Courtney Loughridge is deeply committed to nurturing the junior pickleball community. For two years, she tirelessly sought tournament opportunities for her son, Jack (@Jack_pickleball), who often had to compete against adults due to the lack of youth options. Her daughter Lily, a competitive swimmer who enjoys pickleball recreationally, also didn’t have an avenue to participate with others of similar age and skill level.

Drawing from her background in community programming and non-profit development, Courtney embarked on a mission to address these unmet needs for parents like herself. She created NJP as a supportive community where players—from beginners to advanced—can compete against their peers in a friendly environment and share their passion for pickleball.