APP Pickleball Academy Youth Development: The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) is making major strides in developing young talent through its youth programs, APP Next and the APP Academy. In June, the APP hosted its second 2025 APP Next Series tournament in St. Louis, Missouri, while its High Performance Summer Academy continues in full swing at the Fort until August 8.
APP founder Ken Herrmann shared recent updates on the growth of these programs and celebrated the achievements of young players who are shaping the future of professional pickleball. From competitive tournaments to summer training and fun team activities, the focus has remained on learning, improvement, and building community.
APP Next Shines in St. Louis
The second stop of the 2025 APP Next Series took place from June 20 to 22 in St. Louis in partnership with Chicken N Pickle. The event was designed for players aged 16 to 23 and featured a prize pool of $15,000.
It gave many rising stars their first experience in a professional-style competition. Two players stood out during the tournament: 20-year-old Emilia Schmidt from Brisbane, Australia, and Jayden Broderick, a member of the 2025 APP U.S. National Team. Both won overall titles in their respective women’s and men’s divisions.
“Congratulations to Emilia and Jayden – you’ve made us all very proud,” said Ken Herrmann.
Summer Fun at APP Academy
Back at the Fort, the APP High Performance Summer Academy is keeping players busy with training sessions and fun competitions. One popular evening activity is the beachside “tug of war” contest. After each match, the winning side picks someone from the losing team to take the “dunk.”
Recently, Axel Morgan from San Antonio was the player selected for the dunk. He is part of the APP Next program and likely hopes not to be chosen again.
The fall session of the APP Academy is set to begin on August 18. Those interested can learn more about joining the academy by visiting the APP’s website.
Preparing the Next Generation
The APP Academy and APP Next are key efforts by the Association of Pickleball Players to prepare youth for high-level competition. These programs give athletes the tools to succeed both on and off the court.
“Finally, congratulations again to all our young players for competing so hard against some of the best players in the USA. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for your pickleball futures,” added Ken Herrmann.
The continued success of these programs highlights APP’s strong commitment to nurturing the next generation of professional pickleball players.
News in Brief: APP Pickleball Academy Youth Development
The Association of Pickleball Players hosted its APP Next Series in St. Louis from June 20 to 22 and continues its Summer Academy until August 8. Emilia Schmidt and Jayden Broderick won top honors. The fall session of the APP Academy begins August 18, continuing APP’s focus on youth development.
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