Pickleball is fast. Deflections are unpredictable.
One hit can cause permanent vision damage —in a fraction of a second.
We're making protective eyewear part of the game.
Kitchen Blockers (TM) offers our supporters a 10% discount on their purchase of the KB Classic or KB Slim Fit lensless protective eyewear. Eliminate fog, sweat, and glare, so you can focus on your game without visual obstruction or safety concerns. Discount Code: FIRSTPADDLE
Register by April 30th to receive a free tee-shirt!
It's Game Time!
Southern Pickleball Academy is thrilled to bring back one of our favorite events of the year! Battle of the Paddles is the perfect opportunity for junior players to test their skills, compete against their peers, and have an absolute blast on the court. Whether your child is a seasoned player or just finding their game, this is the event for them!
Battle of the Paddles uses a Scramble format — players rotate partners each game. It's fast and fun game play!
Age Brackets
Players compete within their age group, based on age as of December 31, 2026:
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8–11
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12–15
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16–18 (no older than 18 on the day of the tournament)
Welcome to the Academy
The Southern Pickleball Academy is a public charity dedicated to the growth of pickleball by investing in our students and communities while fostering desirable character traits of integrity, teamwork, resilience, patience, and sportsmanship.
You can help when you invest your time, skills, and finances.
WHO WE ARE
The Southern Pickleball Academy is a community of people dedicated to growing and improving the sport of pickleball, both locally and regionally. The most important part of us is YOU. The time, efforts, and donations provided by generous people like you are what keep the Academy going. Ever since we launched the Southern Pickleball Academy in 2023, our main focus has been to improve lives through the ever-growing market of pickleball! Join us and be part of something that will last lifetimes.
WHAT WE DO
At Southern Pickleball Academy, we're building stronger communities by introducing youth to the transformative power of pickleball. Through our successful equipment donation program, we've provided over $20,000 in pickleball gear to local middle and high schools, creating new opportunities for students to discover this engaging sport.
Our innovative First Paddle program goes beyond the court, combining pickleball instruction with character development activities that help shape confident, well-rounded young people. We're also investing in our youth's future through education, offering $1,000 scholarships for post-secondary education, with the next awards to be distributed in May 2026.
As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, we're committed to expanding our youth outreach because we've seen firsthand how pickleball can positively impact young lives.
Want to learn more about our impact? Take a listen to our secretary, Cindy Ogden, on WAFJ's Difference Makers radio show, where she discusses the physical, social, and mental health benefits that make pickleball such a powerful tool for youth development with one of our friends, Cleve Walker.
