Maybe, just maybe

This from today’s newspaper article on Black Pickleball possibilities :

You are welcome:’ A Black Charlotte pickleball club is creating inclusion and culture BY MYLES MANOR UPDATED JUNE 27, 2024 10:41 AM Kayla Brooks hosts Rally’s pick up & play pickle ball events monthly at Rally. Troyonna Adams, Zenith Creative Media A Charlotte-based pickleball organization is rethinking how Black people view the popular leisure activity. Black Pickleball & Co., founded by Kayla Brooks in 2023, aims to improve the socioeconomic mobility of Black communities by involving them in a sport that is growing in popularity. Brooks says pickleball provides opportunities for professionals to network with each other. “Societies function and people have opportunities based on loose ties,” she said. “It’s not necessarily your best friend, but you know a person enough, and they know you enough that if you need a professional service, you can ask them, and you have that connection from it [pickleball].” Pickleball, which was created in 1965, is considered the fastest-growing sport in the world, with about 13.6 million active players, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. However, only 7.3 percent of documented pickleball players in the United States are Black. Brooks was hesitant to begin playing pickleball herself because, when she was once invited to play, she told a friend, “Black people don’t play pickleball.” These days, Brooks is now directing initiatives to make Charlotte’s pickleball scene more welcoming to Black people. The group has hosted events and pickleball games at Rally and Lab City in Charlotte to engage a new demographic that was previously overlooked. “Part of bringing Black people into this space is not to assimilate to the culture,” Brooks told The Charlotte Observer. “I want them to feel community.” Black Pickleball & Co. hosts events for Charlotteans to connect and enjoy community not just play pickleball. Troyonna Adams Troyonna Adams, Zenith Creative Media REIMAGINING THE COUNTRY CLUB EXPERIENCE Now, Black Pickleball & Co. hosts matches at Rally every month, including a recent Juneteenth event held on June 19. Brooks says the partnership with Rally is a sign that the organization is heading in the right direction. “We aim to radically reimagine the country club experience for a new generation of activity-seekers, and a big part of that is opening up the racquet sport world to communities that have historically been excluded from it,” Rally co-founders Megan Charity and Barret Worthington said in a joint statement to the Observer. “We are honored to have been a launchpad for Kayla to build BPC into the huge success it is today. “We’ve been so inspired by the team and the community that Kayla has built around a genuine love of the game. They motivate us to work harder every day to make Rally the most inclusive and welcoming community possible.” BUILDING COMMUNITY COMES BEFORE PICKLEBALL Brooks hopes promoting Black participation in pickleball can create a space where people can feel comfortable with new experiences. “A lot of Black people miss their seat at the table simply because they don’t play these sports,” said Brooks about the history of Black people not participating in large numbers in sports like pickleball, golf and tennis. To date, more than 500 people have attended Black Pickleball & Co. pickleball events since last August, according to Brooks. “Everyone who comes to BPC is not Black. Everyone is not a millennial. Everyone who comes to BPC does not look or dress a certain way, and we’re very proud of that,” she said. Other pickleball organizations tend to focus on bringing together people who play pickleball, Brooks says. Black Pickleball & Co. focuses on community first and pickleball second. “A lot of people in Charlotte are looking for community, and I think that’s what makes us different from other pickleball organizations is that a lot of other groups are looking for people who like to play pickleball,” she said. “On the converse, we are just looking for people.” Black Pickleball & Co. is not just focused on Black people playing pickleball. It wants pickleball to be a catalyst for friendships, business relationships, and enrichment for participants. “Come in your bright colors, come with everything that you are, and you are welcome in this space,” said Brooks.

This taken from a 2019 blog entitled THE ENEMY AT THE GATE?

  1. 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).”
  2. 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.
  3. My guess is the links between pickleball and tennis and not only many new players, but some very talented players,will emerge.

THIRD WORLD WAR

THIRD WORLD WAR (COMMENTS-ON RACE, RETIREMENT, INTERVIEWS, ETC. )

But first–the coming war!

Lot of serious stuff coming down currently.  Seems like we’ve been worried about   WORLD WAR III since the end of  WW II!.  I remember WWII ending.  I was five years old.  We lived right next to the fire station and “Chiefy’”Martin let the siren blow all day, when the ending was announced.

Not to belittle our current conflicts,  a surprise portends.  WW III will not be men vs women,  or east vs west, black vs white, or even Israel vs Arabs.

With Americans leading the way, it may be tennis vs pickleball!

It could start with “sound rage “—A home owner awakened too early ( like lawnmower rage }.  Or an altered net not returned to proper height.

Even more frightening concern deals with gyms.  People know pickleball is better played indoors.    Soon,, somewhere with nuclear resolve, a crotchety bunch of old people will challenge for use of the gym.  Long surrendered to limitless hoopsters, shock abounds when half the gym footage is converted to pickleball and some scrawny old mfers.  Could be a little thing :  Turn that boombox down,  or “go back to New Jersey”.  

Today is  November 1,   2023.  Today our newspaper ( Raleigh’s “News and Observer”) features the growth of pickleball within our area . A 30 court site with various court games featured ( largely pickleball ) in Raleigh.

  An article on Cary, NC’s totally indoors facility is accompanied by a rendering that is impressive.

*My old home town (Wilson, NC) is building a 4 million $ facility with 12 pickleball courts, plus a tournament capable viewing stadium. 

Good news– Two of the facilities include a sizable number of new tennis courts too!

************************************************

* A HISTORY OF PICKLEBALL BLOGS by tp

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 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!

*FLASHBACK TEN YEARS : “USTA–Buy Pickleball !”

Good News 2—The pressure from Pickleball enthusiam will build more tennis courts the next 10 years than tennis only facilities! NOTE : School facilities were built for 6 singles matches. Boy’s !. There were no girls teams. Admnistrators, school boards, athletic directors—build a minimum battery of eight courts. Line them for pickleball too. Teach pickleball the first half of the semester, tennis the second. 

HINT,HINT–The two games are not mutually exclusive.

Bad news for USTA tennis leagues. The audience on TV ,reflected almost totally “Senior” fandom. A considerable % of your base. 

*My guess is the demand for pickleball has created more court construction than any recent variable.

  • 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. 

*  Bad news for USTA tennis leagues. The audience on TV ,reflected almost totally “Senior” fandom. A considerable % of your base. 

Good news 3 –Pickleball , handled properly, can add a new base to the USTA. For years minority kids have been a target for growth. Pickleball is so easy to learn and inexpensive, the opportunity is a DUH? Tennis courts lined for dual use (about 100$ ) At public schools, municipal recreation courts, empty condo developments and other unused courts.

Once kids have fun and realize a tennis court”ain’t a bad place” –wouldn’t tennis garner some recruits?

And let’s face it, if new people never play tennis , won’t new pickleballers be better off. Than Video addicts, other pitfalls? ADULTS TOO?

*Bad news for USTA tennis leagues. The audience on TV ,reflected almost totally “Senior” fandom. A considerable % of your base. 

Good news 3 –Pickleball , handled properly, can add a new base to the USTA. For years minority kids have been a target for growth. Pickleball is so easy to learn and inexpensive, the opportunity is a DUH? Tennis courts lined for dual use (about 100$ ) At public schools, municipal recreation courts, empty condo developments and other unused courts.

Once kids have fun and realize a tennis court”ain’t a bad place” –wouldn’t tennis garner some recruits?

And let’s face it, if new people never play tennis , won’t new pickleballers be better off. Than Video addicts, other pitfalls? ADULTS TOO?

*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 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.

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.

*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.

NORTH STATE, NORTH COUNTRY (18 )

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won’t come again

****************

Let me make sure I’ve got this right:

I’m watching Jack Sock playing Pickleball, with a full audience in my homestate of North Carolina , on the Tennis Channel ? Am I dreaming or weren’t McEnroe, Aggassi, Roddick, Michael Chang and Steffi Graff on the same channel playing the same game earlier this month ?

Misprint ? My old home town (Wilson, NC) is building a 4 million $ facility with 12 pickleball courts, plus a tournament capable viewing stadium.

Nearby Raleigh NC , the same with about 30 pickleball, 30 tennis. And PADL ball?

Good news—both facilities include a sizable number of new tennis courts too!

FLASHBACK TEN YEARS : “USTA–Buy Pickleball !”

Good News 2—The pressure from Pickleball enthusiam will build more tennis courts the next 10 years than tennis only facilities!

HINT,HINT–The two games are not mutually exclusive.

Bad news for USTA tennis leagues. The audience on TV ,reflected almost totally “Senior” fandom. A considerable % of your base.

Good news 3 –Pickleball , handled properly, can add a new base to the USTA. For years minority kids have been a target for growth. Pickleball is so easy to learn and inexpensive, the opportunity is a DUH? Tennis courts lined for dual use (about 100$ ) At public schools, municipal recreation courts, empty condo developments and other unused courts.

Once kids have fun and realize a tennis court”ain’t a bad place” –wouldn’t tennis garner some recruits?

And let’s face it, if new people never play tennis , won’t new pickleballers be better off. Than Video addicts, other pitfalls? ADULTS TOO?

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled

THE ENEMY AT THE GATE ? ( 29 )

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.

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.

.

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.

PICKLEBALL

A dog named Pickle chased the ball. So the founders named it “Pickleball.” I doubt if they had any idea it would become this big. Goggle it, if it hasn’t gotten to your area yet. It is coming.
Soon. Particularly if you live in a retirement area, or where it is warm, or near the beach. One facility in Florida features 104 courts specifically for Pickleball. They are packed, dawn to dusk.
As a “tennis person” I hear the grumbles. Much like the football people were (some still are) about soccer. Takes their people, business, fans.
I recently convinced our retirement community to line off two tennis courts with Pickleball boundaries. Easy, inexpensive. I can hear play from my kitchen window at those courts. Pickleballs make a louder sound. I’m hearing that sound a lot recently. I went there last week when I heard them playing. I inadvertently heard one player tell another, “…that’s the old coach who got them to line these courts!”
Funny what you become. At Elon University I convinced the school to dye a campus lake that was, well, just brown. At first they called the new color “tidy bowl”. Soon it was praised. Did the same thing at Wofford College, simply mentioning the weak beer-colored entrance lake there to then Athletics Director, Danny Morrison.
“The man who dyed the lakes”. “The man who brought us Pickleball!” Positive up to now?
Forty years ago as the director of a local junior tennis tournament I backed my van over the trophies. Coincidental, but girls only. Little skirts and breasts everywhere. Still today some middle aged woman is apt to bark at me: You are the guy who ran over our trophies! Male chauvinist pig was popular among 12 years old then.
When I moved to that town there were 5 tennis courts in the town. Twenty years later there were seventy four. At one point there were forty ranked juniors from that village. Now there are none. During that time Cary, NC featured no ranked juniors. Now there are nearly 100. What a community tennis effort by that city.
My tenure at Elon in Alamance County in NC was blessed with the new friendship of Jim Toney. There are “tennis angels”, living and dead. Jim just changed courts. Over twenty years there were some 3 million dollars worth of tennis facilities built throughout the county. From schools to clubs, indoor and out. Good job, Toney.
The University’s tennis center, The Jimmy Powell Tennis Center, became the blue print for a dozen new arenas in the southeast. And dictated that they were built in a much more attractive and functional way. A man leaves his mark. Or, in the words of the great philosopher, Pogo, “…it happened during my administration.”
An established church my friends help found, just closed. They got down to eleven members, one who still worked. Churches are struggling. Country clubs, and golf courses. The kids have had to move away to get jobs. Sunday fried chicken after church? Civic clubs, and on and on.
Things change. I fear for tennis. High schools and juniors striving for excellence. “I can play tennis on a video game and not have to run”, Oh yeah?
Tennis saved itself with the development of the league players; frankly, led by women. Golf can’t seem to understand that development of women and children’s play may be the only wise business choice. A “fun” course, or modified easier course, a course for women that the average woman can enjoy without listening to the dying throng gripe about them spending being “in the way.”
“Adapt or perish” true today? Is hard work passe for the masses.
The truth is tennis IS a lifetime game. For many. My friend had a tee shirt that said,”…if you ain’t got a limp you ain’t done nothing”. Lot of old time tennis people have kept the bone doctors hopping. The reasons for this new tennis-like game’s success are manifold: Easy to learn, inexpensive, no lessons needed, kids learn to play in 30 minutes, courts are easy to build. But the best of all is the value to the AARP crowd. Older people can stay active much longer. The workout is strenuous, but restricted movement will yield longevity that doesn’t cause the joint damage of tennis, jogging, and other activities.

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.
One of many conversations with Mr. Toney ended with him looking me in the eye and saying, DON’T YOU QUIT.

PICKLEBALL 2

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

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

JOINING HANDS FOR HEALTH

Enclosed are two documents that describe the growth of pickleball.
The intent of this effort is to join the efforts and opportunities of tennis and pickleball to the mutual benefit of both games. More importantly is the personal belief that cooperation will yield substantial health benefits to American children.
Evidence of the “tsunami” of pickleball is in the enclosures. All parties should be aware of the potential to ride the wave to better 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.

CROATAN HIGH SCHOOL “PILOT PROGRAM”.
Our three tennis courts need to be resurfaced. Left in their current state (no surface covering) soon the asphalt will crack, the cracks will widen and the courts will be ruined.
Suggestion 1. Resurface the courts.
2. Line all three courts for tennis and pickleball. Pickleball dimensions fit inside a tennis court (120×80), and are identical to badminton dimensions (44×20), Gyms with badminton courts are ready for play. Note: Tennis purists will howl that the pickleball lines on a tennis court confuse the tennis players. This lasts little time and can be refuted by multi-use lines in almost any gym.
3. Assume the best. Incorporate pickleball into the curriculum. Use it in the Physical Education program. IT WILL BE THE BEST LEADUP, OR CARRYOVER GAME TO TENNIS EVER TRIED (why? See virtues listed in all articles, but remember FUN as the hook. Youngsters aren’t impressed by “lifetime game”. Or “health benefits.” They don’t want to pay $30.- for USTA mandatory membership. They often can’t afford the time, expenses, and cultural roadblocks to be a tennis player. Is this not true? Is it not worth lining a few courts to prove it?

RIDE THE WAVE, CROATAN COUGARS. BE LEADERS.

JIM SHEEHAN-COACH
TOM PARHAM- ASSISTANT VOLUNTEER COACH

Ps—further comments can be found at:
https://littlegreenbookoftennis.com/2017/02/16/a-critical-mass-or-pickleball-3-186/

https://littlegreenbookoftennis.com/2017/02/02/pickleball-2-184/

https://littlegreenbookoftennis.com/2016/04/12/pickleball-149/