A PACKED CROWD LOOKS ON DURING A MIXED PRO DOUBLES SEMIFINAL MATCH AT THE 2025 GEICO APP TOUR CHAMPIONSHIPS AT THE FORT IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA.
Taking the Global Stage
Last year, the APP cemented itself as a steward and leader for international pickleball with the establishment of the Global Pickleball Alliance( GPA), a unified coalition created to align professional pickleball organizations, harmonize competitive structures, and build the sport’ s first truly connected world calendar and ranking system, known as Global Pickleball Rankings.
In February, the GPA held a historic event in Malaysia— the 2026 Leapmotor APP Kuala Lumpur Open— hosting 1,760 players and officially recognized by the Malaysia Book of Records as the country’ s largest pickleball event.
A Platform for Young Players
The hallmark of the APP’ s youth movement is APP Next: three-day tournaments exclusively for players 23 and younger, who also receive coaching, mentorship and an introductory taste of life as a touring professional. The first of seven APP Next events on the 2026 schedule was held in San Antonio, Texas, with additional events planned in Las Vegas, Nevada; Houston, Texas; Dallas, Texas; St. Louis, Missouri; Kansas City, Kansas; and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Player ranking points from APP Next events will count toward the full APP Tour rankings.
Beyond APP Next, youth initiatives such as the APP Academy, APP Touring Pro Program and APP U. S. National Team are giving aspiring professional players more opportunities than ever to succeed. Participants in these programs receive training directly from APP founder Ken Herrmann and a dedicated staff at The Fort, the organization’ s crown-jewel venue and global headquarters.
In early March, the APP concluded its third-annual APP Selkirk U. S. Collegiate Championships, held in Cape Coral, Florida. College pickleball teams from across the nation battled their way through qualifier events over the previous months, all leading to the top 39 squads competing for the crown as the nation’ s best collegiate pickleball team.
The event marked the latest milestone in the APP’ s partnership with Selkirk, the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association, and USA Pickleball to enhance its collegiate championship series. •
Daniel Sagerman is senior communications coordinator for the Association of Pickleball Players( APP). To check out APP Tour preview and recap articles, learn more about the APP, and find an event near you, visit theapp. global.
MARCH / APRIL 2026 | MAGAZINE 51