Building a Youth Pickleball Program: Best Practices from Columbia Association

Learn how Columbia Association is building a youth pickleball program with structured coaching, family engagement and planning.

As pickleball’s popularity skyrockets, many clubs are looking to attract the next generation of players. At Columbia Association, Anish Manrai, the assistant director of community programs and services, has developed a thriving youth pickleball program that has grown significantly in just six months. With 45 kids enrolled and five dedicated coaches, Columbia Association’s structured approach serves as a roadmap for pickleball business owners looking to build a successful youth pickleball program and engage families in the sport.

Why Youth Pickleball is a Smart Business Move

For Columbia Association, adding youth pickleball was a natural extension of its existing junior tennis program. The organization saw an opportunity to engage young players, and the results have been overwhelmingly positive.

“We started offering junior pickleball about six months ago,” said Manrai. “At first, it was just recreational — part of our summer tennis program once or twice a week — to see how kids responded. They had such a blast with it that as a team, we went back to the drawing board and said, ‘OK, there’s definitely a demand here.’”

Since then, Columbia Association has formalized its approach, evolving from casual sessions into a structured youth pickleball program with trained coaches, development pathways, and a clear curriculum.

How to Structure a Youth Pickleball Program for Long-Term Success

One of the biggest lessons learned in Columbia Association’s journey was the importance of having a clear development pathway.

“Initially, we were winging it just to get a feel for the response,” said Manrai. “But based on feedback, we knew very quickly we had to put more structure around it.”

Now, all pickleball coaches complete training through the Professional Pickleball Registry’s (PPR) youth curriculum, ensuring that young players progress through a systematic, skill-based approach. In addition, Columbia Association hosts bi-weekly training sessions where coaches share insights and strategies for working with different age groups.

Pickleball as a Feeder Sport for Tennis and Vice Versa

A major unexpected benefit of offering youth pickleball was its impact on the junior tennis program. Many tennis players have started playing pickleball, and first-time pickleball players have also become interested in tennis.

“I’ve got tennis-playing kids who have now started playing some pickleball, and I’ve got first-time pickleball kids saying, ‘Hey, I’m loving pickleball, let me try tennis as well,’” said Manrai. “It’s a feeder system for both programs, and ultimately, it keeps the community engaged.”

For pickleball business owners, this crossover effect is an opportunity to maximize facility usage and create multi-sport engagement strategies to attract more participants.

The Role of Facilities in Building a Youth Pickleball Program

Having the right facilities is a critical component of a successful youth pickleball program. Columbia Association operates six permanent outdoor pickleball courts with lights, while its indoor courts are multi-use spaces with temporary markings and portable nets to accommodate pickleball programming.

“Indoors, we’ve got all the courts marked off with pickleball lines, and we use portable nets on wheels so it’s quick to set up and take down,” said Manrai. “Right now, we’re running dedicated pickleball programs on Saturdays and Sundays indoors, but once the weather warms up, we’ll move everything outdoors again.”

For pickleball businesses, balancing dedicated courts and multi-use spaces can help maintain consistent participation year-round.

Encouraging Family Participation in Pickleball

Another exciting trend Columbia Association has noticed is increased family participation.

“We’re seeing kids in our junior program start to pick up the game, and now I’m seeing their parents out there playing with them,” said Manrai. “The best part about pickleball is you can play it anywhere. Families don’t have to come to an indoor club to play — they can set up a net in an open space and just start having fun.”

For pickleball business owners, family-friendly programming can lead to higher retention rates and stronger community engagement.

Expanding the Racquet Sports Ecosystem Beyond Pickleball

As pickleball continues to grow, Columbia Association is already looking ahead to the next opportunity: Padel.

“We’re not too far away from exploring Padel as the next sport to bring into our clubs,” said Manrai. “It’s all about building that racquet sports ecosystem.”

For pickleball business owners, this highlights the importance of staying adaptable and exploring additional revenue streams within the racquet sports industry.

Ultimately, Manrai shared pickleball transcends all ages and skill levels. “It’s a thriving ecosystem, and it’s exciting to see how many kids and families are embracing it,” he said.

For pickleball business owners, the key to success in building a youth pickleball program is engaging families and creating a long-term vision for racquet sports growth.