The 8–18 age group is one of the fastest-growing segments in pickleball, with over 14,000 middle and high schools primed to support youth play and competition.
Las Vegas, NV - July 29, 2025 - National Junior Pickleball (NJP), the premier competitive platform for youth pickleball in the U.S., has announced a groundbreaking partnership with MyJourney Pickleball (MJP), the developer of DUPR Coach to ensure every junior player enters NJP events with a trusted and accurate rating. Through the launch of Coach-Assigned DUPR Ratings, junior athletes will now have the opportunity to be rated by credentialed DUPR Coaches via the My DUPR Coach app. This program establishes a new standard for youth-level competition and player development.
This initiative marks a major milestone in the evolution of junior pickleball. At the heart of NJP’s mission is the belief that every player, whether it’s their first tournament or they’re still chasing the podium, deserves to compete in a fair, skill-based environment. The Coach-Assigned DUPR Rating is a key step toward making that vision a reality.
“This partnership reflects our commitment to making sure every junior has the chance to compete against peers at their skill level, using the most trusted rating system in the sport,” said Courtney Loughridge, Founder and CEO of National Junior Pickleball. “With MyJourney Pickleball and DUPR, we’re giving families a reliable way to prepare for events, grow in the sport, and connect with a larger community of junior players.”
Through this collaboration, MyJourney Pickleball will provide NJP players access to credentialed Master DUPR Coaches who will assess submitted film and assign Coach-Assigned DUPR Ratings through the My DUPR Coach app. This process allows non-rated players to become rated in advance of tournaments, ensuring accurate matchmaking, smoother seeding, and a more competitive, enjoyable experience for all.
“This is a major step forward for the sport of pickleball,” said Tito Machado, CEO of DUPR. “The Coach-Assigned DUPR gives juniors a path to get rated before they even step into their first match. It also helps coaches guide development, parents and players track progress, and events maintain the integrity of competition.”
This partnership reflects a shared mission to grow the game the right way: through youth, through coaching, through community, and through DUPR.
“National Junior Pickleball is critical to the future of pickleball, representing the 8–18 age group that makes up a large and rapidly growing segment of the millions entering the sport,” said Katie Nimitz, President of MyJourney Pickleball. “With DUPR Coach, credentialed coaches can now assign a DUPR Rating to junior players anywhere in the world, simply through uploaded match film. It’s remote, scalable, and purpose-built to support their development. We’re proud to help bring this level of access and opportunity to the next generation of players.”
National Junior Pickleball has redefined what it means to be a junior competitor. These events are more than tournaments. They are communities of like-minded players and families building friendships that last well beyond the final match. With the addition of Coach-Assigned DUPRs, those connections are now backed by the sport’s leading rating system, giving juniors the structure, clarity, and competitive experience they deserve.
About National Junior Pickleball
National Junior Pickleball (NJP) is the leading tournament series dedicated exclusively to youth pickleball players ages 8–18. NJP provides a positive, competitive environment that supports player development at every level—from first-time participants to elite junior athletes. With regional and national events across the U.S., NJP is building a true pathway for junior athletes to grow in the sport. NJP fosters a community grounded in sportsmanship, inclusion, and lifelong love for the game.
About MyJourney Pickleball
MyJourney Pickleball is the developer of DUPR Coach and the My DUPR Coach app, empowering coaches to perform detailed skill assessments and assign official Coach-Assigned DUPRs. The platform supports player development while unlocking new revenue opportunities for coaches and clubs.
About DUPR
DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) is the premier global pickleball rating system and technology platform, trusted by the world's leading clubs, tournaments, leagues, and players. DUPR's dynamic rating system unifies pickleball across age, gender, and location by analyzing match results to accurately evaluate all players across a 2.000 - 8.000 scale. DUPR is the official pickleball rating of leagues, tournaments and clubs around the world, including United Pickleball Association (UPA), PPA, Major League Pickleball (MLP), Pickleball.com, Life Time, The Picklr, National Team Pickleball League, National Pickleball League. It also owns and operates Minor League Pickleball and Collegiate Pickleball, two of the biggest amateur leagues in the sport. Players and operators can visit www.dupr.com to sign up and learn more.
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