Official organizations, rating systems, and key contacts for college pickleball.
The national governing body for pickleball in the United States. Provides rules, tournaments, and player development programs.
Website: usapickleball.org
Membership: Required for tournament play
Services: Rules, tournaments, coaching certification, grants
College Resources: Tournament calendar, coaching materials, grant programs
The official rating system used by many college programs to assess player skill levels.
Website: dupr.gg
Purpose: Standardized player rating system
Cost: Free basic membership
College Use: Many programs use DUPR for team selection and tournament seeding
Coach: Deb Harrison
Athletic Department: athletics@utahtech.edu
Phone: (435) 652-7500
Website: utahtech.edu/athletics
Address: 225 South University Avenue, St. George, UT 84770
First university to offer pickleball scholarships. Contact for recruiting information.
Athletic Department: athletics@drury.edu
Phone: (417) 873-7273
Website: drury.edu/athletics
Address: 900 North Benton Avenue, Springfield, MO 65802
Second university with varsity program and scholarships.
Emerging varsity program with recent tournament success.
The premier college pickleball event, typically held in spring.
Regional competitions throughout the academic year.
College programs typically follow USA Pickleball equipment standards:
Most college programs provide:
Serious players typically purchase their own paddles.
Most college pickleball starts through campus recreation. If your school doesn't have a program, contact:
Usually found under Student Life or Student Affairs. They manage intramural sports and recreational facilities.
Handles student organization sports clubs. They can help with recognition and funding processes.
General student organization office can help establish a pickleball club as a starting point.
Website: usapickleball.org/grants
Programs: Need-based grants for college students
Application: Through USA Pickleball website
Eligibility: USA Pickleball membership required
Most universities provide some support for recognized club sports:
Some programs have developed partnerships with:
Official coaching certification program for pickleball instruction.
Resources for improving skills and competitive play: