Pickleball takes the stage with inclusivity for all
Jack Sayers, director of the pickleball program at the airport health club, plays pickleball with a partner at the Howarth Park courts (Photo:Sloane Crocker, The Puma Prensa)
By Sloane Crocker, staff writer
Pickleball is a well accepted sport, known by many as a combination of agility and strategy with the added appeal of bringing together players of all ages. However, some may dismiss the sport as a pastime for retirees, while for others the name may not hold any meaning outside of the tangy pickled vegetable. Should you hold any of these opinions, the time has come to enlighten yourself, to step out on the court, paddle in hand, and let the experience speak for itself. Once the ball is flying, all previous misconceptions are sure to melt away.
From its conception, pickleball was meant to be experienced by people of all ages to face off on the court. According to USA Pickleball, the game was born on a summer day in 1965, when Joel Pritchard, a Washington state congressman, along with friend Bill Bell, returned from golfing to find their families afflicted with a bad case of boredom. Eager to raise the spirits, Pritchard and Bell searched the property for an activity to pass the time, coming up with a badminton net, ping pong paddles, and a wiffle ball. As the genius of the game became apparent, rules were set into place with the intent of creating a game that the whole family could play together (USA Pickleball). Clearly, pickleball was never meant to be exclusive to the older community, but instead a celebration of competition and camaraderie across the ages. “It’s just so cool that people of all ages can play [pickleball] together. It’s so inclusive,” said Jack Sayers, director of the pickleball program at the Airport Health Club in Santa Rosa.
This inclusive nature may intrigue you, yet perhaps you are still unsure what the sport truly entails. Wonder no further, as according to Sayers, pickleball is similar to tennis, yet “much smaller, playing with a plastic wiffle ball and plastic paddles, and mainly oriented towards doubles.” Sayers feels that the sport’s surge of popularity in recent years is largely due to this smaller size, as you don’t have to quickly traverse across such an expansive court and can converse with those you are playing with throughout the game. Also, he feels that pickleball is a “more strategic game.” Players largely stay on the “kitchen” line throughout the game, which is seven feet from the net where they strike and volley the ball back and forth while planning the best shot to garner a point. However, don’t be fooled by the smaller area of play. “The sport, especially competitively, requires some particular skills and conditioning in order to be successful,” said Jordan Henry, Maria Carrillo High School English teacher and pickleball devotee. Playing the game is certainly no walk in the park, but instead is a means by which to increase fitness while thoroughly enjoying yourself.
Perhaps this sounds like the perfect activity to enjoy with your friends and family on a sunny day, but where can you find a place to play? Due to the recognition that the sport has found in recent years, there are plenty of locations within a reasonable distance that boast pickleball courts. “The main places to play in Santa Rosa are Finley Park and Howarth Park, and in Rohnert Park, Sunrise Park,” said Jack Sayers. Jordan Henry adds that she often plays at Galvin Park along with Howarth Park and has heard that Finley is home to “an awesome competitive league” for those looking to step up the challenge. What’s more, if you find yourself with no one to join you in a day of pickleball, fear not! “Pickleball is a really easy game to join, even if you're a beginner. People will just naturally invite you into a game, and it’s a super friendly community sport, which is very unique,” said Sayers.
Maybe you are looking for competition a bit stiffer than a casual get-together at the pickleball court. Though there are not yet any high schools with official teams in the area, hope is not lost. Sayers encourages students to “start by finding a group of people and just get out there and play a lot.” From there, he suggests that, should you want to pursue the sport further, you could “find a PE teacher or somebody in the athletic department from the school to sponsor you and reach out to other schools.” Henry is on board as well, stating that she “would love to see pickleball become a school sport!” She feels that it is “so fun to be a part of, but also a thrill to watch.” Furthermore, for all the skeptics out there, she reiterates the idea that pickleball is a great game for youth, challenging students to “get out on the court and play before they call it an ‘old folk's’ sport. Game on!”
If this article isn’t enough to convince you to join the ever-growing crowd of avid pickleballers, then get out there and give it a try for yourself! Gather your friends and family, head to the court, and prepare to be enthralled by the extraordinary sport that is pickleball.