USA Pickleball, the National Governing Body for the sport of pickleball in the U.S., today announced a new three-year partnership with Kitchen Blockers, naming the brand as the Official Lensless Eyewear Partner of USA Pickleball. The partnership underscores a shared commitment to player safety and education, with a focus on increasing awareness around the importance of protective eyewear in the rapidly growing sport.
As part of the agreement, Kitchen Blockers will serve as the Presenting Partner of the Medal Stand at the USA Pickleball National Championships and all USA Pickleball Golden Ticket Tournaments across the country. At these premier events, all Gold Medalists will receive a pair of Special Edition Golden Blockers.
“Our sport continues to evolve at an incredible pace, and so does the need to prioritize player safety at every level,” said Mike Nealy, CEO of USA Pickleball. “Protective eyewear is an essential piece of equipment, and Kitchen Blockers is leading the way in making safety stylish, comfortable, and accessible. We’re proud to partner with them to help educate players and promote smart, preventative measures that protect our pickleball community.”
The partnership will include a series of educational campaigns and on-site activations that highlight the benefits of protective eyewear. Together, USA Pickleball and Kitchen Blockers aim to “Change the Face of Pickleball”, reinforcing the importance of eye safety for recreational players, professionals, and youth athletes alike.
“It hit us in the face. Literally,” said Brad Robins and Dave Katz, Founders of Kitchen Blockers. “As players, we wanted to create the ultimate in lensless safety eyewear to change the face of pickleball – so all pickleballers of every level everywhere can ‘Play Safe. Stay Safe.’ Now, with our partnership with USA Pickleball we’re thrilled to take awareness of safety and playability to the next level.”
