New York's First Pickleball Youth Program Launches in Seven Schools

The long-term success of any sport hinges on the strength of youth programs teaching the game to the next generation. That’s why the latest news out of New York City is so significant.

The youth nonprofit Conquer Kids has been named the Official Youth Pickleball Program of the Brooklyn Pickleball Team (BKPT), powered by JOOLA. Together they will bring pickleball to New York City public schools, setting a new standard for grassroots growth and community engagement in the fastest-growing sport in America.

“This is a first-of-its-kind partnership, and it’s exactly what the sport needs right now,” said Louis Long, Co-Founder of Conquer Kids. “Pickleball is growing at an incredible pace, but growth only matters if it’s accessible. By partnering with the Brooklyn Pickleball Team and JOOLA, we’re ensuring kids across all five boroughs have the opportunity to learn, play, and fall in love with the game.”

The program will begin with seven schools across the city with the goal of continued expansion and putting paddles in the hands of every public school student. With one million NYC public school students that is a bold goal, but it is the kind of thinking that will hopefully provide longevity for pickleball for generations to come.

“This isn’t just about introducing kids to pickleball — it’s about building a sustainable pipeline for the future of the sport,” said Co-Founder Matthew Lee. “From elementary school to high school, and now into college programs, we’re creating clear pathways for participation, leadership, and lifelong engagement.”

MLP’s involvement in supporting this program highlights a successful approach by other major sports leagues like the NFL and MLB. Providing youth sports programs creates not just a pipeline of future pros, but also lifelong fans of the game. It will prove to be an effective strategy in growing interest for the sport as a whole.

“Youth development is the foundation of any sport that wants to grow the right way,” said Adam Behnke, COO of the Brooklyn Pickleball Team. “By investing in kids early — especially in a city as diverse and dynamic as New York — we’re not only growing pickleball, we’re building community, opportunity, and a future generation of players who see themselves in the game.”