Real pickleball coaching for kids 6–16 in Montgomery County.

We coach kids ages 6–16. Group sessions run at Green Ball (10+) or Yellow Ball (12+, tournament track). Any child not yet at Green-Ball level — Red Ball (pre-rally) and Orange Ball (rallying but not group-ready) — starts with private lessons until they're group-ready.

Yes — they start with private lessons. Group sessions are paced for Green Ball and Yellow Ball, so we use 1:1 coaching to build the basics — paddle control, footwork, sustained back-and-forth, rules mastery, and full-court movement — before joining a group. Schedule a free 30-minute evaluation and we'll lay out a plan.

Yes. Group sessions start at Green Ball — your child is rallying consistently and ready for shot selection and doubles play. If they're not there yet, we'll start with private lessons to get them group-ready. Schedule a free evaluation and we'll tell you which path fits.

Fill out the form on this page and we'll reach out within 24 hours to help place your child in the right group — or schedule a private lesson if that's the right starting point. You can also email nextgenacademypb@gmail.com or text Sam at 301-325-4731.

Comfortable athletic clothing, court shoes (non-marking soles), and a water bottle. We provide paddles and balls for all sessions.

We coach across Montgomery County Public Schools. Sessions rotate weekly based on court availability — common areas include Rockville, North Bethesda, Bethesda, Potomac, Chevy Chase, Kensington, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg, Derwood, and Aspen Hill. The /schedule page shows this week's confirmed venues; email or text us if you don't see one near you.

Fill out the form below or email us at nextgenacademypb@gmail.com to schedule a 30-minute evaluation. Our coaches will assess your child’s current level and recommend the right path — a Green or Yellow Ball group session, or private lessons (Red or Orange Ball) if they're not yet group-ready. There’s no cost and no commitment.

Group classes are $20 per 1-hour slot, drop-in. Sessions split into Early and Late slots — pick one or both. No subscription and no commitment — you pay for each slot you attend. Each pickleball court is capped at 4 players so quality stays high. Registrations are non-refundable unless we cancel — if we call off a session for weather or any other reason, you get an automatic full refund. The 30-minute evaluation is always free. Private lesson rates are quoted after the evaluation based on what your child needs.

If we cancel a session — for weather, a venue issue, or low enrollment — you get an automatic full refund to your original payment method, no action needed. Our sessions are outdoors, so we watch the forecast for every date and call off any session that isn’t safe to play. Outside of an NGA cancellation, registrations are non-refundable: please register only when you’re confident your child can attend, since we can’t offer credits or transfers for missed sessions. The free 30-minute evaluation is always free and never charged.

Yes. Pickleball is one of the safest racket sports for children: the court is smaller than tennis, the paddle is lightweight, and the ball moves at lower speeds than a tennis ball. USA Pickleball’s official youth progression uses color-coded balls (Red, Orange, Green, Yellow) with reduced bounce and compression so kids learn proper technique before the game speeds up. Our coaches are trained in youth-appropriate drills, warmups, and game formats.

Each color follows USA Pickleball’s youth progression — placement is by skill, not age. Red Ball (pre-rally) and Orange Ball (rallying but not yet group-ready) are both delivered 1:1 as private lessons — Red builds paddle control, footwork, and sustained back-and-forth; Orange layers in rules mastery and full-court movement. Green Ball (10+) is our first group level — shot selection, court positioning, and doubles teamwork. Yellow Ball (12+) is our coach-curated competitive track — small groups of 3–5 athletes with custom scheduling and focused tournament prep. Every child is placed during a free evaluation, never on age alone.

See the four levels in detail→

Yes — and they’re the right starting point for any child who can’t rally yet. 1:1 coaching builds the rally, footwork, and consistency a child needs before joining a group. Head Coach Sam Morris is a former physical education teacher and Co-Founder of Next Gen Academy; Co-Founder Amine Lahlou is a former professional tennis player. Email nextgenacademypb@gmail.com or call 301-325-4731 to schedule.

Yes. We accept new players throughout the season. Start with a free 30-minute evaluation and our coaches will place your child into the current session that fits their level and schedule — or recommend a private-lesson bridge if they’re not yet group-ready.

We serve families across Bethesda, Potomac, Chevy Chase, Kensington, Silver Spring, Rockville, North Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Derwood, Aspen Hill, and most of the DMV. Sessions rotate seasonally between Montgomery County courts — reach out for the current location.

Next Gen is youth-only (ages 6–16). For adults, Head Coach Sam Morris offers private lessons separately at sammorrispb.com — start with a free 30-minute skill evaluation, no commitment. Many of our NGA parents pick up the paddle alongside their kids.