With summer break looming, the spring sports season in full swing, and warm weather teasing Northern Virginia, people of all ages are rushing to the pickleball courts. Pickleball, a combination of ping-pong, badminton, and tennis, has recently been able to reshape recreational sports by bringing a competitive edge to a healthy, leisurely activity.
In 1965, three men from Washington were looking for new summer family activities. Pickleball, their solution, combined elements of other common racquet sports using old equipment and familiar rule concepts.
The game gained popularity in the 1970s and was played in all 50 states by 1990 after coverage from sport magazines including “The National Observer” and books such as “The Other Racquet Sports.” The United States Amateur Pickleball Association (U.S.A.P.A.) was formed in 1984 to standardize rules and grow the sport.
“The rules make the game easier,” senior Camille Houpert said. “It’s faster-paced and the court is smaller, so it’s a lot less pressure but still more engaging that ping pong.”
According to USA Pickleball and the Global Pickleball Foundation, Pickleball has remained the fastest growing sport in the United States for the past four years when measured by the rapid growth of tournaments, the building of new courts, and the Pickleball market which currently sits at $1.5 billion.
The COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly left people feeling isolated and seeking organic social interaction, which Pickleball provides with exercise as a bonus. With the increasing amount of time spent indoors or on screens due to the pandemic and the internet’s rise, pickleball provides a healthy alternative that has drawn a younger crowd.
Most commonly played in senior communities in the past, it has shifted to an activity universal with all ages during its recent renaissance. The sport’s accessibility is what is able to draw players from many different age groups. The simple rules and minimal equipment make it flexible and fun.
“I played tennis for six years as a kid,” senior Michael Pesentheiner said. “I love that I can now get back into [Pickleball] with my friends. It’s so easy to pick up and it’s very low pressure.”
In a time where age groups can feel divided by political, social, and cultural differences, the game presents an equalizer, and any form of motivation for people to step outside, exercise, and engage in a game with others should be encouraged.
