Save the date: Saturday 10 October is World Pickleball Day.
What is pickleball you ask? A cross between ping-pong, badminton and tennis, it is the fastest growing sport in America and local advocate Tony Morgan says it is attracting more than its fair share of attention right here in the Hunter.
Pickleball, which boasts more than three million players in the US, was imported to Australia just five years ago and quickly began to make a name for itself on courts across the region.
Newcastle venues will join others across the globe this month in an international day spent celebrating the sport.
While its current players are predominantly in the over-55s age bracket, Tony says the demographic is changing.
“It’s taking off in Newcastle, every week it’s attracting new players of all ages,” he said.
“In Florida it’s very popular with the over 55s because it’s easier on the body.
“It attracts a lot of ex-tennis players who want the same challenge but have found the body can’t keep up.
“Basically, anywhere there’s badminton courts you can introduce it.
“Some lifestyle villages are even including purpose-built pickleball courts in their building plans.”
Pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court with paddles and a perforated plastic ball, which is hit over a net.
The game, invented in 1965, was the product of three American fathers – Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum – after complaining about their children’s apparent “boredom” during the school holidays.
It has evolved from its original handmade equipment and, according to the USA Pickleball Association, is being played at an additional 85 new venues per month.
“It can be played indoors or outdoors, so its appeal is extensive,” Tony said.
“We were making plans to introduce the sport in schools pre-COVID.
Like all backyard legends, origins as to the name ‘pickleball’ hold many different theories, especially considering the lack of any pickles involved.
According to US co-founder Joel Pritchard, his wife Joan started calling the game pickleball because “the combination of different sports reminded me of the pickle boat in crew where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats”.
However, co-founder Barney McCallum claims the game was officially named after the Pritchards’ Cocker Spaniel ‘Pickles’ who would chase the ball and run off with it.
Regardless of the historical discrepancies, Rathmines resident and pickleball player Kris Jepsen says the game is thrilling.
“The first time I heard the word Pickleball I almost fell off my chair laughing,” she said.
“I decided to give it a go and what fun it was. I’m 75 now and I play three times a week.
“It’s a game where I can use my old skills from tennis, badminton, and table tennis.
“It’s fun, it’s exercise and it’s company, and I love it.
“You don’t need to know anything, just belt the hell out of a plastic ball.
“Some of the old tennis players are vicious.”
After COVID-19 destroyed hopes of Newcastle hosting the Pickleball National Championships this year, the former steel city will welcome the opportunity in October 2021.
Contact Pickleball Australia Association on Facebook for more information.
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