The Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) voted in May 2026 to officially sanction pickleball as a high school championship sport starting in the fall of the 2027–28 school year. [1, 2] The state will hold its pickleball season in the fall, when high school tennis courts are not in use for that sport, which…
The Utah High School Activities Association has officially classified boys’ and girls’ pickleball as an emerging sport. This designation is the crucial first step toward it becoming a fully sanctioned, varsity-level sport. The push for this classification is spearheaded by the Utah High School Pickleball Association. Thanks to their efforts, the framework for competitive high…
Pickleball is finally starting to get noticed by high school interscholastic associations. Utah’s and Kentucky’s state associations have made pickleball a provisional sport—the first step to becoming an official sport. Maryland became the first state to have high school pickleball recognized as an official varsity sport by a school district when Montgomery County Public Schools…
The Florida High School Athletic Association is actively considering making pickleball an officially sanctioned high school varsity sport following strong initial interest. [1] Survey and School Interest Remaining Hurdles and Process For an emerging sport to transition from a club or recreational activity into a full varsity sport, the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA)…
The California High School Pickleball Board (CAHSPB) is spearheading a grassroots movement to officially recognize pickleball as a varsity sport through the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). [1, 2] The Roadmap to Varsity Status
Paddle manufacturer Selkirk offers schools and other nonprofits free, used paddles as part of its Pickleball Growth Program. According to the program’s web page, “Our original goal was to give away 3,000+ paddles a year; we have now given away more than 40,000 paddles since we started in 2019. As part of our Growth Program,…
If your club is looking for additonal competitions, such as regional and national tournaments, DUPR runs competitive high school pickleball events and tournaments alongside its collegiate circuits. [1, 2] DUPR High School Competition Structure Player Benefits: Events give young athletes visibility in front of college pickleball program leaders and coaches. [1, 2] Super Regionals: High…
Utah appears to have the most ambitious state high school pickleball structure, with its own governing body and leagues competing across Utah. You can access registration, club setup, and season documents directly through the Utah High School Pickleball Association website. Key UHSPA Resources General Information: FAQs, coach guidelines, and the event calendar are available directly…
Starting a high school pickleball club involves securing a faculty advisor, forming a student group, finding a venue (school gym or tennis courts), and obtaining approval from school administration. Key steps include drafting a constitution, gathering equipment (nets, paddles, balls), and promoting the club to gain members. [1, 2, 3] Steps to Start a High…
If your high school offers a variety of sports, such as football, track, tennis, etc., each of these sports is part of a program. Each program has a team. Each team plays in a league (often called a conference, and part of a district). For example, your school might have a girls basketball program, which…
There cannot be a governing body of high school pickleball because high school sports are governed by their state interscholastic sports organizations. These state organizations do not need to, and never will, recognize a national body that attempts to “govern” them. State interscholastic sports organizations all set their own rules. For example, high school soccer…
