Have you noticed all the neon green wiffle balls bouncing onto the scene of your local park? If so, you’ve probably asked, what is this crazy game?
Maybe you have already caught the bug and are out there several times a week. If not, you might be soon. It’s time to grab a paddle and check it out. That’s right, move over tennis, make way for the game taking over the courts. It’s pickleball.
Love at First Slice
Why are people so drawn to pickleball?
I sat down with William Sebrans, 72, a pickleball enthusiast and a member of the Grass Valley Pickleball Club (GVPC) and asked him why he thought people become so quickly enamored with the game. He said:
“The simple answer is that pickleball is fun, and fun is addictive. And why is it so fun? It’s the optimal blend of accessible athletic play and social connection.”
He told me how having the ability to go to the courts, meet and then play with people from all walks of life makes pickleball a unique experience. Sebrans said:
“For social connection, it doesn’t get better than pickleball for welcoming all ages, genders, social, and relationship statuses onto one court with minutes of a first meeting- like you know, summer camp.”
Sebrans views shine a light on the rise in popularity and how pickleball is the ultimate melting pot. He said:
“Whatever your faith, politics, or employment- none of that matters when you come to the court.”
No wonder people are picking up paddles and heading to the local courts. It’s about having fun, getting some exercise, and building community. It makes sense why people all over the United States are so obsessed.
Community Starts with a Paddle
After talking with Sebrans, I reached out to Art Deleon, 64, president of the Grass Valley Pickleball Club to gain some insight on the sport. I wanted to hear his thoughts on how people find out about pickleball and what makes them keep playing. He said:
“I learned in Baja California. We were out on vacation with my wife, and her sister introduced us to the game.” He laughed at the name and said:
“I’m not playing no game called pickleball! What do you mean, pickleball?”
He explained further that after retiring, his wife asked again, and he decided to try it. He said:
“…So, she bought some paddles on Amazon, and we played, and, oh my God, I was hooked!”
Curious about why more people are playing, I wanted to know what benefits Deleon has seen in his life in particular. He replied:
“I would say the biggest one is camaraderie, meeting people.”
He went on to tell me how after retiring and then moving, he and his wife needed community, and finding pickleball was the answer. Finally, I got his opinion on pickleball’s rise in popularity and why people are so drawn to the game. He said:
“It must be the endorphins. There’s a lot of laughter. The people, when you first start at that level, don’t take themselves serious and it’s all about fun.”
It’s becoming clear that the love of the sport is tied in with the friendships established when playing the game. The idea that pickleball is not only a fun workout, but a means to build community, adds insight to why it is so popular.
Games with Benefits
As a bonus to getting out on the courts and enjoying the game, there are some social benefits that come with playing pickleball.
I spoke with Steve DeMartini, MD, 52, a local pathologist and prominent member of the Grass Valley Pickleball Club about pickleball’s ability to curb America’s loneliness epidemic and unite people through play. We talked about how during the pandemic we had to isolate and distance ourselves from one another, and how it created a disconnect. He said:
“Pickleball does the opposite. It brings everybody out to a sport, that everybody can just play. All social economic statuses.”
He explained how it doesn’t matter what you do for a living, or what your background or age is. Picking up a paddle, coming out to the courts, and joining a game clears the slate. He said:
“You have lawyers and doctors and big business hunters playing with maintenance guys and young kids in school, and there’s no regard for any of that status, just people enjoying. It’s a very social game.”
Then he told me about some of the social aspects of playing, and the bonds formed that go beyond the game. He said:
“Right now, there’s so much divisiveness in society, to have something in common that can bring us together rather than divide us, is one of the real powerful, I think, beautiful things about it.”
In a world where social interaction happens increasingly online, pickleball can only be played in person. It creates a space for people from all walks of life to come together and belong to a community. The spectrum is inclusive and welcoming, while challenging both your physical endurance and mental strength. It really is a sport for everyone.
The Fastest Growing Sport in America
Pickleball really hit the radar of the general public in the United States in 2019, when a serious spike in interest rose. With an astronomical growth rate of 311% in the last three years, pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America.
Although mostly played in The U.S., the sport is expanding internationally as well, with tournaments and games being played worldwide.
Local Changes
As demand rises, old tennis courts around the U.S. are being transformed into pickleball courts. Recently, in Penn Valley at Western Gateway Park, the cracked and broken, unused tennis courts were resurfaced and transformed into pickleball courts.
I inquired about the transformation of those courts. Deleon, president of GVPC said:
“I would say, the thing that was most [inspirational] was building those courts in Western Gateway Park. To go from something that was three tennis courts that were dilapidated and then with a group, a team effort, turn that, into what it became, was even better than what I had imagined.”
Thanks to the Grass Valley Pickleball Club and the community volunteers, there are now 10 brand new pickleball courts open for public use.
Places to Play
Locally, there are several clubs and courts available for players of all skill levels, from beginners all the way to advanced players.
In Grass Valley, near downtown, there is Memorial Park, where there are six courts, four of which have lights for nighttime play. In Penn Valley, at Western Gateway Park, you can find 10 newly renovated courts.
Grass Valley Pickleball Club serves the local area with reserved courts and times throughout the week, at both the locations previously mentioned. The membership fee is a yearly cost of $75 and comes with perks of club play times, a ladder style weekly tournament play, beginner instruction, and their ball machine, dubbed “The Big Leballski” for personal rental.
South Yuba Club, a member only facility, has several courts, beginner lessons, and events throughout the year. Although a club membership is needed, you can get just a pickleball pass and have access to their courts and limited facilities.
Give it a Try
If you are a student here at Sierra College, and are interested, check out the course catalog. Sierra College offers both beginner and intermediate pickleball instruction for credit. From its ease of accessibility to community building physical enjoyment, it’s obvious why pickleball is bouncing its way onto a court nearby, and into the hearts of those who try it. Playing brings out the child-like joy we all could use a dose of, so grab a paddle and head to your local court. See you there!
Reported and Written by Rachel Carnahan
