The rapidly-growing sport of pickleball is coming to the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), as the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) and AAU announced a strategic alliance that will provide both youth and adult programming for athletes across the country.
Pickleball is a court sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis. The game is played both indoor and outdoor on a surface one-third the size of a regulation tennis court and a net lowered to 34 inches. Players use a paddle and polymer ball, similar to a Wiffle ball. The game has grown exponentially across North America in recent years.
“USAPA has done an exceptional job building their adult membership base across the country and making pickleball one of the fastest growing sports in America,” said Dr. Roger J. Goudy, president and CEO of the AAU. “This strategic alliance allows us to utilize our combined expertise and resources to provide athletes of all ages with first-class competition experiences in the sport of pickleball.”
The two organizations will create new co-branded AAU/USAPA recreational leagues and tournaments under the direction of AAU National Pickleball Chair Yvonne Devlin and USAPA Executive Director Justin Maloof. These recreational programs are designed to broaden pickleball awareness among youth and adults and increase general participation. USAPA will offer a special $5 recreational membership through the AAU website, which will allow AAU members to compete in the new co-branded AAU/USAPA programs.
“As pickleball continues to flourish, USAPA is establishing a number of strategic partnerships designed to effectively position the sport on both the national and international stage,” Maloof said. “AAU has a storied sports background here in the U.S. and their existing infrastructure extends coast to coast. Our partnership with AAU will expand recreational and youth pickleball opportunities in ways not yet imagined.”
