Pickleball Facts
Pickleball is a racket sport frequently played in physical education classes and recreation centers across North America. The game is played on a badminton court and is often described as a hybrid between tennis and badminton.
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History
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Congressman Joel Pritchard and two friends, William Bell and Barney McCallum, drew up the original rules for pickleball on Bainbridge Island, Washington, in 1965.
Name
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Pickleball was named after Pickles, the Pritchard family dog. A challenge in early pickleball matches was keeping the ball away from Pickles, who liked to chase after stray balls.
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Equipment
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The game is played with wooden or composite paddles and a bouncy plastic ball, similar to a Wiffle ball. The badminton net at center court is lowered to a height of 34 inches.
Variations
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Pickleball matches can be played as singles or doubles. In doubles play, both players on a team get a chance to serve before the ball is turned over to the other team.
Venues
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According to the USA Pickleball Association, as of 2008, there were 420 public pickleball venues in North America. This is a significant increase from the 39 venues listed in 2003. Pickleball courts were found in 43 states and four Canadian provinces (see References).
Tournaments
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Pickleball's first competitive tournament took place in the state of Washington in 1976. There are now more than 40 organized pickleball tournaments each year, including the USAPA National Tournament, conducted each November.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by John Beagle
