Montgomery County High Schools Championship Tournament at Walter Johnson High School, October 2025.
There’ s a new kind of senior dominating the kitchen. While the sport was built by the 65 + crowd, there’ s a growing number of high school seniors playing. And younger.
Students in Springfield, Missouri’ s 34 public elementary schools are taught in physical education classes how to play pickleball using foam paddles and balloons, so no one gets hurt.
They start learning the sport when they are 5 years old. Kindergartners.
“[ Pickleball ] has grown so much,” says Brad Brummel, coordinator of health and physical education for
Springfield Public Schools.“ We believe it’ s important to teach the skills of the game to allow students to experience success. We also believe it’ s a great activity to help students develop communication skills, collaboration skills, and leadership skill.”
What’ s happened in Springfield is a microcosm of what’ s going on in physical education classes at public schools nationwide. The days of climbing the dreaded high ropes and avoiding getting nailed in dodgeball are being replaced by pickleball, from big cities to small towns.
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MARCH / APRIL 2026 | MAGAZINE 39