By: Evan Rando
Thwap! The hollow sound of wiffle balls bouncing on the ground and smacking off of paddles fills up parks across the country. To some, the sight of players young and old participating in America’s newest racket sport may be surprising. But those who have been playing pickleball have sat back patiently waiting, now reveling in their sport’s spotlight.
Longtime players have struggled to get recognition and accommodations to the pickleball scene for years. Take Brian Santacruz for example, a 5.0 PPR certified professional. Before he was competing in some of the most competitive pickleball tournaments in the country, Brian and his peers were struggling to even find a court to play on.
“Back in 2019 at that time when I said I played pickleball to anyone here in the area they looked at me like I had three heads,” said Santacruz. “There were no dedicated courts in Saratoga, so we had to get creative. Sometimes we even had to play in the basement of a church with a portable net.”
So how did pickleball go from being played in church basements to having 40,000 plus courts built since 2020? Santacruz would tell you its accessibility. “Even people with no sports background at all kinda just pick up a paddle and get into it, it’s not very technical until you get to a certain level and that’s why I think it attracts so many people.”
It’s rare we see the emergence of a completely new sport, but pickleball has started sweeping the nation. In the sports and fitness associations annual report, pickleball has seen a 158.6 % increase in participation over the last three years. Tennis courts are shifting into pickleball courts, pickleball clubs and leagues are emerging in towns all over, and players can even strive to make it far in a growing competitive and professional scene. All this can be traced back to the fact that seemingly anyone can play pickleball and keep up.
Look no further than Eve Soria, A member of a local pickleball league in the town of Saratoga Springs. Eve shared some of her insight being a first time pickleball player.
“ My friend tried to get me involved but I was hesitant to join because honestly I thought it was an old person’s game. But then my husband raved about it and I decided to give it a try. It was love at first play.”
Eve’s not only a first time pickleball player, but a first time athlete as well. Pickleball has been named ‘the best sport for older people’ by livestrong.com. This title may add to the stigma of pickleball being an ‘old person’s sport’ that Eve was afraid of, but it actually has turned out to be one of the sport’s greatest strengths. The wide variety of players has provided a community like no other in the sports world.
“I play in larger areas and more populated cities,” Says Soria. “I see the demographic range from like 20 year olds to 70 year olds. It’s a perfect combination of a mental game, and physicality, and then there’s the bonus that it’s so social where you can meet lots of good people.”
A game with that many aspects is bound to resonate across lots of different communities. But hard core athletes and lovers of competition shouldn’t shy away from Pickleball. Along with the side of the game that appeals to the casual fan, there is an equally hot competitive scene that players are breaking into every day.
With professional men and women as young as 19 years old pickleball is proving it’s not only a friendly game to play for a casual good time, but a high octane sport that can be played at a competitive level. There are the USAPA (United States of America Pickleball Association) and US Open pickleball tournaments which are the highest level of competition in the country, along with regional tournaments all across the nation featuring the best players from around local areas.
Having a competitive field will help boost pickleball to new heights. Many young boys and girls are inspired by professional athletes, and that inspiration is what drives them to the game. For a while pickleball was just a game you could play in the park, but now it’s something you can ascend the ranks and make a name for yourself in. Like any sport, it’s the younger generation that evolves the game.
“You have younger players, and all they know is pickleball. They add a new perspective to the game, they’ll make and try new shots and can change the game quite a bit.” says Santacruz, who is a current professional himself.
Santacruz even shared enthusiasm about the chance of pickleball one day becoming an NCAA sanctioned sport.
“There are pro players right now who are in college trying to bring it to their schools,” Santacruz said. I think even some colleges are developing pickleball programs and are awarding scholarships.”
Becoming an NCAA sport would solidify pickleball as a pillar of the current sports world, and would be a testament to how a loving community can grow their dream.
With new players coming in every day, who’s to say what pickleball will look like in five years? What we do know is that it’s not going anywhere. Whether you have never played sports before and are looking for an active and social activity, or you want to go far with dreams of being a pro athlete, pickleball is the sport for you. The days of people thinking they’re too good for pickleball are over. It’s time to pick up a paddle and join the madness.
apnmag.com 