In nearly every corner of North America, Pickleball is near the top of the list of fastest growing sports; and campus recreation is no exception. Is your campus playing? The Association of Pickleball Players (APP), USA Pickleball, and Selkirk are collaborating with NIRSA to grow pickleball at the collegiate level nationwide.

See related: “Pickleball joins the lineup of NIRSA Championship Series sports”

At 1:00pm Eastern, 10:00am Pacific on Thursday, October 9, you can join Susannah Barr, who is currently ranked the #4 player on the APP World Tour, Hana Papaco, Director of Recreational and Collegiate Engagement for USA Pickleball, and Shannon Dan, EVP, Strategy & Growth at the APP for a chance to learn how the APP and USA Pickleball can help grow pickleball on your campus, whether that be starting a program from scratch or helping your existing program thrive. They will also share details about the professional enrichment opportunities now available to NIRSA members. Join the “Growing Pickleball on Your Campus” discussion that is happening for FREE on Thursday, October 9, at 1:00pm Eastern, 10:00am Pacific.

Why should you attend?

This is your chance to:

  1. Learn more about the college pickleball landscape today and how the sport can enhance the health and wellbeing of your students.
  2. Discover ways for your school to compete in regional and national pickleball competitions.
  3. Find out how to unlock funding and access education and resources needed to help your program thrive, or get off the ground.

Learn more about our partners

The Association of Pickleball Players (APP), USA Pickleball, and Selkirk are collaborating with NIRSA to grow pickleball at the collegiate level. Together, the organizations will deliver a robust competition platform: The APP Selkirk Collegiate Series, a NIRSA Championship Series event, provides national exposure opportunities for programs and players. Partners are also delivering grant programs, educational resources, and professional development opportunities for NIRSA members throughout the year across a variety of disciplines: operations, tournament management, officiating, marketing, and more.

Get ready for the 2025-2026 season!

2025-2026 NIRSA Championship Series pickleball schedule

  • October 25-26, APP Selkirk Collegiate Qualifier at the Flying Pickle in Boise, Idaho
  • November 8-9, APP Selkirk Collegiate Qualifier (held alongside the APP Phoenix Open) at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Arizona
  • November 15-16, APP Selkirk Collegiate Qualifier at the Chicken N Pickle in Thornton, Colorado
  • November 22-23, APP Selkirk Collegiate Qualifier at the Chicken N Pickle in Overland Park, Kansas
  • January 10-11, APP Selkirk Collegiate Qualifier at The Courts in Cape Coral, Florida
  • January 24-25, APP Selkirk Collegiate Qualifier at the Chicken N Pickle in Webster, TX
  • January 31-February 1, APP Selkirk Collegiate Qualifier at the Pickleball Kingdom in Hamilton, NJ
  • March 6-8, APP Selkirk U.S. Collegiate Championships at The Courts in Cape Coral, FL

About the presenters

Top Professional Pickleball Player, Susannah Barr, is currently ranked #4 on the APP World Tour. Susannah has been playing, teaching, and running pickleball events for over 8 years in more than 20 states and overseas and is known for her pickleball IQ, positive attitude, and mental mindset. She is a full-time touring pro and certified coach and the head instructor for the YouTube channel, The Flying Pickle Academy. She has a passion for the game and for helping players of all levels develop their skills with a focus on challenging and fun on court experiences.

Hana Papaco serves as the Director of Recreational and Collegiate Engagement for USA Pickleball, where she leads the development of recreational resources and supports the nationwide growth of programs across colleges, youth organizations, parks departments, and other pickleball groups and facilities. She brings nearly a decade of experience in recreational, collegiate, and professional sports. Hana earned a B.A. in Communications and Leadership Management from Ottawa University in Arizona, where she also captained the women’s tennis team during its inaugural seasons.

Shannon Dan is the EVP of Strategy & Growth at the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP), the first professional and amateur pickleball tour and the only tour officially sanctioned by the sport’s governing body, USA Pickleball, where she focuses on the APP’s business strategy, growth initiatives, and new events, such as the APP Selkirk Collegiate Series and the APP Women’s Open presented by the James Cancer Center. She also leads market selection and scheduling for the APP Tour, working with Sports Commissions, Tourism groups, venues, and local partners to build events that truly become a staple in their local community and globally.

  • For more information, contact NIRSA Director of National Sports Programs, Nicole Jackson.