The link beiow will take you to February 2023 articles published by TENNIS INDUSTRY.

Scroll down to the third article for the United Stayes Tennis Association’s “Guidance” for Tennis and Pickleball.

Click to access Statement-of-guidance.pdf

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm&ogbl#inbox/FMfcgzGrcjQDCKvlNQBCpKqZHQgQTqSF

FINALLY. (Below there are a number of coments about pickleball. Maybe some progress.)

FEB. 2019

I heard a rumor that the USTA tried to buy the rights to pickleball.  No deal.

1. Try again.  Why?
2. Pickleball has sold itself already.
3. The USTA has never sold a leadup game that can match pickleball’s potential.
4. Pickleball can add 8 million USTA memberships over the next few years.
5. How many kids like the Williams sisters didn’t have a father who made that effort? Minority kids, as well as poor kids can gain access to this game.  And it will erase the feeling that “…that game is too rich for me (or mine).”
6. The issue bigger than pickleball, the USTA, or tennis, is the health of our youngsters. Public education should include embrace pickleball by lining school tennis courts for pickleball, and including it in the physical education curriculum.
7. My guess is the links between pickleball and tennis and not only many new players, but some very talented players,will emerge.

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2. “PICKLEBALL ” (FEB 2019 )

Pickleball could be an obvious first choice as the best lead-up game for our junior tennis programs.   The mass of people are unaware of our  current programs to address junior participation.  Awareness of pickleball popularity grows daily.

Here’s a thought for young turks who want to work and make some money. Any condo developer will put a minimum of two tennis courts on his property. Has to. Why? Because the competition has as least two.
You ride by them daily. And no one is playing on them. Owners don’t keep them up. How about this: Learn how to line a Pickleball court on those two virgin courts. Go from hell to Dixie convincing owners to stripe them. Put some pickleball rackets and balls (they are inexpensive) and leave them at the courts. Get some volunteers who know how to play on your courts at prime times and watch. “If you build it they will come”.
PLAY IS WHERE LIFE IS.
Burn all the health books. Diet and Exercise, nuff said. Tennis? Fine, but don’t knock anything that keeps you going.

Pickleball could be an obvious first choice as the best lead-up game for our junior tennis programs.   The mass of people are unaware of our  current programs to address junior participation.  Awareness of pickleball popularity grows daily

PICKLEBALL 2 (FEB 2019 )

Paragraph

SEE PICKLEBALL 1 (BLOG 149)
Just returned from the North Carolina Tennis Foundation’s TENNIS WEEKEND in Pinehurst.
I was shunned twice for mentioning pickleball. Tennis people are somewhat skeptical about pickleball.
When soccer exploded upon the American scene in the 70’s the football people reacted much the same way:”Soccer is taking away some of our best kids!” Russell Rawlings said soccer was football without linemen!
I had never seen or been to THE VILLAGES in mid-Florida. On a recent trip to Bradenton we stopped in to view the
“mecca of pickleball”. I think a new approach by the tennis people may be worth studying. Having observed attempts to teach tennis in public school physical education classes, maybe a switch to pickleball might be wiser. It is so much easier to learn (save the scoring system*). And, while the pickleball people will argue that their
game can stand on its own merits, perhaps there would be a “carryover” from mastery of pickleball to the more complex and expensive tennis process. And attract some audiences that shun tennis no matter how hard we try?
The easiest part of this is adaptation of existing facilities. Courts are the same size as a badminton court (44″ x  20″), needing only boundary lines on existing high school, recreation, or whatever tennis court. While these lines (and the different sound of the ball), bother the purists, these quickly become unnoticed.
A prediction, or a suggestion: This is already happening. Real estate often features two tennis courts that are for condominium villages. Most of these were built by an owner who, to compete, added two courts. Lonely and often in the front of the housing, most dwell out front, unused and unmaintained.
Why not line these courts for pickleball. Put out some rackets and balls in a container and watch what happens.
One last thought: Many tennis courts have been “left to seed”. A two court abandoned asphalt pad can be laid out to house 6 pickleball courts.

* Unfortunately pickleball also adapted a scoring system much like badminton. And, while this idea can be applied to colleges, I would go ahead and grant
a degree to any college student who can master the scoring.

A CRITICAL MASS ? OR PICKLEBALL ? (FEB 2019)

SOME THOUGHTS:
***Wouldn’t it be wise to use pickleball as a lead-up, or carryover game that will ultimately benefit tennis?
***Line school tennis courts for pickleball. Tennis purists will howl about the lines, but we are not talking about Wimbledon.  Almost all GYMS have multiple game lines. No one notices. Ps–while tennis nets are a tiny bit higher, who cares.
***Pickleball has a funny name (after a dog), yet its players swear by the CARDIO benefits.
***PICKLEBALL IS FUN—IMMEDIATELY. Most youngsters aren’t sold on “Tennis is a lifetime game.” Or, it’s good for your health. Fun is the HOOK.
***Don’t some Pilot programs merit a try? This is bigger than tennis or pickleball. Obesity, health, video games, mental health, and again–fun.
Rather than fight the “tsunami” and be overrun, why not ride the wave? USTA AND PICKLEBALL leaders should join forces.
The Outcome? In the long run what are the possibilities? 1. Both games will benefit 2. Each will have their own people.
3. Both games will benefit the players. 4. Some people who would not have played either will have some fun.

JOINING HANDS FOR HEALTH

Historically the patrons of American tennis have been, and still are, the UNITED STATES TENNIS ASSOCIATION (USTA). And most of their efforts are youth directed.
Currently the USTA has launched a new youth program.
The purpose of this letter is to open the minds of both games leaders to the unique and growing value in incorporating pickleball into youth programs through both organizations, and specifically through the school systems.
Why pickleball? It is FUN. It is easy to learn. It is inexpensive. It yields great cardiovascular benefits. It causes less long range joint injury. The courts need only to be lined on existing tennis courts (many currently unused or mis-used).
While this is simply a suggestion from a citizen with no “skin in the game’, it seems a “no –brainer” to invest a little effort to a moment that has come with little downside and tremendous possibilities for both games.

I started writing this blog in 2008. Topics range from the easter bunny to Bob Dylan. “Hits” or visits to the site are recorded. The last pickleball article (187) had a daily total that was three times more hits than any one single day. There was still the fear that pickleball will damage tennis.
NEWS FLASH: Tennis and pickleball should not fight each other. They have a mutual enemy, video games!

THE ENEMY AT THE GATE

I started writing this blog in 2008. Topics range from the easter bunny to Bob Dylan. “Hits” or visits to the site are recorded. The last pickleball article (187) had a daily total that was three times more hits than any one single day. There was still the fear that pickleball will damage tennis.
NEWS FLASH: Tennis and pickleball should not fight each other. They have a mutual enemy, video games!

REAL ISSUES?

1. NET HEIGHT–Option or local–Don’t alter the 3ft. net. Exception for high level Pickleball. Or perhaps Pickleball changes

2. USTA line rules. Option or local suggestion—treat all the line rules the same. While the USTA prohibits sanction for featuring Pickleball lines, it allows sanction of courts with the lines of their own shortened game. 99% of school courts don’t host sanction play.

Many remember football fighting the growth of America youth Soccer. Opposition to Title IX or Girls and Womens sports, Intergration, Gay athletes, paying college athletes. etc. My belief is Pickleball will similarly serve us well.