Gaithersburg, MD · Ages 6–16
Youth pickleball in Gaithersburg, MD — Next Gen Academy.
Gaithersburg is home turf for our summer camps — this year's June and July camp weeks ran at Gaithersburg High School — and our fall MVF classes run next door in Montgomery Village. This season's weekly group sessions for kids 6–16 run on weekend evenings at Earle B. Wood MS in Rockville and Walter Johnson HS in Bethesda. Start with a free 30-minute evaluation.
Where We Play
For families in Gaithersburg and across MoCo.
We've coached Gaithersburg kids at Ridgeview Middle School in past seasons, run summer camp weeks at Gaithersburg High School, and teach fall MVF classes next door in Montgomery Village — the Aug 27 intro at Apple Ridge, then both fall sessions at North Creek. The current weekend sessions run at Wood MS (Saturdays) and Walter Johnson HS (Sundays) — one court per level, four players per court.
Sessions run on reserved Montgomery County Public Schools courts and the venue lineup changes seasonally. Check the schedule for the current week, or book a free evaluation and we’ll confirm the venue when we schedule.
Gaithersburg families train with the Up-County Cluster.
Up-County families showing up week after week — the long-haul reps that turn a curious kid into a confident Fall starter.
See what Up-County Cluster families get →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 that meet a child where they are. Every child is placed by skill during a free evaluation, not age alone. Group sessions welcome all four levels — Red, Orange, Green, and Yellow — each on its own court, with private lessons available at any level for kids who want to fast-track with 1:1 coaching.
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.
What MoCo 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
Parent FAQ
Gaithersburg parent FAQ.
Do you run anything in Gaithersburg itself?
Yes — our summer camp weeks run at Gaithersburg High School, and our fall MVF classes run in Montgomery Village next door (Apple Ridge for the intro, North Creek for both fall sessions). The weekly weekend group sessions currently run in Rockville (Saturdays) and Bethesda (Sundays) — the schedule page has the current lineup.
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. Courts stay small on purpose, so every kid gets real reps and real feedback. 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.