported an attendance of 20 colleges.

Again, we cannot stress enough that this is not sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, although players perform at the same level!

So, who hosted the event?

Major League Pickleball is a name many players already know. They’re the most relevant rivals for the Professional Pickleball League. They provide funding to local pickleball programs and offer open play for newcomers. Membership requires little more than a passion for the sport and a small yearly fee. (And those fees are only required from organizations — such as local pickleball clubs.)

The Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating is an extension of the MLP. First devised by MLP’s founder, Steve Kuhn, the DUPR (officially pronounced as “doo-per”) offers players a fairly straightforward way to gauge their skill level. All players using the DUPR system have a ranking of 2.000–8.000. Intermediate players generally rank between 3.000–3.999, and professionals are often ranked between 5.000–8.000.

Mary Barsaleau, a reporter for The Daily Sun, wrote a delightful analysis of the system. Most casual pickleball players fall within the 2.000–3.999 range. Comparatively, award-winning pickleball champion Ben Johns has a 6.668 rating.

The State of Collegiate Pickleball Programs

We’ll start with the “big kid” leagues.

Between 2022 and 2023, pickleball’s popularity has exploded on college campuses. 113 new collegiate pickleball clubs were formed in the past year, bringing the total number to 130!

And while the NCAA’s hands are tied, many colleges are opening their doors and gymnasium floors to the joys of pickleball! Both big and small educational institutions have established official pickleball teams, and many more are following in their footsteps. However, we wanted to highlight some of the major players in the growth of officially sanctioned collegiate pickleball programs.

Broward College (Weston, Florida)

Our first honoree is Broward College in Coconut Creek (also known as the “North Campus.”) After a year of hard work, this university opened the doors of its Diadem Indoor Pickleball Complex! Once the Omni Auditorium, the 14,000-square-foot facility boasts 9 championship-sized courts. Moreover, it’s currently the only dedicated pickleball playing area in South Florida.

The doors officially opened in late June 2023, and fans of tournament-level play may spot some familiar faces. Multiple professional players have endorsed Diadem’s construction, including the PPA’s Christian Alshon.

Drury University (Springfield, Missouri)

In yet another score for college-age pickleball fans, Missouri’s Drury University officially announced its intent to establish a co-ed pickleball team in time for the 2024–2025 sports season. Jasmine Cooper, a reporter for the college, further noted that the college has funded “The Panther Pad,” a dedicated pickleball facility with 6 courts, and plans to complete its construction by Spring 2024.

Drury University’s president, John Beuerlein, noted that these additions are another step in the institution’s longstanding “dedication to providing diverse opportunities for our students.” The new team will offer scholarships for prospective student-athletes, who will play under the tutelage of former Drury tennis coach Jerrod Smith.

Developments in the Field of Junior Pickleball Programs

And what about the young crowd?

Don’t worry! Teens and tweens are also being invited to play pickleball.

The sport is fairly new, so many schools haven’t considered its applications. Nonetheless, more than one primary school has integrated pickleball into its sports program. So, let’s highlight some pickleball wins for younger players!

New Pickleball Courts Galore

One of the first signs of pickleball’s massive growth is the boom in newly constructed pickleball courts. While we don’t have precise figures, we can point to countless news articles about increased access to America’s fastest-growing sport. We’ve already covered some collegiate examples, but what about spots for younger audiences?

Fear not! Your kids may soon enjoy pickleball with players of all ages at their local school! Of the dozens of newly-opened pickleball courts across America, some notable primary school additions include…

• A. I. Root Middle School in Medina, Ohio, opened 6 new pickleball courts in August. (The Medina Sun)
• Evergreen Park Community High School Sports Complex (locally known as the “EPCHS Sports Complex”) in Evergreen Park, Illinois, opened its indoor pickleball courts on Halloween. (Patch)
• Joseph Melillo Middle School in East Haven, Connecticut, announced plans to retrofit and update its outdoor tennis and pickleball courts in August. (New Haven Register)
• Haverhill High School in Haverhill, Massachusetts, unveiled gorgeous pickleball courts in October. (Wavelengths)
• Wayland High School in Wayland, Massachusetts, added pickleball courts in June. (Wayland Students Press Network)

Already, we have 5 new places to play pickleball. And these locations are open to drop-in players throughout the year. Of course, prospective players must be mindful of young players and students during the school year. However, most communities allow respectful open play during the summer months.

And we can only expect the sport’s reach to grow. Organizations like Major League Pickleball and the International Federation of Pickleball spread the joys of pickleball every day! Their message earns new supporters and encourages more people to participate in our beloved sport. Moreover, local chapters of these organizations offer free and low-cost classes for all ages!

So, how does that make a difference? Well…

Berean Christian School (West Palm Beach, Florida)

As part of its effort to develop young minds and discourage obesity, PHIT America donated $2,000 of paddles and pickleball equipment to West Palm Beach, Florida’s Berean Christian School. These supplies are now being used to create a remarkable school pickleball program to promote physical fitness for all ages!

Both PHIT America and Berean Christian School representatives praised the sport’s moderate pace and easy-to-understand rules as the basis for the new program. Already, the school is seeing a marked improvement in students’ self-discipline and peer relationships.

Hopefully, this massive success will inspire other schools to do the same!

Xavier Prep (Palm Desert, California)

In another philanthropic pickleball victory, Ximena Gonzalez, a student at Palm Desert, California’s Xavier Prep, founded her own pickleball club! She gathered resources (including keychains and paddles) from Desert Sun reporter Mary Barsalaeu to begin her efforts. She set up her sign-up table, unsure of if anyone would be interested, and guess what happened?

Ximena got a remarkable 90-person sign-up list! Yes, almost a hundred students were more than eager to play pickleball in the school’s gymnasium! That’s a whole lot of guaranteed fun, and it’s another huge step toward making our communities safer and more engaging for our kids.

Learn Even More About Pickleball

Hopefully, all this amazing news inspires you to take action! Start some pickleball clinics in your area and get that court warm! Soon, you’ll be playing with people of all ages and enjoying plenty of community-strengthening events.

Don’t just take this post’s word as truth; learn more about pickleball and browse the rest of the Pickle Goddesses blog. We’re constantly updating our page with the newest information — including tips and tricks for beginners, advanced strategy tips for intermediate players, and pickleball news! You can also share this post with friends and family to spread the fun of pickleball.