Five years ago I didn't even know what pickleball was, now I play regularly. Over the past few years, pickleball has become one of the fastest growing sports in the United States. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), over 8.9 million people played pickleball across the country in 2022, which was nearly double the 4.8 million players reported in 2021.
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Five years ago I didn't even know what pickleball was, now I play regularly. Over the past few years, pickleball has become one of the fastest growing sports in the United States. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), over 8.9 million people played pickleball across the country in 2022, which was nearly double the 4.8 million players reported in 2021.
While the game had been on the rise prior to Covid-19, the pandemic definitely helped further spread its popularity as seen in a report by the Association of Pickleball Professionals which found that more than 36.5 million people played pickleball from August 2021 to August 2022. Pickleball is a fast-paced and highly addictive sport that has taken the world by storm. The game combines elements of tennis, badminton, and Ping-Pong making it an accessible sport for players of all ages and skill sets.
Off-Court Pickleball Training
Offering off-court pickleball training is growing in popularity. Personal training, group exercise sessions and small group training programs are an excellent way to leverage the popularity of this sport. Connecting with your community while increasing your bottom line revenue will grow your club membership and expand your neighborhood outreach.
Brief History of Pickleball
While only recently becoming popular, pickleball was actually invented in the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, by three friends: Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum. Using badminton paddles, a perforated plastic ball, and a modified badminton court they created the foundations of the game.
Funnily enough, the name took after the Pritchard family’s dog, Pickles, who had the habit of chasing after stray balls and stealing them. Throughout the process of creating the game, the three kept in mind their original purpose: creating a game that the whole family could play together. By 1967, the first permanent pickleball court was built in the backyard of Pritchard’s friend and neighbor, Bob O’Brian. Soon after a corporation was formed to protect the sport in 1972 and in 1975 the National Observer wrote the first article about Pickleball. Over time, the rules became more refined and by 1990 the sport was being played in all 50 states of the U.S.
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How One Plays
As someone who is new to the sport myself, I’m still figuring out the rules and understanding the game. For starters, pickleball is played as either singles or (more commonly) doubles. Similar to tennis, a serve starts the game which is hit diagonally crosscourt. After the serve, the ball must bounce before being returned, and then the serving team must let it bounce before hitting the ball back. This is known as the “two bounce” rule.
After that, both teams can either volley the ball or play it off a bounce. However, players cannot volley in “the kitchen” which is the seven foot service area (think the area in front of the service line in tennis) on both sides of the court. Players are able to go into the kitchen and hit a ball only once it has bounced. A typical game is played to 11 where participants must win by two. The sport is relatively easy to learn, making it welcoming to newcomers of all ages.
Pickleball Health Benefits
Besides being a competitive and entertaining game, pickleball offers numerous health benefits. The sport is a full-body workout that incorporates elements of cardiovascular exercise, strength training and agility. It is estimated that a single game of pickleball can burn up to 600 calories per hour, making it a great way to lose weight while being social. Pickleball is also an aerobic exercise, which means it helps lung functionality, control of blood sugar levels, regulation of blood pressure, and improve cardiovascular conditioning.
Pickleball is also a low-impact sport that puts less pressure on your joints and muscles. Compared to tennis courts, pickle’s 44-foot by 20-foot court enables players to not have to travel far to keep the ball in play which reduces the strain on knees, hips and ankles. Additionally, pickleball is great for one's heart health. In fact, a study showed that playing pickleball may lower a person’s risk of heart disease by positively changing risk factors such as cholesterol levels and blood pressure. It is also an excellent stress reliever as aerobic activities like pickleball cause the body to release endorphins (also known as feel good neurotransmitters) that help relieve stress as well as anxiety.
Pickleball has rapidly gained popularity as a fun and engaging sport for individuals of all ages and skill levels. With its unique combination of tennis, badminton, and ping pong, pickleball offers a dynamic and exciting experience. However, in order to become a pickleball pro it is essential to train both your overall strength and core muscles. Incorporating these exercises into your routine gradually improves your pickleball skills, enhances your performance, and reduces risk of injuries. Trainers of all types are offering growing and financially successful off-court pickleball training. So hit the court with confidence this summer, knowing that you too can excel in the sport of pickleball.
Sara Kooperman, JD, CEO of SCW Fitness Education, WATERinMOTION, and S.E.A.T. Fitness sits on the ACSM Communication & Public Information Committee, the Gold’s Gym Think Tank, the canfitpro Advisory Panel and was a founding board member for the Women In Fitness Association (WIFA). Recently nominated for the IDEA Fitness Leader of the Year Award, Kooperman won the 2022 Most Innovating Fitness Pro by Fitness Industry Technology Council. She is also an inductee into the National Fitness Hall of Fame, an Illinois State Businesswoman of the Year, and an esteemed panelist for IHRSA’s Talks & Takes Monthly Talk Show.