According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, pickleball has grown an unexpected 223.5% in the past three years. This number shows no sign of slowing down as people of all ages are reaching for their paddles.
Pickleball appeals to every generation due to its easy-to-learn rules and low-impact exercise. The sport’s similarity to tennis, badminton and ping pong makes learning to play effortless regardless of the player’s physical capability.
“There’s no age range for pickleball,” explained Matt Parnell, the director of Recreation and Wellness at the University of Mount Union. “There’s no certain activity level. You play as much as you would like and that’s a nice way to get involved.”
The University of Mount Union has two indoor courts with permanent lines that host free play available to students, faculty and staff. However, they tear down the pickleball equipment when they’re not in use. Students who want to become more involved can join the pickleball club, which originated after a student athlete approached Recreation and Wellness.
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From beginners to athletes, the club now supports players of different skill levels. Around 50% of club members are student athletes. While students’ schedules can be inconsistent, club attendence varies but overall has good turnout.
To expand their pickleball offerings, Recreation and Wellness reached out to the local Parks and Recreation because students wanted to play outside during the mild fall temperatures.
“The city’s Parks and Recreation department couldn’t reserve the outdoor courts for us because it’s so popular,” said Parnell. “They said our students were welcome to show up any day. On Monday evenings when the weather allows, they gather at Silver Park in Alliance, Ohio. Sometimes, they’re taking all the courts and other times they’re taking up two.”
Also recognizing the benefits of outdoor recreation, Temple University Campus Recreation has recently opened three outdoor pickleball courts which are used for intramural and pick-up games. Students who aren’t familiar with pickleball can attend Learn to Play sessions that cover the basics, including how to hold the paddle, what the court lines signify and other rules.
“I purchased a prewritten lesson plan to help me formulate how to teach the Learn To Play sessions,” explained Alexis Schmit, the associate director of Fitness at Temple University. “It’s very basic and starts with how to get the feel for a ball and paddle. Not everyone has hand-eye coordination, so this program meets everyone’s needs.”
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To give students space to play and maximize space, pickleball court lines were added to preexisiting outdoor basketball courts. The space alternates between basketball and pickleball programming daily, giving students who wish to engage in either sport ample time.
“We’ve seen a lot of reservations come in for this space because it’s something students want to do,” said Schmit. “Even on off days, students can play pickleball if the basketball folks aren’t using it.”
Pickleball programming is in such high demand that Temple University Campus Recreation has expanded its typical offerings. When temperatures drop and outdoor activities slows, the pickleball paddles and nets move indoors.
“We offer programming that’s called Net Night,” said Schmit. “We put up net sports in our indoor basketball courts and then students show up and play. The indoor facilities aren’t painted for pickleball — and it’s not the same as being outside — but it’s been highly requested by our students.”
While Temple University’s pickleball courts alternate between pickleball and basketball, Zach Kula, the assistant director of Programs at CENTERS LLC at Marshall University, warned it may turn some students away.
“It’s not the same court material that pickleball is typically played on,” Kula explained. “We get some complaints and that does foster some challenges from those who are advanced. They won’t come in and play because it’s a basketball court.”
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Marshall University Campus Recreation operates three indoor pickleball courts that host intramural games, casual play and drop-in tournaments. Kula noticed while students enjoy learning how to play, they prefer playing with fellow classmates.
“This current generation of college students want to build a sense of community and be in a social environment,” said Kula. “We’re finding the most success in smaller team sports versus singles as students just want to play together.”
In a post COVID-19 pandemic world, Schmit has noticed there’s a decrease in student engagement campus-wide. Students are relearning the interpersonal skills needed to participate within their community. Fortunately, pickleball can serve as an avenue for social expression.
“We get students with different skills and abilities,” explained Schmit. “Sometimes, experienced players jump into the beginner sessions because they either want to meet people or want to play with others. Experienced students come into our lobby when the Learn to Play sessions aren’t full and ask us, ‘Can I join?’”
Overall, providing social programming such as pickleball encourages students to accumulate slowly into campus recreation offerings while simultaneously focusing on their physical health. The sport’s popularity shows no sign of slowing down as pickleball programming is increasing engagement across campus recreation centers nationwide.
“In 10 years, if pickleball is dying down, what was the harm of investing in putting lines in our field house?” asked Parnell. “It’s not going to hurt us down the road for investing and having a good run. If it’s only 10 years, then we served the campus for 10 years.”
