As the Junior PPA program continues to expand, a new wave of young athletes is stepping onto the pickleball scene and competing at a high level. Alongside that rise comes a unique challenge for parents, who often find themselves balancing multiple roles—travel planner, coach, support system, and, most importantly, mom or dad.

For Darrin Klinger, that balancing act has been front and center. As both the father and coach of rising pro CJ Klinger, he’s been there every step of the way, helping guide his son through the transition to the professional ranks. Navigating life on tour at such a young age has been a learning experience for both of them.

Now, Darrin is sharing some of the biggest lessons he’s picked up along the way, offering valuable advice for other parents supporting their own young pickleball players.

“You don’t want to be the parent that ruins the game. It’s not you on the court, it’s your kid on the court. Always remember that,” insisted Klinger. “I recommend that the junior parents and junior kids need to focus on being a great teammate first, not focusing all on yourself.”

No matter your age, becoming the kind of partner others want to play with is key in doubles. Klinger emphasizes that focusing on being a great teammate isn’t just important for juniors, it’s a powerful way to build character. Adopting a team-first mindset can also ease some of the pressure that often comes with being a young athlete, shifting the focus from individual performance to shared success.

“There can be a lot of pressure on these kids,” said Klinger. “Having that team mindset helps take some pressure off them as an individual and keeps it where it’s most important, and that’s on the team.”

Darrin also shared that he and CJ have established a standard that CJ is expected to uphold both on and off the court.

“Whatever his standard is, that’s what it’ll be. Put in the work, make your adjustments, learn, add shots, and if those help you to be able to play pro pickleball, great,” mentioned Klinger. “If it doesn’t, you can still play pickleball with your dad, your family, and your friends. That’s great too. That mindset helps keep things in perspective.” 

As with any sport, it’s easy for parents to get caught up in the excitement and push their kids to go all-in on pickleball right away. But Klinger advises taking a more patient approach and resisting the urge to rush the process.

“Don’t be in a rush as well, depending on the age of the kid. If they still love some other sports, too, let them play those sports until they fully decide for themselves if pickleball is what they want to do. I feel like a lot of people forget that. Well-roundedness is good in pickleball, and in any sport. You see the top guys and girls in the NBA and WNBA, and they’re all great at other sports, too. It’s a benefit no matter the outcome,” concluded Klinger. 

“We’ve learned a lot of lessons on the road. Even simple stuff like getting organized or working out the logistical sides of things. It’s all a learning process. I’m easy to find at tournaments and I love talking to junior parents and giving them some advice, so please feel free to come talk to me if you have any questions. I’m happy to help out and share what I know.”

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