Health and wellness platform Koomba has launched a partnership with National Junior Pickleball.
Koomba will provide complementary group education sessions for athletes and families involved with NJP, which operates camps, clinics and tournaments for ages 8-18. Group and personalized coaching will also be available.
Koomba connects clients to dietitians, sports psychologists and mental performance coaches. All providers are vetted and have accreditation and credentials; the digital-only network operates on a subscription model and is HSA/FSA eligible.
“There’s not a lot of structure or support in pickleball. It’s kind of like choose your own adventure,” NJP founder and CEO Courtney Loughridge told Buying Sandlot.
Loughridge’s son is a top-ranked junior player; she said the need for strong mental performance skills has been a topic of discussion amongst NJP parents, which made Koomba an obvious fit.
“It’s been great to have somebody else inform him and guide him that’s not a parent and not a coach, but another trusted adult,” Loughridge said.
“This is a person who informs high-level performing athletes. It naturally gives them a bit more credibility with the kids. They have the background, the training, the knowledge of how to get kids to buy in, understand their perspectives and to cater to what the kids are looking to get out of it and help them in their individual games.”
Koomba maps all content to the American Developmental Model; former NCAA chief medical officer Dr. Brian Hainline is a senior advisor.
"Connecting an athlete to a coach or an app is quickly becoming a commodity," Koomba co-founder and head of strategic partnerships Russ Chase said.
"What youth sport really needs is trusted health infrastructure -- standards, safeguarding and a real developmental framework behind the support. That is what we are building with NJP for an entire generation of young athletes."
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