Pickleball Magazine 4-6 | Page 49

ctor USAPA JUNIORS PROGRAM REDESIGNED TO MEET FUTURE NEEDS OF OUR YOUTH. By Bob Nibarger Chair of the USAPA Juniors Program T he USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) Juniors Program, for ages 7-19, launched at the 2016 USAPA Nationals in Casa Grande, Arizona. Kids from across the U.S. came together for a social event that featured guest speakers, pizza, and a very popular event that matched the kids with top-level pickleball pros. For the past two years, the Juniors organization has focused on developing a specialized website, usapajuniors.org, and the USAPA Juniors Facebook page. A pickleball junior advisory committee helps support a new USAPA Recreational Programs Department and provides direction and guidance regarding junior pickleball initiatives. The newly formed Recreational Programs Department includes Hope Tolley, Director of Recreational Programs and Services, and also Jason Jamison, National Programs Advisor. Steve Manolis, a certified pickleball teaching pro and a USAPA Educational Ambassador, introduced a Youth Education Initiative program in 2017. His continuing work with park districts as a pickleball court advisor has changed the landscape of public courts in the Phoenix area. Looking ahead to 2020, Steve will be a contributor in leading a group of other ambassadors and players introducing families, PE teachers, schools and parks departments to further recreational play through the USAPA’s Community Engagement Program, which was just released this year and will be led by the USAPA’s Recreational Programs Department. The Junior Committee consists of a diverse group of community pickleball leaders nationwide and includes Bob Nibarger (Chair), Jim Ludwig (Pickleball Academy of Southwest Florida), Josh Grubbs (coach and parent), Sharon Brown (junior academies), Altaf Merchant (professional player), Stephanie Lane (senior professional player), Kyle Klein (Sanctioned Tournaments Committee member and parent), Russell Elfterion (Parks & Recreation leader), Hope Tolley (USAPA staff) and Jason Jamison (USAPA staff). Youth pickleball has grown dramatically in only three short years. Membership has grown, physical education programs are adding pickleball to their curriculum, clubs are forming and the USAPA is expanding opportunities for juniors to play in sanctioned tournaments. In response to the enormous growth in youth pickleball, the USAPA and the Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR) have joined forces and will be launching many new programs CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 | MAGAZINE >>>> 47