Professional pickleball players Lorin and Andrea Schlecht are teaching skills and strategy to kids at an Oro Valley afterschool program.

In this episode, we sit down with Frank Barletta, owner of , to talk about the rapid growth of youth pickleball in Oro Valley. What started as a simple idea to introduce kids to a fun and accessible sport has quickly turned into a thriving after-school program that’s drawing more and more young players to the court. Frank shares how pickleball’s fast-paced, social nature makes it a perfect fit for kids, and how the program is helping local youth stay active, build confidence, and connect with friends after the school day ends. Tune in to hear how this exploding program is creating new opportunities for Oro Valley families and shaping the next generation of pickleball players.

The after-school program, called Ready. Set. Pickle!, launched last fall at the Oro Valley Community Center. In just five months, it has grown from five kids to about 130 participants, ranging from elementary schoolers to high school students.