Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
There's a growing chorus online saying teenagers shouldn't be allowed to play Major League Pickleball. Zane Navratil and Nico the Lefty try — and fail — to find a good argument for it.
They walk through why age limits make sense in contact sports but don't really apply to pickleball, compare it to age rules in the NBA, NFL, and MLB (turns out MLB prospects are turning pro younger every year), and debate whether going pro costs a teenager their college eligibility. Zane brings up LeBron James skipping college entirely, Nico brings up Collin Shick as the rare pro who went back to school, and both land on the same conclusion: if a 14-year-old is good enough to compete, let her play.
🟦 Blue Cannatine from Troscriptions is designed to support the mental and physical flow state that pickleball players chase: focused, responsive, smooth, and adaptable — without jitters, crashes, or chaos. Try it today at troscriptions.com/dink
🗳️ Vote on our Continental Draft in the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → discord.gg/JxEcUZ54z
📚 Be the first to try Zane's new course here: tzpickleball.com
#Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast
Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299
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There's a growing chorus online saying teenagers shouldn't be allowed to play Major League Pickleball. Zane Navratil and Nico the Lefty try — and fail — to find a good argument for it.
They walk through why age limits make sense in contact sports but don't really apply to pickleball, compare it to age rules in the NBA, NFL, and MLB (turns out MLB prospects are turning pro younger every year), and debate whether going pro costs a teenager their college eligibility. Zane brings up LeBron James skipping college entirely, Nico brings up Collin Shick as the rare pro who went back to school, and both land on the same conclusion: if a 14-year-old is good enough to compete, let her play.
🟦 Blue Cannatine from Troscriptions is designed to support the mental and physical flow state that pickleball players chase: focused, responsive, smooth, and adaptable — without jitters, crashes, or chaos. Try it today at troscriptions.com/dink
🗳️ Vote on our Continental Draft in the Pro Pickleball Talk Discord → discord.gg/JxEcUZ54z
📚 Be the first to try Zane's new course here: tzpickleball.com
#Pickleball #PPATour #PickleballPodcast
Leave your voicemail for the PicklePod at (512) 200 - 4299
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