The Association of Pickleball Players (APP), National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA), Selkirk Sport, and USA Pickleball have partnered to expand college pickleball across the U.S. Through the APP Selkirk Collegiate Series, a NIRSA Championship Series event sanctioned by USA Pickleball, seven regional qualifiers will be held nationwide during the 2025-26 season, culminating in the APP Selkirk U.S. Collegiate Championships in March 2026 at The Courts in Cape Coral, Florida. This collaboration aims to provide funding, education, equipment, and a national competitive platform to grow the sport on college campuses.
The series offers a total of $85,000 in prize money, including $5,000 per qualifier and $50,000 at the national championships, positioning pickleball alongside other collegiate sports like basketball and soccer within NIRSA’s portfolio. USA Pickleball emphasizes its commitment to supporting administrators, coaches, and students with resources to foster the sport’s growth at the collegiate level, building a strong foundation for pickleball’s future expansion. The 2025-26 schedule features qualifiers in Idaho, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Florida, Texas, and New Jersey leading up to the national championship event.
