All that tour chatter from a few weeks ago has quieted down, but there’s a new conversation picking up speed: collegiate pickleball.

March will be here before you know it, and the APP is gearing up to host its collegiate championships. There are still a few qualifier events ahead, and we break down what that landscape looks like below.

And one final reminder: follow us on Instagram and send us a DM with “newsletter.” We’ll be responding later this week and sending something special to a few of you.

Inside:

• What to do when you lose the kitchen

• Where pickleball is making progress—and where it still falls short

• How Toss & Spin is expanding access to play

🎓 What College Pickleball Looks Like Right Now

College campuses have become one of the most active environments for pickleball in the U.S.

Young adults now make up one of the largest segments of the sport, and colleges across the country have responded with intramurals, club teams, and competitive programs that look nothing like casual rec play.

From Clubs to National Competition

Most college pickleball still lives under campus recreation, but the competitive level has risen fast. Schools like Utah Tech, Texas-Austin, Florida Atlantic, Indiana, and Virginia now field teams that train year-round and compete nationally.

A few programs are pushing even further. Drury University became the first school to launch a varsity pickleball team with scholarships and a full-time coach, while others operate club programs with paid coaches, travel funding, and real institutional support.

The gap between club and varsity is shrinking.

A Growing Collegiate System

College pickleball isn’t NCAA-governed, but it operates within an organized competitive framework. Regional qualifiers, national championships, rankings, and scholarship-backed events are already in place through multiple organizations.

What began as student-led recreation has developed into a system with defined seasons, expectations, and competitive pathways.

Building Toward What’s Next

That framework expanded further this year with a collaboration between APP, NIRSA, Selkirk, and USA Pickleball focused on collegiate competition, funding, equipment, and education.

The season will culminate March 6-8 at the APP Selkirk U.S. Collegiate Championships in Cape Coral, Florida, where the top 32 teams will compete for the national title.

College pickleball continues to formalize, with campuses playing a central role in how the sport develops next.

👉 See the upcoming APP collegiate qualifiers.

🌎 Around the Picklesphere

🎯 Why smarter shots win more points
😬 When “sorry” is actually required on court
🔥 “I’m hungry for the next step.”

🧠 How to Reset When You’re Pushed Off the Kitchen Line

BRING THIS TO THE COURT: Getting pushed off the kitchen line happens to everyone. The mistake isn’t losing the line—it’s what happens next. Many points are lost not on the push itself, but in the rushed decisions that follow.

Neil breaks down how to reset with intention, slow the rally down, and use soft, controlled shots to buy time and work your way back to the kitchen instead of forcing an attack that isn’t there.

👉 Learn how to reset and take the kitchen back.

🌪️ A Paddle Players Are Switching To

Ramsports may be a newer name for a lot of players, but the early feedback has been hard to ignore. Players who’ve made the switch point to one thing consistently: a paddle that delivers real power without losing touch.

The Typhoon is built with a Gen 3 honeycomb core and foam injection designed to expand the sweet spot and reduce vibration, paired with a carbon fiber composite face that adds spin and a crisp, consistent feel. It’s balanced, responsive, and geared toward aggressive players who still want control at the net.

👉 Learn more about the Ramsports Typhoon and use code EMPOWER20 for 20% off.

✊🏾 Where Pickleball Is Making Progress—and Where It Still Falls Short

Pickleball likes to call itself welcoming. In some places, that’s becoming true. In others, access still depends on where you live, what you can afford, and whether you feel welcome once you show up.

We’re taking a look at how courts, gear, youth programs, and grassroots leaders are shaping who actually gets to play—and where the sport still has real work to do.

👉 Read how access and inclusion are actually playing out.

🏓 Why Toss & Spin Keeps Showing Up Where Pickleball Usually Doesn’t

Toss & Spin has built its footprint quietly, often in places where pickleball hasn’t traditionally had a presence. Parking lots. Public spaces. Retail environments. Communities without established courts or programming.

Instead of leading with branding, the focus has stayed on structured play, instruction, and creating environments where people can actually try the sport without pressure. That approach shows up across their work—from large-scale activations with national partners to free clinics and skill sessions designed to meet players where they are.

👉 Read how Toss & Spin approaches growth differently.

• February 9-14: APP Kuala Lumpur Open - Selangor, Malaysia

• February 9-15: PPA Cape Coral Open - Cape Coral, FL

• February 13-16: National Junior Pickleball Houston Regional - Houston, TX

• February 15-22: PPA Mesa Cup - Mesa, AZ

• March 5-8: National Junior Pickleball Eastern Regional - Raleigh, NC

• March 6-8: APP Selkirk Collegiate Championships - Cape Coral, FL

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