A milestone partnership for European pickleball, international education and the future of our players.
The RTA Pickleball Tour is proud to announce a new Gold Partnership with Schiller International University for the 2026 season.
For us, this partnership is more than a sponsorship. It is a statement. It connects the fast-growing world of European pickleball with international education, career development and real opportunities beyond the court.
Schiller International University will join the RTA Pickleball Tour as a Gold Sponsor for the 2026 season, including the RTA European Finals / Arlberg Pickleball Championship 2026. The partnership brings Schiller into the heart of the RTA community, across our tournaments, media presence, player communication and future activation formats.
Most importantly, Schiller International University will offer scholarship opportunities for RTA players. Amateur and pro players participating in the RTA Pickleball Tour 2026 may be eligible for scholarships of up to 55% for the first year for September 2026 enrolment in bachelor’s or master’s programs. The offer is also designed to support eligible family members connected to RTA players, subject to Schiller’s admission, academic and scholarship conditions.
This is a major step for the RTA and for pickleball in Europe.
Why this partnership matters
Pickleball in Europe is growing quickly. More players are travelling, competing, training and building their lives around the sport. But a professional sports pathway cannot only be about rankings, medals and prize money. It also needs to support education, personal development and future careers.
That is why this partnership is so important to us.
Together with Schiller International University, we want to show that pickleball can open doors. Doors to international study. Doors to new countries. Doors to career opportunities. Doors to a future where players do not have to choose between athletic ambition and academic growth.
Schiller’s academic model is especially exciting for our community. With campuses in Heidelberg, Paris, Madrid and Tampa, Florida, Schiller offers a truly international environment. Students can join a global community, study in English and explore bachelor’s and master’s programs in fields such as International Relations, International Business, Computer Science, Business Analytics, Digital Marketing and E-commerce, Global Finance, Sustainability Management, Data Science and MBA studies.
For RTA players, this fits perfectly. Our tour is international by nature. Our players travel, connect cultures, represent countries and build friendships across borders. Schiller stands for the same spirit: international thinking, mobility, ambition and education without borders.
Study while competing
One of the strongest messages of the new RTA x Schiller partnership is simple:
Study while competing in pickleball.
Schiller International University understands that athletes need flexibility. The scholarship offer includes academic flexibility opportunities designed to support students who participate in sports competitions throughout the year, subject to the relevant program conditions.
This is exactly the type of structure European pickleball needs as it grows.
Players should be able to chase their sporting goals while preparing for life after competition. They should be able to build a season schedule and a study plan. They should be able to compete, learn, travel and grow.
For young players, amateur players, pro players and families, this creates a new kind of pathway. Pickleball becomes not only a sport, but part of a bigger life journey.
A shared international vision
The RTA Pickleball Tour was built to connect Europe through pickleball. Schiller International University was built around international education. This partnership brings both worlds together.
From Heidelberg to Paris, from Madrid to Tampa, Schiller’s campuses sit in cities with strong international, cultural and sporting identities. For the RTA, this opens exciting possibilities: student engagement, future learning experiences, tournament activations, counselor invitations and new ways of introducing pickleball to international communities.
The first sparks are already visible. Heidelberg will be an important touchpoint for the 2026 season, and we are looking forward to exploring how students, players, schools, families and fans can become part of this new chapter.
A new era for RTA
At RTA, we believe that building pickleball means building more than tournaments. It means building structure. It means building visibility. It means building trust. It means bringing serious partners into the sport who understand where pickleball is going.
Schiller International University is exactly such a partner.
Their commitment to international education, student-athlete development and career pathways fits beautifully with the RTA’s mission. We are proud to welcome Schiller International University as a Gold Sponsor of the RTA Pickleball Tour 2026 and excited about what this partnership can become.
This is a milestone for us.
A milestone for our players.
And a milestone for pickleball in Europe.
We are ready for this new era.
Welcome to the RTA family, Schiller International University.
Players and families can learn more through the official RTA x Schiller landing page.