Children pick up some of life’s most useful lessons through everyday experiences.
On the pickleball court, they learn to be patient, work towards a goal and make better decisions with every shot.
The same skills can also help them manage their money, whether they are saving their allowance, planning what to buy or learning the difference between something they want and something they need.
This October, families can start these conversations while enjoying three days of sporting action at the Social Serve Kidsnergy Pickleball Tournament.
Happening from 16 to 18 October 2026 at PLAYA Racquet Club @ PARC Subang, the tournament will bring together young players, parents and pickleball enthusiasts for matches, family bonding and exciting prizes.
The event is organised through a collaboration between iMedia Asia and Kidsnergy, and powered by Great Eastern Takaful Berhad (GETB).
Beyond getting families active, the collaboration also carries a bigger goal: helping young people aged 7 to 17 understand money in a simple and relatable way while encouraging healthier financial habits from an early age.
Good habits can begin with an allowance
Financial literacy may sound like a grown-up topic, but children already make small money decisions in their daily lives.
Should they spend all their allowance today or save some for the weekend? Is that new item something they need or simply something they want? If they have a bigger goal in mind, how much should they set aside each week?
These simple situations can teach children important lessons about saving, spending and budgeting without relying on complicated financial terms.
For example, a child who receives RM10 could divide it into different portions for spending, saving and sharing.
If they want something more expensive, they could set a goal and slowly work towards it instead of spending everything immediately or directly ask from parents.
The lesson is not about telling children that they cannot enjoy their money. It is about helping them think before spending and understand that every spending decision matters.
GETB hopes to make these lessons fun, positive and easier for young people to relate to through familiar experiences from their everyday lives.
What can pickleball teach children about money?
Learning to play pickleball takes time. Young players may miss a shot, lose a match or need several attempts before mastering a new skill.
Managing money works in a similar way.
Children will not build good habits after a single conversation. They need opportunities to practise, make decisions and learn from their choices.
Saving for something they want, for instance, requires patience. Planning how to use an allowance involves making decisions. Adjusting after spending too much teaches them to do things differently the next time.
Just as every rally helps a player improve, every small money decision can help a child become more confident and responsible.
Parents can support the process by asking simple questions instead of immediately deciding for them.
“What are you saving for?”
“Do you want this, or do you need it?”
“If you buy this today, will you still have enough for later?”
These short conversations can make financial learning feel more natural and less like another school lesson.
A sporting experience for the whole family
The tournament also gives parents and children the chance to spend meaningful time together while staying active.
Kidsnergy was founded by Malaysian Olympic medallist Goh Liu Ying and has grown into one of the country’s leading grassroots sports movements, reaching thousands of families nationwide.
Together with GETB, the collaboration hopes to make sports and financial education more accessible, engaging and meaningful for Malaysian families.
Whether children are learning how to serve, working together with a partner or deciding what to do with their allowance, the focus remains the same: helping them develop habits that can support them as they grow.
Categories for kids, adults and families
Whether you are a young player stepping onto the court for the first time, a parent hoping to compete alongside your child or an adult looking for a new challenge, there is a category for you.
The Open Parent and Kid category allows parents and children to team up and share the experience on court.
Adult players can compete in the following doubles categories:
Intermediate Combined 7.0
- Men’s Doubles
- Women’s Doubles
- Mixed Doubles
Novice Combined 5.8
- Men’s Doubles
- Women’s Doubles
- Mixed Doubles
Boys’ and girls’ singles are available in the U8, U10, U12, U14, U16 and U18 age groups. Junior boys’, girls’ and mixed doubles are available for U14, U16 and U18.
Registration for the U8 category is free, giving younger children an opportunity to experience the sport and discover their potential.
Exciting cash prizes are up for grabs
For the junior boys’, girls’ and mixed doubles categories, the prizes are:
- Champion: RM400
- First runner up: RM300
- Second runner up: RM200
For the junior U8 to U18 boys’ and girls’ singles categories, the prizes are:
- Champion: RM200
- First runner up: RM150
- Second runner up: RM100
The Open Parent and Kid category offers:
- Champion: RM500
- First runner up: RM360
- Second runner up: RM260
For the Adult Categories 7.0 men’s, women’s and mixed doubles events, the prizes are:
- Champion: RM2,000
- First runner up: RM1,500
- Second runner up: RM1,000
For the Adult Categories 5.8 men’s, women’s and mixed doubles events, the prizes are:
- Champion: RM1,500
- First runner up: RM1,000
- Second runner up: RM750
Participants can also look forward to goodies and other prizes provided by the event sponsors.
For young winners, a cash prize can become another simple learning opportunity. Parents could encourage them to think about how much they would like to save, spend or put towards a future goal.
This allows children to celebrate their achievement while practising the money management habits they are learning.
Ready to step onto the court?
The Social Serve Kidsnergy Pickleball Tournament will take place from 8am to 10pm daily from 16 to 18 October 2026 at PLAYA Racquet Club @ PARC Subang.
Players and families interested in joining can register through the official tournament registration page.
Whether your child is picking up a paddle for the first time, competing for a prize or beginning to understand how small money choices can support bigger goals, the tournament offers families a chance to learn, play and grow together.
For more information about Great Eastern Takaful Berhad, visit its official website or follow its Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Great Eastern Juniors MY (T) YouTube pages.
