Montgomery County, MD · Ages 6–16
Youth pickleball in Montgomery County.
Next Gen Pickleball Academy is a youth pickleball academy for kids ages 6–16, serving families across Montgomery County. Small-group sessions for kids who can rally, and private lessons for anyone still learning. We reach families in Bethesda, Potomac, Chevy Chase, Kensington, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg, and the broader DMV — with a clear pathway to tournament play.
Service Area
Where Montgomery County families play with us.
We coach across Montgomery County Public Schools. Sessions rotate by demand — closer to more zip codes than a single fixed venue.
MCPS courts across Montgomery County.
Sessions rotate weekly based on court availability. Check the schedule for this week’s location, or book a free evaluation and we’ll confirm the venue when we schedule.
Families regularly drive in from
- Rockville
- North Bethesda
- Bethesda
- Potomac
- Chevy Chase
- Kensington
- Silver Spring
- Gaithersburg
- Derwood
- Aspen Hill
The Pathway
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 6+
New to the court? Start here.
Foam-ball group sessions that build the rally, footwork, and consistency from day one — your own court at your level. Private lessons are available to fast-track kids who want extra 1:1 reps.
Orange Ball · Ages 6+
Rallying and ready to grow.
Group sessions on rules mastery, sustained rallying, and full-court movement — the bridge to Green Ball. Private lessons available anytime a child wants extra 1:1 time.
Green Ball · Ages 10+
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.
The Team
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. He's been playing pickleball 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
Tennis coach and lifelong racket sports enthusiast, Amine grew up playing tennis and ping pong, developing an elite foundation in hand-eye coordination and court strategy. His competitive drive led him to become a K-Swiss Ultimate Tennis Tampa Bay League Champion, reaching the elite 6.0 level in 2015. Now a passionate pickleball convert, he brings those top-tier racket sport fundamentals to every session. A 4.5+ pickleball player himself, he trains alongside his own son Ryan—a Next Gen athlete—so he coaches every kid the way he coaches his own: patient reps, steady encouragement, and real progress session to session. As a dad of three, Amine knows the family side of youth sports from the inside out, pairing high-level fundamentals with the patience and warmth a young player needs to keep showing up.
What Montgomery County parents are saying.
My daughter went from never holding a paddle to asking to practice every day. The private lessons got her rallying, and now she's thriving in group sessions.
— Parent of a Next Gen player
We tried the free trial on a whim and now both our kids are in the program. Best decision we made this year.
— Parent of two Next Gen players
Pricing
Transparent, drop-in pricing.
All group classes are $20 per 1-hour slot, drop-in only — no subscription, no commitment. Each pickleball court is capped at 4 players. Payments are non-refundable. View the current schedule.
Same group rate across Orange, Green & Yellow Ball. Drop-in only. No monthly subscription. Non-refundable.
Private lessons for any child still learning the rally are quoted after the evaluation — rate depends on coach, location, and package. The 30-minute evaluation that determines placement is always free.
Parent FAQ
Montgomery County parent FAQ.
What ages do you accept?
We coach kids ages 6–16. Group sessions run at every ball color — Red Ball (pre-rally), Orange Ball (building), Green Ball (10+), and Yellow Ball (12+, tournament track) — each on its own court. Private lessons are available at any level for kids who want to fast-track with 1:1 coaching.
How much do youth pickleball lessons cost at Next Gen?
Group classes are $20 per 1-hour slot, drop-in. 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.
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?
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.
Questions? Call or text Sam at 301-325-4731.
Free 30-min Evaluation
Book your free evaluation.
We’ll call or text within 24 hours to schedule.