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Global expansion
Helping pickleball grow across continents by connecting local communities to an international network of players, clubs and events.
About the WPA
World Pickleball Association
Building international pickleball through competition, player development, education, strong clubs and lasting partnerships.
We bring players, coaches, clubs, tournament directors and sponsors together through a truly international organisation — creating more ways to compete, learn, connect and help pickleball earn its place on the world sporting stage.
What drives us
One sport. A worldwide community.
The World Pickleball Association was founded to help the sport grow with ambition and structure. Our work spans international competition, grassroots participation, education, club development and commercial partnerships — all with a long-term vision for pickleball’s global recognition and future Olympic inclusion.
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Professional competition
Building credible pathways from community events to high-level international competition through the WPA World Pro Tour.
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Education & development
Supporting coaches, organisers and players with the knowledge, structure and tools needed to develop the sport responsibly.
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A connected community
Uniting players, coaches, clubs, tournament directors, commercial partners and fans around a shared future for pickleball.
Global competition
A world tour built to travel
The WPA World Pro Tour is designed to bring professional pickleball to players and audiences across multiple continents. It creates an international stage for ambitious competitors while giving host cities, clubs and partners a shared framework for world-class events.
Explore tournaments
John Gill
Founder & President
Leadership
Experience forged in competition
John Gill founded the World Pickleball Association with a vision to build a premier international organisation for the sport. His work sits at the intersection of competitive sport, player development and global event creation.
Drawing on a lifetime in pickleball, martial arts and sports enterprise, John brings the discipline of an athlete and the practical perspective of an organiser. He is focused on creating professional competition pathways, stronger coaching networks and partnerships that help pickleball reach new communities.
His experience also extends to media commentary and practical self-defence, giving him a broad perspective on performance, participation, leadership and the future of sport.
- International pickleball event development
- PPA Newport Beach competitor, 2024
- U.S.A. Martial Arts Hall of Fame, 2023
- Championship experience across pickleball and martial arts
The platform
The digital home of the global circuit
World Pickleball Tournaments is the WPA’s global discovery and tournament platform. Players can find tournaments, clubs and social play, while clubs and organisers can publish events and run entries, draws, schedules and self-scoring from one place — with no player app required.
Work with the WPA
Help shape pickleball’s global future.
We welcome conversations with players, coaches, clubs, event organisers, sponsors and media.