The first qualifier of the APP Selkirk Collegiate Pickleball Series was held Oct. 25-26 at The Flying Pickle in Boise, Idaho, marking the beginning of a nationwide effort to expand competitive collegiate pickleball.
The event featured eight teams and 40 players competing for four national qualifying spots, offering a glimpse into the growing depth and enthusiasm surrounding pickleball at the college level.
Expanding access to collegiate pickleball
The APP Selkirk Collegiate Pickleball Series is a joint initiative by The Association of Pickleball Players (APP), Selkirk Sport, USA Pickleball, and the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA). The partnership is designed to build a structured and sustainable pathway for collegiate athletes through official tournaments, educational resources, and equipment support.
As the title sponsor, Selkirk Sport contributes equipment, exposure, and sponsorship opportunities for college programs and players participating in the series. Live coverage from the 2026 APP Selkirk U.S. Collegiate Championships will air on Selkirk Pickleball TV and APPTV, extending the visibility of college pickleball to a broader audience.
The series is officially sanctioned by USA Pickleball and recognized as a NIRSA Championship Series event, making it the only collegiate pickleball platform sanctioned by the sport’s national governing body.
Boise Qualifier results and key takeaways
The Boise qualifier produced four national qualifiers: Utah Tech (A Selkirk-sponsored team), Utah Valley, Utah Tech 2, and Fresno State. Each team earned a spot in the 2026 APP Selkirk U.S. Collegiate Championships in Cape Coral, Florida.
At the conclusion of play, the four qualifying teams received Selkirk Qualifier sweatshirts, a symbolic recognition of their advancement to nationals and a tangible representation of the growing connection between student-athletes and the sport’s top brands.
An initiative unique to the qualifier was a uniform patch highlighting the series logo. Every athlete wore the patch, and several noted that the standardized patches helped elevate the professionalism of the event and enhanced visual consistency across teams.
Upcoming events in the 2025–26 collegiate schedule
Following the successful Boise launch, the APP Selkirk Collegiate Pickleball Series will continue with regional qualifiers across the United States, culminating in the 2026 APP Selkirk U.S. Collegiate Championships in Florida.
2025–26 Schedule
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Nov. 8–9: Arizona – Arizona Athletic Grounds (Mesa, AZ)
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Nov. 15–16: Colorado – Chicken N Pickle (Thornton, CO)
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Nov. 22–23: Kansas – Chicken N Pickle (Overland Park, KS)
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Jan. 10–11: Florida – The Courts (Cape Coral, FL)
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Jan. 24–25: Texas – Chicken N Pickle (Webster, TX)
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Jan. 31–Feb. 1: New Jersey – Pickleball Kingdom (Hamilton, NJ)
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Mar. 6–8: APP Selkirk U.S. Collegiate Championships – The Courts (Cape Coral, FL)
