Montgomery County, MD · Ages 5–16
Youth Pickleball in Montgomery County
Next Gen Pickleball Academy is a family-first youth pickleball academy for ages 5–16, based at Dill Dinkers in Rockville and North Bethesda. We serve families across Bethesda, Potomac, Chevy Chase, Kensington, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg, and the broader DMV — with a clear pathway from first rally to tournament play.
Where Montgomery County families play with us
Our two locations sit within 15 minutes of most of Montgomery County. Both are inside Dill Dinkers, the DMV’s dedicated indoor pickleball facility — so sessions run year-round regardless of weather.
Rockville
Dill Dinkers, 40 Southlawn Court, Suite C
Rockville, MD 20850
North Bethesda
Dill Dinkers, 4942 Boiling Brook Parkway
North Bethesda, MD 20852
Families regularly drive in from:
- Rockville
- North Bethesda
- Bethesda
- Potomac
- Chevy Chase
- Kensington
- Silver Spring
- Gaithersburg
- Derwood
- Aspen Hill
Rockville is minutes from Rockville Town Center and Twinbrook Metro. North Bethesda sits beside Pike & Rose and Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro.
The Red → Yellow Ball pathway
We follow USA Pickleball’s official youth progression — a proven system of color-coded balls with reduced bounce and compression. Every child is placed based on skill during a free evaluation, not age alone.
Red Ball · Ages 5+
First paddle, first rally, first love of the game.
Movement, hand-eye coordination, basic rules of play.
Orange Ball · Ages 7+
From rallying to competing — the game starts to click.
Rules mastery, sustained rallying, full-court movement.
Green Ball · Ages 9+
Strategy meets competition. Partnerships form.
Shot selection, court positioning, doubles teamwork.
Yellow Ball · Ages 12+
Coach-curated competitive groups. The pathway to tournament play.
Small groups of 3–5 athletes, custom scheduling, focused prep.
Built by Montgomery County parents, for Montgomery County parents
Next Gen was started by two dads who coach the program they wished existed for their own kids.
Sam Morris
Head Coach & Co-Founder
Sam is a former physical education teacher and father to two boys, Kobe and Owen. As Director of Pickleball Programming at Dill Dinkers (North Bethesda and Rockville), he's been playing since 2019 and coaching since 2021. Sam and his son Kobe spend hours each week throwing, catching, chasing, and playing — this purposeful play helped Kobe start pickleball at age 5, playing full games.
Amine Lahlou
Co-Founder & Coach
Moroccan-born professional tennis player and coach turned pickleball convert, Amine brings elite racket sport fundamentals to every session. A 4.0+ pickleball player himself, he trains alongside his son Ryan—a Next Gen athlete—and channels that father-son dynamic into everything he teaches. Dad of three, Amine understands the family side of youth sports from the inside out.
What Montgomery County parents are saying
My daughter went from never holding a paddle to asking to practice every day. The coaches made her feel welcome from minute one.
We tried the free trial on a whim and now both our kids are in the program. Best decision we made this year.
Pricing
Group classes at the Red, Orange, and Green Ball levels are priced per season on CourtReserve — view the current schedule. Our Yellow Ball small-group tournament track is priced by group size:
| Group size | Yellow Ball price |
|---|---|
| 2 players | $90/player |
| 3 players | $60/player |
| 4 players | $45/player |
| 5 players | $36/player |
The 30-minute evaluation that determines placement is always free.
Montgomery County parent FAQ
What ages do you accept?
We welcome players ages 5–16. Our Red Ball program starts at age 5, Orange Ball at 7, Green Ball at 9, and Yellow Ball (tournament track) at 12+.
How much do youth pickleball lessons cost at Next Gen?
Group classes at the Red, Orange, and Green Ball levels are priced per season on CourtReserve — browse exact sessions on our Schedule page. Our Yellow Ball small-group tournament track runs $36–$90 per player per session depending on group size (2–5 athletes). The 30-minute evaluation that determines placement is always free.
Is pickleball safe for kids?
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.
Which Montgomery County towns do you serve?
Our two locations in Rockville and North Bethesda are within 15 minutes of Bethesda, Potomac, Chevy Chase, Kensington, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg, Derwood, Aspen Hill, and most of the DMV. Families regularly travel from across Montgomery County and Northwest DC.
Questions? Call or text Sam at 301-325-4731.