Pickleball Grant Expands School Program: The North Carolina Leadership Academy in Kernersville received a special grant from the United States Association of Pickleball. This grant helped the school buy more equipment in early April 2025. Now, more students can learn and enjoy the fast-growing sport of pickleball.
Pickleball is a sport that is becoming popular across the country. Barry Baker, a local pickleball leader, helped by sharing the grant information with the school. He met Molly Richardson, the school’s middle school PE teacher, who runs the pickleball club. Richardson applied for the grant, and the school was one of only 16 schools on the East Coast to win it.
How the School Grew Its Pickleball Program
Before the grant, the school had very little equipment. There were only three paddles and one net. This made it hard for many students to play. With the grant, the school bought 72 paddles, over 100 pickleballs, and three mobile nets. Now, many more students can join the fun.
Molly Richardson shared how she got into pickleball. “I am active and like to be outside. A couple of my friends played tennis, and they introduced me to pickleball. I think it is catching at the youth level. All you need is paddles and a net,” she said.
The school applied for the grant in January and bought the equipment two weeks before the interview. “We had a pickleball club already. We started with 12 people and, with the new equipment, the club has grown already,” Richardson said.
New Courts and Bigger Club for Students
The school has also made new courts for the students. They painted pickleball courts outside. When the weather is nice, students play outside. When it rains, they play inside the gym. This makes it easy for students to play anytime.
Barry Baker, who helped found the Kernersville Area Pickleball Association, was happy to see the school get the grant. “I just dropped off the information at the school and said if anybody was interested they should apply for the grant. I got to meet Molly Richardson, the middle school PE teacher at the school, who has a pickleball club there. She applied and they got it. It was one of 16 awarded for the East Coast,” Baker said.
What This Means for the Students
This new equipment is very important for the school. Now, pickleball can be a bigger part of PE classes. Middle school and ninth-grade students can play it during class. The club can also welcome more members.
This grant could help more schools try the sport too. As students learn pickleball, the sport will grow even more. Other schools might see this and want to start their own programs.
News in Brief: Pickleball Grant Expands School Program
The North Carolina Leadership Academy got a pickleball grant to buy new equipment for students. Barry Baker shared the grant details with the school, and teacher Molly Richardson applied. The club grew, and new courts were made. Now, more students play pickleball in PE class and in the club.
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