Announcement
April 10, 2024
April 2024
National Pickleball Month
Pickleball is a fast-growing sport in America that combines tennis and ping-pong. It can be played single (individually) or in doubles (partners) both indoors and outdoors. In the past twelve months, 48.3 million adult Americans have played pickleball. April was declared National Pickleball Month by the USA Pickleball Association in 2018.
History of pickleball – Pickleball was created in Washington in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Legend has it the sport was named after the Pritchard family dog, Pickles, though this has been disputed.
· 1976: Competitive tournaments begin in the United States
· 1984: The governing body of pickleball, the USA Pickleball Association, is formed
· 2005: The first US Open Pickleball Championships are held in Florida
· 2010: The International Federation of Pickleball is established and the sport spreads worldwide
· 2021: Washington declares pickleball its official state sport
How it works – Two to four players use paddles to hit a plastic ball back and forth over a modified tennis net. Pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court. The net is placed in the center of the court, and the 7’ on either side of the net is called the “kitchen,” an area in which players may not return a volley (a shot hit in the air).
To begin, the serving team must announce the score. The player serving the ball must use an underhand swing, serve diagonally, and make sure the ball clears both the net and the kitchen. The receiving team returns the ball, and play continues until the ball hits the net or lands out of bounds. The first team to reach eleven points wins.
There are many other intricacies to the sport of pickleball. The best way to learn is to participate in a class or get started in a pickleball group.
Is pickleball right for me? – People of all ages and abilities can play pickleball. Due to its low-impact nature, pickleball is appropriate for seniors and anyone with musculoskeletal considerations. Adaptive versions of pickleball, such as para pickleball, exist to make the sport accessible to people with disabilities.
Citynet Center members can check out pickleball paddles and balls at the front desk using their ID card. This is a great way to try the sport without investing in equipment.
Follow us on Facebook to see when registration for the next Pickleball Beginner’s Class opens!
