🌟 Elite Pickleball Academy
We Are, Elite Pickleball
A team of youth pickleball players traveling the world, chasing their dream of being a PPA Professional Tour Player. Included in our group are six current professional players. These are some of the most accomplished players in the world. The pictures tell the story. A number of our players have permanently relocated to Kansas City, others spend days/weeks a month at Elite, as well as a larger group visits quarterly. We are a tight nit crew but welcoming group – always looking for likeminded and hardworking teammates. Elite is a diamond in the rough for aspiring players!
Our Routine
Every day, we run a 5 hour team practice. Based on specific goals, many players attend additional practice sessions in addition to our group practice schedule. Being SMART, TOUGH and FIT are cornerstones of the program. The day is built around improving in all areas. We put in the work! Recovery is another key element of the day. Medical professionals lead this effort. As sports science continues to offer improved training methods, Elite will always be looking for best practices. Because we are a modest size group, attention to each on and off court training detail is the expectation. Our work ethic, habits and intensity match our dreams!
Traveling Team
The most committed players in the program, who reflect many of the most accomplished junior players on the Junior PPA Tour, are part of the Elite Traveling Team. We attend roughly 20-24 PPA Tour and Challenger Events per year. One of the most important aspects of the program is to have the coaches in attendance at the events. This is where you learn. We certainly don’t control outcomes, but we do 100% control the energy we bring to the fight. As a team, we look forward to competing at each event. Each practice day is structured in accordance with our tournament preparation. We take pride in being prepared to compete!
Fun Zone
Along with the hard work comes the team having time to spend together off court. Team dinners, nights at Top Golf, days at the lake, daily trivia sessions, GroupMe Messages and of course the always popular “1-10 scale” are part of the overall experience. The local families do a tremendous job of making time for the players to enjoy the weeks at Elite. The community vibe of the group is important and will always be a focus of the program!
Coaching Legacy: World-Class Coaches. Proven Results.
Coach Wolf — A former world-class tennis player himself, as well as accomplished pickleball competitor, he is one of the most experienced and successful figures in racquet sports. Having coached dozens of national/international junior and professional tennis champions and now coaching some of the best junior/professional pickleball players in the world, he brings tremendous knowledge to Elite.
Coach Ashley – A former Div. 1 collegiate tennis player, Ashley’s playing and coaching experience have now led her to pickleball. After deciding to shift her extensive and successful tennis coaching career to pickleball, The Academy at Elite (pickleball) has her full attention. Ashley brings a wealth of expertise to aspiring players.
Learn From the Best
At any point in time, you may see some of the most accomplished pickleball players in the world on the courts at Elite. It’s no coincidence these players are known to be some of the hardest working players on tour. They provide great insight for our players to see what it takes to succeed on the PPA Tour. Brooke Buckner, Kaitlyn Christian, Tyson McGuffin, Chris Haworth, Camden Chaffin, Mota Alhouni, Rafael Lenhard, Mathew Barlow and many more are in the house. In the past, you would have seen the brilliance of Federico Staksrud and Jack Sock. These players have paved the way for our next generation of great competitors!
Ready to Visit? Contact Our Academy Manager!
Anna Leigh Waters coaching up the kids.
“For me, working with Mike is a way to keep myself accountable, throw myself back in the mix and finish my career the right way. And just in working with him for a short time I can already see progress. Mike is a total stud – typical Midwesterner, very low key, doesn’t need any credit, no status, just a total workhorse. And that’s kind of what I grew up with in a small-town wrestling family. Just put your f***ing head down and go to work.” – Tyson McGuffin
“I think what they have going on in Kansas City is pretty spectacular. I’ve been in the coaching space for a long time, and Mike and Ashley are two people who are doing it at a very high level. The youth and the talent they have training there, and just the structure and organization of everything, it’s top notch. Some of the best that I’ve been around.” – Tyson McGuffin
