Adding Pickleball

USPTA Invited Guest Adding Pickleball to Your Program

By Alison Mays, USPTA

There is a reason that Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States. As a tennis teaching professional for almost two decades, and a competitive tennis player for even longer, I was less than excited to see public tennis courts being converted into Pickleball courts. I didn’t understand the appeal of this game-and what was with that ridiculous name? I scoffed and frowned as I watched crowds of Pickleball players throng to the newly renovated courts. I shook my head in disdain and grumbled, until one day I was invited to play. Mostly out of curiosity, I decided to give it a go. I held the lightweight paddle, resembling a ping-pong paddle on steroids, and the airy, plastic ball in my inquisitive hands. It wasn’t until I gave the ball a thwack a time or two in a rapid exchange, that the veil was lifted, and I became a believer! I proceeded to play for a couple of hours that day, learning my way around the abbreviated court and how to navigate the foreign scoring system. Once I had a handle on the basics, I had a permanent grin on my face while whacking that ball! So THIS is what it’s all about. Anxious to play again, as soon as possible, I was hoping to entice my husband to play. He is also a USPTA Tennis Professional and tennis enthusiast, and he was even more reluctant to open his heart to this sport.

“That’s a game for OLD people!” He jeered. “We are NOT ready for that!” he stated, with a monumental eye roll. While it is true, the game gained much of its popularity being played nationwide in community centers and retirement facilities, it is actually played by all ages and has its own national governing body, the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA). The first US Open Professional Pickleball Tournament was held in 2016 by the IPTPA (International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association). I was able to stream recent US Open Pickleball matches on the TV to reassure him that this was indeed a game of speed, power, and finesse, and not in the same classification as shuffleboard! His transformation was swift as well. We purchased our paddles and a few Pickleballs to practice with and headed to the courts. The group of Picklers (the official name of players of Pickleball, per my internet sources) already playing on the adjacent court, graciously invited us to join the group.

We have been playing regularly ever since! The courts are outside, with space allowing for all to maintain social distancing. We utilize our hand sanitizer each time we come off the court and before handling our water or towels. We play with Picklers of all ages! College kids, seniors, and even juniors share the courts and make for exciting matches. I imagine you may be wondering if playing Pickleball negatively impacts playing tennis? I wondered this as well but have come to find that once acclimated to the differences, I have no issues going back and forth between the two sports. I have found that my volleying in tennis has improved as a result of the quick exchanges volleying in Pickleball. There is simply no need to choose one or the other!

Tennis players have a bit of an advantage in taking up Pickleball. Nice groundstrokes and good footwork make an impressive foundation for play. The popularity of this sport is exploding, not only in the US but also abroad. Since partnering with the IPTPA in 2019, USPTA is encouraging pros to pursue certification in Pickleball. There are three levels of certification available: Coach, Beginner/intermediate Instructor, and that of Certified Elite Pickleball Teaching Professional.

Having seen firsthand the numbers of Picklers grow exponentially, the value of adding this sport to a tennis club is a huge opportunity. Memberships will grow as word gets out of a Pickleball program. Because of the shorter lever arm of the paddle, and the air-light ball, young players are better able to manage handeye coordination and will have quick success with keeping the ball in play. This success will lead to enjoyment which will lead to the desire to continue to play and grow. This can be used as a progression to tennis. Parents will love being able to play competitively with their children and grandchildren! Senior adults also benefit from the lighter equipment and decreased playing area, as they enjoy the challenge of the quick exchanges. Developing camaraderie with Pickleball social events and family activities for all to enjoy, is a win-win for tennis facilities to continue to diversify and grow. Pondering Pickleball

State News

Alabama USPTA Alabama is proud to welcome our newest Board members. Alabama Board: John Beaube, JC Freeman, and our new board members Al Garret and Rachel Nix. Congratulations. We are excited to announce we will be holding a SPRING FORWARD tennis workshop at in Huntsville, AL. location TBA on March 20th 10:00am. We invite all to join us.

Arkansas This year more than ever we have provided pros a great opportunity to build their business while overcoming some of the tennis specific hurdles we face. Public or private facility, the increased numbers have made us rely more on technology to communicate with our clients, and in some cases on each other to share events, courts, information, and knowledge.

We are excited to announce that our pros association will help to form a High School Tennis Coaches Association. We have some experienced pros and state leaders ready to dive in. Inconsistent rules, scoring, and some inexperienced coaching is hindering the growth and quality of tennis in our state. We will get together the weekend of the AR Annual Meeting in January. Times and date coming soon.

Georgia USPTA Georgia is very excited to host our 2021 Winter Workshop Saturday, December 11th, at Atlanta Athletic Club. The workshop will be heavily focused on junior development from 9:00am-12noon with Dr. Mark Kovacs and Dr. Neeru Jayanthi confirmed to speak. Lunch will follow along with awards presentations. Immediately after lunch we will have a drill exchange focused on team practices followed by a pickleball drill and play social. We look forward to seeing fellow Georgia teaching professionals and high school coaches at this conference. Be on the lookout for additional information. Thanks for all of your support through the pandemic and the countless hours you’ve spent making people’s lives feel “normal” during an otherwise difficult time.

Kentucky We welcome David White, a KY past president, back to our Board. Joining him are Christy Herring, Noel Clayton, Tyler Owens and current president Tim McCollum. We hope to have an active year in 2022 with a lot of good ideas from this board.

Louisiana It’s the last part of the year and things are slowing down with leagues and programs. This is the time for a player to make any major changes because they don’t have be ready for prime time next week. The same for us. Now that you have a chance to catch your breath, use it to plan for next year. Show your members and students something new. Nobody wants to be bored. The Louisiana division of the USPTA will be in great shape for the next few years. Our new board has the ambition and energy of Lyndsey Mixon and the experience of Johnny Wahlborg, so I’m anxious to see the results. Mississippi Save the date! Our in-person state workshop will be held on January 7th 2022 at River Hills Club in Jackson, MS. The board has agreed to serve another term. We hope to add more regional workshops during 2022. Two workshops held during summer of 2021 were well received and attended. Thank you for your continued support.

North Carolina As we come to the end of another tennis season and to my time as the North Carolina president, I can only think ahead of what is to come and put the past year and a half behind. Due to the pandemic the organization embraced remote learning for it’s members, which has been a positive.

The Cardio Training course that is coming up November 13 in Charlotte at Lifetime is a chance to add another tool to the toolbox and the wallet. The 2022 NC board is extremely experienced and well poised to give our USPTA pros an experience that is deserved. They are: • Scott Handback – President • Karen Rembert – Vice President • Sean Smith – Secretary/ Treasurer

Good luck to all and I hope to see many of you at future meetings and conferences.

South Carolina Welcome to our new board Craig Wells, Dean Mays, and Tom Ruth. Dean had arm surgery recently, and will possibly have more, so he has backed off to let Craig and Tom lead the way. USPTA SC can use another board member. If you have ever been interested, now is the time to grab the opportunity. Contact Craig at craigw@g.clemson.edu.

Tennessee Hello from Tennessee! We had a busy fall around the state in every division. Junior tournaments have come back with both USTA and UTR events almost every weekend. League play is in full swing, and college tennis has had full fall schedules. As we roll into the final months of 2021, we have several opportunities for our members to pick up continuing education credits at Lunch and Learns around the state. • David Poole – Johnson City, November 1st • Courtney Collins – Murfreesboro, Adams Tennis Center, November 9th • Dan Beetle (New President) – Knoxville, November 12th • Meg Bandy – Chattanooga, Strang Voges Tennis Center, November 16th

I want to congratulate the new TN board; they will serve you well. In the same breath, I would like to thank you for allowing me to serve these last few years. It has been an honor and a terrific learning experience. I am more convinced than ever that I am in a great industry, populated by so many of my favorite people. Now more than ever, we all have the opportunity to make a positive and lasting impact on both the playing and coaching communities in our areas. I hope you all are encouraging our next generation of USPTA Professionals; they are the future of this sport. — Meg Bandy