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Future Ready Through Pickleball

A practice ground for life, on court.

12-Week Junior Development Experience

A structured 12-week experience that uses pickleball as a practice environment for communication, confidence, judgment, resilience, teamwork, and leadership—while connecting young people to professionals, companies, and career possibilities across Charlotte’s financial community.

12 weeks · Ages 12–17 · 4–8 juniors per group · Weekly 60-minute Court Lab

Target Participants

  • •Junior participants, initially approximately ages 12–17
  • •Beginner through intermediate pickleball ability
  • •No prior financial-industry knowledge required
  • •Company-sponsored or community-supported participation
  • •Minimum 4 juniors per training group; 6–8 per coach is the preferred operating range

Program Format

12 weeks | one developmental theme per week. Each week follows the same learning cycle:

1Learn It

A short online or facilitated lesson introduces the week’s framework.

2Live It

The participant applies the concept during school, home, friendships, and everyday situations.

3Court Lab

A 60-minute coached pickleball session creates real situations involving pressure, mistakes, communication, decisions, teamwork, and recovery.

4PatternLens

The participant captures meaningful moments and begins noticing recurring patterns.

5Real Life

The participant deliberately applies what was practiced outside the court.

Learn It → Live It → Experience It → Notice It → Try Again

The 12-Week Journey

Phase 1

See

Weeks 1–3

Development FocusNotice what is happening before the reaction takes over.

Week

1

Awareness

Notice what is happening internally and externally before reacting.

Week

2

Response Reserve

Create more space between what happens and how you respond.

Week

3

Attention

Learn where attention goes under pressure and how to bring it back.

Phase 2

Relate

Weeks 4–6

Development FocusStay connected when things do not go your way.

Week

4

Recovery & Resilience

Recover after mistakes, disappointment, or momentum changes.

Week

5

Communication

Practice clear communication, listening, and constructive response.

Week

6

Teamwork & Trust

Understand how individual behavior affects a partner and team.

Phase 3

Stay Available

Weeks 7–9

Development FocusLearn what pressure does to you—and remain available to respond.

Week

7

Emotional Awareness

Recognize emotions without automatically acting from them.

Week

8

Adaptability

Adjust when circumstances, opponents, or expectations change.

Week

9

Interpretation & Self-Talk

Notice the stories and assumptions that shape decisions and behavior.

Phase 4

Choose

Weeks 10–12

Development FocusChoose deliberately and carry what you practice into life.

Week

10

Judgment & Decision-Making

Make deliberate choices when information is incomplete or conditions are changing.

Week

11

Leadership

Practice responsibility, presence, encouragement, and influence.

Week

12

Life Integration

Connect the patterns practiced throughout the program to everyday life.