Pickleball has grown popular over the years. It’s now taking on the colleges as well. Because of it being inclusive and easy to play, pickleball has gained the attention of athletes and sports enthusiasts. There are now colleges in the USA that offer pickleball scholarships to athlete students.
In this blog, we will discuss:
Why are Colleges Offering Pickleball Scholarships?
- Growing Popularity - because pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the USA, it became a desirable addition to sports programs.
- Skills and Talent - universities are recognizing the skills and talent that are needed to excel at pickleball. It takes hard work to become a pro, which means students who excel in this sport have great skills, discipline, and an overall athletic mindset.
- Community and Engagement - pickleball promotes a sense of community, which is important for the students and the schools.
How to Find Pickleball Scholarships
- Research - look for colleges with pickleball scholarships or look for colleges that have established pickleball teams or clubs, they most likely offer scholarships.
- Ask Around - reach out to your school’s coach or athletic director and ask if they know any universities or colleges with pickleball scholarships. It never hurt to ask and they might even be able to provide you a recommendation letter.
Tips for Getting a Pickleball Scholarship
- Excel in Acamedics - Study hard and maintain strong grades so that you have more chances of securing a scholarship.
- Join Tournaments - During tournaments or leagues in your community, make sure to showcase your skills and win as many games as you can so your college application will be impressive.
- Build an Impressive Resume - highlight your pickleball achievements, any leadership roles, and community involvement.
- Network - connect with coaches and current pickleball players to learn about opportunities (plus, they might be able to give you tips).
Tips on Making an Impressive Resume and Essay
Resume
- Customize your resume based on what you’re applying to (in case you’re also applying for other scholarships). If you’re applying for a pickleball scholarship, highlight your achievements in the sport. Do you have any leadership experiences in your club? Did you join and win any tournaments?
- Be specific with your achievements. For example, if you won in tournaments, don’t just say “2024 Tournament Winner, etc.”. Instead, say something like the 2024 Tournament mixed doubles gold medalist and 2024 Tournament singles silver medalist.
- Proofread your resume many times to make sure that you don’t have any grammatical errors. This is a resume for college, this is a big deal. You can’t afford any mistakes.
Essay
- Understand what you need to put on the essay. What will the college or university want to see? Check online for samples or if you know someone who is already in college, ask if you can see their essay before for reference. Note: Never copy someone else’s college application essay. It’s unethical and if the university or college finds out, you can kiss your future goodbye.
- Tell your story. Make the essay personal by sharing your experiences. You can follow a template but make sure to add your personal touch to it.
- Proofread it to make sure there are no mistakes.
- Ask for feedback from people you trust. Sometimes, our work may seem perfect to us but an outside perspective can be really helpful to improve it.
- Submit it within the deadline. Make sure to find out when the deadline is and try not to cram it so it’s not all over the place (but if you’re more productive during the last minute, that’s ok too).
Colleges with Pickleball Scholarships
There are many universities and colleges now that have a pickleball club or program. Here are some universities with promising pickleball clubs and you can check the rest on the USA Pickleball (USAP) campus pickleball clubs section.
Utah Tech University in St. George, Utah
Utah Tech University is the pioneer in offering pickleball scholarships to athlete students. In late 2023, they became the first university with a pickleball club that would offer scholarships. They were able to offer four students a pickleball scholarship. They also recently renovated six pickleball courts to host the Utah Tech University pickleball club.
Drury University in Springfield, Missouri
Drury University has created a recreation area called the Panther Pad to cater to six pickleball courts. The Panther Pad also caters to other sports like basketball and tennis. With the creation of its pickleball program, Drury University opened opportunities for pickleball scholarships and it became the first program in the country to feature a full-time head coach.
Universities with Pickleball Programs or Clubs
These are universities or colleges that currently don’t offer scholarships but have the potential to because of their pickleball programs.
North Carolina State University
The pickleball club at the North Carolina State University hosts social events, tournaments, and collegiate matches, and they travel to tournaments hosted by DUPR. They hold weekly practices to help their student-athletes improve their skills. With a strong pickleball club such as this, they have the potential to offer pickleball scholarships soon.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina has a pickleball club where they train their student-athletes and they join collegiate tournaments. They are also officially sponsored by Selkirk.
University of Denver
The University of Denver Pickleball Club welcomes all players from beginners to experts. They provide training and skill-building workshops to aspiring athletes and offer open plays to those interested. They also join intercollegiate tournaments, which is great for building connections among the students.
Texas A&M University
The Texas A&M University Pickleball Club aims to promote the sport and increase participation. They welcome all student-athletes of all skill levels and give everyone a chance. They also join many college tournaments hosted by the PPA and DUPR.
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky pickleball club welcomes all student-athletes of all skill levels. They encourage everyone to join and provide the equipment needed. They also join DUPR tournaments.
USA Pickleball Collegiate Grant
USA Pickleball offers a grant for colleges or universities that are official club members. The pickleball collegiate grant is to encourage these organizations to create pickleball programs and encourage students to join and learn pickleball.
How to Start a Pickleball Club and Be a Member in USA Pickleball
- Determine if your school is eligible to create a pickleball club. Get permission from your school’s athletic department.
- Choose a location. Does your university or college have a pickleball court? If not, is there a tennis or badminton court? If you’re using the tennis court for pickleball, make sure to get permission to put markers on the court.
- Establish a budget by listing down everything you need a budget on like equipment, fees, travel expenses, and uniforms. Ask for assistance from your school for financial planning.
- Spread the word and encourage more players to join.
- Submit your application through the USA Pickleball website.
*Note: it’s also better if you can get an official coach to help with training, especially if you’re planning on joining official tournaments. Make sure to also assign a club president or person in charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why are colleges offering pickleball scholarships?
- Growing popularity: Pickleball's rapid growth has made it a desirable addition to college sports programs.
- Skill and talent: Colleges recognize the athleticism and dedication required to excel at pickleball.
- Community and engagement: Pickleball promotes a sense of community and involvement.
- How can I find colleges with pickleball scholarships?
- Research: Look for colleges with established pickleball teams or clubs.
- Ask around: Reach out to coaches, athletic directors, or current pickleball players for information.
- What are the typical requirements for a pickleball scholarship?
- Academic excellence: Maintain strong grades.
- Pickleball experience: Demonstrate skill and dedication through tournament participation and leadership roles.
- Community involvement: Highlight your involvement in community activities or volunteer work.
- How can I make my pickleball scholarship application stand out?
- Customize your resume: Tailor it to highlight your pickleball achievements and fit the specific requirements of the college.
- Write a compelling essay: Share your personal story, motivation, and goals for playing pickleball.
- Network with coaches and players: Build relationships to learn about opportunities and obtain recommendation letters.
- What are some colleges that offer pickleball scholarships or programs?
- Utah Tech University
- Drury University
- North Carolina State University
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- University of Denver
- Texas A&M University
- University of Kentucky
- How can I start a pickleball club at my college?
- Get approval: Obtain permission from your school's athletic department.
- Find a location: Identify a suitable space for practices and matches.
- Establish a budget: Plan for equipment, fees, and other expenses.
- Recruit members: Promote the club and encourage students to join.
- Apply for official recognition: Register your club with the college or a governing body like the USA Pickleball.
- Are there any specific pickleball skills or qualities that colleges look for in scholarship applicants?
- Strong athleticism: Good court sense, agility, and quick reflexes.
- Competitive spirit: A desire to win and improve their skills.
- Leadership qualities: The ability to motivate and inspire teammates.
- Good sportsmanship: Respect for opponents and officials.
- Academic commitment: Maintaining good grades and balancing academics with athletics.
- Where Did Pickleball Originate?
- Pickleball originated on Bainbridge Island, Washington, in the summer of 1965. It was invented by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum, who were looking for a new activity to keep their families entertained.
Because of pickleball’s fast growth and popularity, colleges are now offering pickleball clubs and scholarships to student-athletes. There are only a few universities offering pickleball scholarships for now, but it’s just a matter of time before the others offer as well. Many colleges and universities have promising pickleball clubs, which help promote the sport more.
| Category | Key Takeaways | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| Why Colleges Offer Scholarships | Growing popularity, skills and talent recognition, community and engagement | Colleges value pickleball's athleticism, dedication, and community-building benefits. |
| How to Find Scholarships | Research colleges with pickleball programs, ask coaches or athletic directors, network within the pickleball community. | Explore USA Pickleball's campus pickleball clubs section. |
| Tips for Getting a Scholarship | Excel academically, participate in tournaments, build an impressive resume, network with coaches and players. | Highlight leadership roles, community involvement, and specific pickleball achievements. |
| Resume and Essay Tips | Customize your resume, be specific about achievements, proofread thoroughly, write a personal and engaging essay, ask for feedback, and submit on time. | |
| Colleges with Pickleball Scholarships | Utah Tech University, Drury University | |
| Colleges with Pickleball Programs | North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Denver, Texas A&M University, University of Kentucky | |
| USA Pickleball Collegiate Grant | For colleges to create pickleball programs | Apply through USA Pickleball website. |
| Starting a Pickleball Club | Get approval, find a location, establish a budget, recruit members, apply for official recognition. | Consider having a coach and assigning a club president. |
| For more information or inquiries | Contact 101grouppb@gmail.com |