Name That Game: It’s like tennis – sort of. And like badminton – sort of. To play, you use a sort of whiffle ball and a sort of ping-pong paddle. And it might or might not have been named after a Cocker Spaniel. But probably not.
Give up? It’s Pickleball, considered one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, with more than 100,000 active players in all 50 states. They’re folks of all levels of athletic ability, most ranging in age from 30 to 80 – and up!
Pickleball, so the story goes, “was invented during the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, WA, at the home of Joel Pritchard (Congressman from Washington State). One Saturday afternoon, Pritchard and two buddies, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum, returned from golf and found their families bored.”
When attempting to set up a badminton game, no one could find the shuttlecock or racquets, so they improvised with ping-pong paddles and a whiffle ball and lowered the badminton net. They soon set up rules and built a permanent court in McCallum’s back yard, always keeping in mind the original purpose – to create a game the whole family could enjoy. And the rest, as they say, is history.
The pickleball court area is one-third the size of a tennis court, with play similar to that of tennis, without the intensity or speed. Like tennis, it can be played with two or four players. Its similarity allows existing tennis courts to easily be converted to dual-use with additional striping.
The USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) promotes the growth and development of the game on national and international levels.
Efforts to bring pickleball to Indian River County began in Sebastian and Vero Beach about a year ago, with the county soon joining the Pickle Bandwagon. Recreation Departments in Vero and Sebastian have converted some of their tennis courts to dual use with the addition of special striping, and the number of players continues to grow.
Today pickleball players share courts with tennis players, on regular schedules at Vero’s Riverside Park and Pocahontas Park, where six new courts will soon open. Schumann Park in Sebastian also offers designated courts and play times.
Gaby Dwyer, Vero Beach Recreation Department’s tennis supervisor, is excited about the pickleball surge. Reaching under the counter she produces the official gear – a hollow, yellow plastic ball, 3 inches in diameter and full of holes like a whiffle ball, and what looks like a super-sized ping-pong paddle. Dwyer’s Riverside Park office looks onto the courts, so she sees firsthand how much players enjoy the game, filling the courts 8:30 a.m. to noon Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
“Even if you can’t run, or have bad knees, you can play. Just about everybody can pick it up and once you try it, you’re hooked!” says Dwyer. “We’re excited to have it here in Vero. It’s a Pickleball explosion!”
Sebastian Parks and Recreation Director Chris McCarthy also sees the game growing in popularity, and is considering the possibility of additional dual-use courts. Pickleball striped tennis courts in city parks see a lot of action on their designated play days, including groups from Vero who come up to get in a few extra games.
“There is so much to Pickleball. It’s the fastest-growing paddle sport, and anyone familiar with any paddle sport will advance quickly,” says Karen Pallon, an enthusiastic supporter from Sebastian. “It’s fun for everyone, and there are competitive and recreational opportunities. It’s also fun to watch. In Sebastian many players bring their significant others to watch and socialize.”
Her group, which offers paddles and pickleballs to share, plays at the Schumann Drive courts Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. The group eventually plans to host its own tournament, inviting people from all over the United States to play.
“There are tournaments going on all over the place,” she added. “People travel away from home to other pickleball venues just for the experience to play with other pickleball players.”
Ken Roberts, Indian River County’s Pickleball Ambassador, is one of USAPA’s official ambassadors nationwide, promoting the game locally and providing support and information for local and visiting players. Roberts says that what began as a group of four or five guys has grown organically, without any major advertising.
“The growth has been tremendous. Now we have over 250 players in Indian River County; people from all over – Canada, Alaska, even Scandinavia – and all ages, mostly 60-80. And it’s a good social outlet, as well. People come and play and talk to friends, bring their chairs and their water. I call it recess!”
“When you approach middle age and your competitive juices start to go, with pickleball you can still be competitive, without being so hard on the body,” says Tim Hall, a snowbird who first played in Ohio. When in town he plays at Pocahontas Park and Schumann Park. “I have yet to meet a person who, after first trying pickleball, hasn’t come back again. It’s great exercise.”
Mary Kozlowski began playing more than a decade ago at The Villages near Ocala, which has more than 100 courts. Now a Vero resident, she’s looking forward to playing on the new Pocahontas courts.
“There were four tennis courts and they took two of them and made six pickleball courts. We can’t wait!” She also enjoys the Sebastian courts, which are lighted, extending play opportunities. “People come here to play from Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie and they’re so appreciative. They say our groups here are so nice and friendly.”
As to the name, some say it was named for the Pritchards’ family dog, Pickles. But according to Pritchard’s wife, Joan, the name came “after I said it reminded me of the Pickle Boat in crew, where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats. Pickles the dog wasn’t on the scene for two more years. The dog was named for the game”
For more information, call Roberts at 231-5826.