Association of Pickleball Players, NIRSA, Selkirk and USA Pickleball Unite to Lead Future of College Pickleball

CHICAGO (August 21, 2025) -- The Association of Pickleball Players (APP), the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA), Selkirk Sport and USA Pickleball are joining forces to serve and grow college pickleball across the United States. Through a variety of initiatives, these four organizations are bringing their strengths to bear for the benefit of the sport, recreation and intramural administrators, and college students, resulting in more pickleball and healthier, more inclusive college communities.

“I am so grateful for the incredible collaboration between the APP, NIRSA, Selkirk and USA Pickleball,” said Shannon Dan, EVP of Strategy and Growth at the APP. “Our collective mission is to grow the game of pickleball on college campuses, and each organization has stepped up to bring meaningful benefits to college programs and players. From funding and education to equipment and a national competition platform, this offering will be transformational for college pickleball.”

Dominic Catalano, a 20+ year pickleball veteran, coach and lead broadcaster of the APP Tour, will spearhead APP’s leadership as Director of APP Collegiate Series. Catalano will be joined by longtime APP Tour pro Susannah Barr, as College Player and Program Liaison.

Since debuting in the 2023-24 academic year, the APP’s college property will be primed for its biggest year yet. Now a NIRSA Championship Series event, the APP Selkirk Collegiate Series will officially be sanctioned by USA Pickleball – making it the only college property sanctioned by the sport’s governing body. The APP will host seven regional qualifiers across the country and culminate the season with the 2026 APP Selkirk U.S. Collegiate Championships hosted at The Courts, Cape Coral in March 2026. In total, college players will battle for $85,000 in prize money, including $5,000 per qualifier and $50,000 in the APP Selkirk U.S. Collegiate Championships.

Longtime partner Chicken N Pickle expands its successful partnership with the APP and continues as the primary host venue for the APP Selkirk Collegiate Series. See below or visit TheAPP.global to access the college schedule.

Each partner will play a critical role in spearheading the growth of college pickleball in the United States.

NIRSA: Elevating College Pickleball and Inspiring Wellness
NIRSA is a leader in higher education and the advocate for the advancement of recreation, sport, and wellbeing, and now the go-to resource for campus recreation professionals looking to start or grow their campus’ pickleball programs. The APP Selkirk Collegiate Series events now receive exclusive designation as part of the NIRSA Championship Series, which provides premier championship experiences in intramural and recreational sports nationwide. Pickleball joins basketball, flag football, soccer, and tennis as part of the NIRSA Championship Series portfolio, expanding experiential learning opportunities for thousands of NIRSA members.

"College is a huge opportunity for millions of students to develop healthy habits that will last a lifetime," says Pam Watts, CAE and NIRSA Executive Director. "Each year, member campuses have been expanding their pickleball offerings and so we're excited to partner with the Association of Pickleball Players, Selkirk and USA Pickleball to bring pickleball to the NIRSA Championship Series lineup."

Selkirk: Creating Opportunities and Driving Exposure for College Pickleball
Selkirk, a pioneer of USA-manufactured pickleball paddles and equipment, returns as a standout partner of the APP and will play a prominent role in fueling the growth of college pickleball. Notably, Selkirk becomes the official title sponsor of the APP’s collegiate pickleball initiatives, now known as the APP Selkirk Collegiate Series. Selkirk will offer sponsorship opportunities to top performing schools and players competing in the APP Selkirk Collegiate Series and provide equipment to schools starting new pickleball programs. Lastly, live coverage from the 2026 APP Selkirk U.S. Collegiate Championships will air on Selkirk Pickleball TV alongside APPTV on YouTube. With more than 1,000,000 monthly views, Selkirk TV provides significant exposure for college pickleball and its top players.

"We believe college campuses are a critical touchpoint for expanding pickleball’s reach," said Rob Barnes, co-founder and co-CEO of Selkirk Sport. "Collegiate athletes represent the next generation of players and ambassadors, and partnering on this initiative is a powerful way to help expand access, create competitive opportunities and foster a lifelong passion for the sport.”

USA Pickleball: The Go-To Resource for College Pickleball Administrators and Players

As the sport’s National Governing Body, USA Pickleball is deeply committed to providing funding and education to grow the game at the college level. In addition to providing travel funds and other incentives to college programs, USA Pickleball, through its charitable arm, USA Pickleball Serves, offers two primary grants: the Grow the Game grant, which supplies startup equipment such as paddles, nets, and balls, and the Play It Forward grant, which helps schools and communities install or convert courts for pickleball use. USA Pickleball will also offer accessible pricing for membership to college students, host a national club directory to connect college programs nationwide, and provide a “Complete College Toolkit” with essential resources and educational materials for college programs. Additionally, The APP Selkirk Collegiate Series will be officially sanctioned by USA Pickleball – making it the only college pickleball property sanctioned by the sport’s governing body.

“USA Pickleball is committed to nurturing the growth of pickleball within the collegiate space, recognizing the unique opportunity colleges present for expanding our sport,” said Chris Zukas, Vice President of Membership Development & Service at USA Pickleball. “We’re focused on equipping administrators, coaches, and students with meaningful resources and dedicated support that they need. By investing in college pickleball today, we’re shaping the future of our sport, building a strong foundation for continued growth.”

2025-26 Season Schedule

The pickleball community can stay in the know on the latest APP updates via TheAPP.global and by following the APP’s Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok, Facebook and LinkedIn channels.

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APP Media Contact: Daniel Sagerman, dsagerman@theapp.global or 847-800-8182

About the APP:

The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) provides opportunities for pickleball players of all ages and skill levels—professionals, amateurs and recreational—to compete in world-class pickleball events for the opportunity to win prize money and be featured on nationally televised broadcasts on CBS Sports and ESPN. Since its launch in 2019, the APP has operated the first and only pro and amateur pickleball tour fully and officially sanctioned by USA Pickleball. The APP opened its official headquarters and player development center in January 2025 at The Fort in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., while its corporate offices continue to be located in Chicago. The APP Tour’s 2025 schedule will feature the most robust pickleball showcase across pro and amateur competitions accompanied by youth development programs, grassroots charity initiatives and international partnerships to continue to grow the game. Schedules, recent news and additional information about the APP are available at theapp.global and on Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok, Facebook and LinkedIn.

About Selkirk:

Selkirk Sport, a premium manufacturer of pickleball paddles and accessories, is a family-owned and operated company. Selkirk Sport is based in Hayden, Idaho, in the shadows of its namesake, the Selkirk mountain range. Founded in 2014, Selkirk Sport was born from a passion for sport and the Western outdoor leisure lifestyle that was afforded to the company’s founders, Rob and Mike Barnes, along with their father Jim. Selkirk Sport is committed to manufacturing products that deliver the highest performance with unmatched quality and service. It has become one of the industry’s fastest-growing companies, with paddles used by many of the game’s premier players, such as Jack Sock, Catherine Parenteau, James Ignatowich, Rachel Rohrabacher and a host of other top talent.

About NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation

NIRSA is the premier association of leaders in collegiate recreation who transform lives and facilitate the development of healthy communities worldwide. By providing opportunities for learning and growth, supporting and sharing meaningful research, and fostering networking among our member community, NIRSA is a leader in higher education and champion for the advancement of recreation, sport, and wellbeing. As college and university students develop into future leaders, NIRSA members support their learning and growth by fostering lifelong habits of wellbeing. Leadership, teamwork, dedication, and respect are among the many skills exercised by inclusive competition, fitness, and recreation. Since its founding in 1950, NIRSA membership has grown to comprise thousands dedicated professionals, students, and associates, serving an estimated 10 million students each year.

NIRSA members bring tremendous value to the field of collegiate recreation. As leading voices in the integrated wellbeing movement on colleges and universities across North America, NIRSA members are committed to supporting foundational, proactive, and upstream-based wellbeing initiatives for the campus community above and beyond reactive, siloed, programmatic approaches to health. Supported by the NIRSA Staff team, NIRSA is governed by volunteer leaders from across North America. Learn more online at https://nirsa.net/about.

About the NIRSA Championship Series

The NIRSA Championship Series gives college recreational sports participants an opportunity to compete, coordinate, officiate, and connect with skilled peers from other schools and take all the benefits of recreational competition to a higher level. The NIRSA Championship Series also serves as a platform for professional development, offering up-and-coming professionals a platform to build skills and engage in all levels of learning through their programming, staff, official, and volunteer positions. NIRSA Championship Series hosts professionally organized tournaments in the sports of flag football, soccer, tennis and basketball. The rich environment of inclusive competition, sportsmanship, and professional development—from participants to fans to volunteers—supports communities of health and wellbeing, which is what NIRSA is all about.

About USA Pickleball:

USA Pickleball is the official National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport of pickleball in the United States. As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, USA Pickleball is dedicated to preserving the integrity of the game while advancing its growth and development nationwide. The organization supports players, clubs, and communities by sanctioning premier tournaments, offering certified equipment testing, training referees, certifying facilities, and providing a wide range of educational resources. USA Pickleball also maintains and updates the official rules of the sport, ensuring consistency and fairness at every level of play. Led by a Board of Directors and a dedicated national office staff, USA Pickleball delivers the infrastructure and strategic vision necessary to fuel the continued expansion of pickleball across the country—benefiting members with exclusive access to events, programs, and tools that elevate their experience on and off the court.