New York City Launches First-Ever MLP-Backed Youth Pickleball Program

A new initiative backed by JOOLA and Major League Pickleball is underway in New York City, aiming to put paddles in the hands of every public school student

Conquer Kids has been named the Official Youth Pickleball Program of the Brooklyn Pickleball Team, marking the first youth development initiative in New York City to be formally supported by a Major League Pickleball team.

The partnership, powered by JOOLA, just launched and aims to introduce pickleball to students across the New York City public school system.

With more than one million students enrolled citywide, the stated goal is to put a paddle in the hands of every NYC public school student over time.

“This is a first-of-its-kind partnership, and it’s exactly what the sport needs right now,” said Louis Long, Co-Founder of Conquer Kids.

“Pickleball is growing at an incredible pace, but growth only matters if it’s accessible. By partnering with the Brooklyn Pickleball Team and JOOLA, we’re ensuring kids across all five boroughs have the opportunity to learn, play, and fall in love with the game.”

Initial programming will roll out at a group of schools across multiple boroughs:

• PS 307 in DUMBO
• East Side Community School in the East Village
• PS 239 in Ridgewood, Queens
• Allen-Stevenson School on the Upper East Side
• PS 9, PS 28X, and PS 12X in the Bronx

Expansion to additional schools is planned.

Conquer Kids operates under Conquer (CNQR,) a NYC-based pickleball community and events platform.

The new initiative currently operates in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, serving students from second grade through high school through in-school instruction, after-school enrichment, and community-based programming.

The organization plans to expand into Staten Island later this year. If the pilot program is successful, the program could roll out to other U.S. cities going forward.

As part of the agreement, Conquer Kids and the Brooklyn Pickleball Team will collaborate on youth clinics, school activations, community events, and player engagement initiatives designed to connect professional pickleball with grassroots participation.

“Youth development is the foundation of any sport that wants to grow the right way,” said Adam Behnke of the Brooklyn Pickleball Team.

“By investing in kids early — especially in a city as diverse and dynamic as New York — we’re not only growing pickleball, we’re building community, opportunity, and a future generation of players who see themselves in the game.”

The Brooklyn Pickleball Team competes in Major League Pickleball and is backed by a high-profile ownership group that includes Eva Longoria, Justin Verlander, Kate Upton, Odell Beckham Jr., and others. The franchise won an MLP championship in 2023.

The partnership represents a notable step in the continued institutionalization of youth pickleball, positioning New York City as an early test case for professional team-backed development at the public school level.