How National Junior Pickleball is Shaping the Future of Youth Play
Parents taking photos of a group of youth pickleball players at a National Junior Pickleball (NJP) event.
As pickleball continues to explode in popularity, it remains one of the most welcoming sports, bringing players of all ages onto the court. From elementary school gym classes teaching kids how to dink and rally to parents sharing their love for the game, young athletes are embracing pickleball just as much as the adults. Can you blame them?!
A Gap in Youth Pickleball Programming
A young female pickleball player on court at a NJP event.
With more kids getting serious about their play, parents have struggled to find tournaments and programs focusing on young athletes. That’s exactly the problem Courtney Loughridge, founder of National Junior Pickleball (NJP), set out to solve.
Courtney’s son, Jack, loved playing pickleball, but she found herself searching relentlessly for tournaments designed for youth players. With few options available, Jack often ended up competing against adults – great for experience, but not ideal for fostering peer-level competition. Determined to create a space where kids could play and grow together, Courtney leveraged her background in community programming and nonprofit development to launch NJP. Her goal is to build “a supportive community where players from beginners to advanced, can compete against their peers in a friendly environment and share their passion for pickleball.”
Why Youth Pickleball Matters
National Junior Pickleball Doubles Day
For pickleball to continue thriving for years to come, we need to bring more young players into the mix. NJP is doing just that by creating tournaments specifically for kids. After all, how many of us wish we had started playing earlier? Just imagine how good we’d be by now!
Beyond skill development, youth pickleball fosters community, competition, and friendships that can last a lifetime. If you’ve ever seen a kid zip across the court with the energy we only dream of, you know that the future of pickleball is in good hands.
NJP’s Nationwide Impact
In 2025, NJP is expanding its reach, giving thousands of young athletes across the country more opportunities to compete. Their upcoming tournament line up includes:
10 Regional Tournaments in states like California, Nevada, North Carolina, and Florida (with two more locations to be announced).
15 Local Doubles Tournaments in states like Arizona, Texas, and Michigan.
With thousands of competitors and spectators expected this year, NJP is not only growing the sport, but also building a foundation for the next generation of players.
Get Involved with National Junior Pickleball
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If you have a young pickleballer in your life or simply love seeing the sport grow, NJP is making a difference that’s worth supporting. Check out www.nationaljuniorpickleball.com to learn more about their tournaments, upcoming events, and ways to get involved.
Because, let’s face it—the more kids playing pickleball, the brighter the future of the sport. And who knows? The next generation might just end up coaching us someday.
