Saint Joseph, MO, US – Pickleball has busted onto the scene and everyone wants to get in on the action. From college campuses to recreational leagues to merchandise, pickleball is on the rise. What started as a backyard improvised game of badminton in 1965 has exploded today into a national sport for all ages and abilities.
St. Joseph alone has more than two dozen pickleball courts located at the Bodie Sports Complex, Hyde Park, Ricky Deans, and more.
So what has made this sport gain so much attention?
One member of the Pony Express Pickleball Club said it’s because it evens the playing field.
Roger Mapel the Pickleball Player said: “I consider it a great equalizer. There’s really no clear advantage of one category or group of person over the other, age-wise, gender-wise.”
He wasn’t the only one to say so.
Players at Ricky Deans said while the majority of sports leagues have restrictions on age and gender, pickleball provides a rare opportunity for an entire family to join in on the fun.
Jill Voltmer, the Pickleball Player said: “It doesn’t have gender or age boundaries. I will play with males and females alike. I have played with a person that is 75 years old and I’ve played with a person that’s 10 years old.”
Cameron Gilmore, the pickleball player also said: “It’s not really gender-exclusive. You know, a lot of sports, they separate men’s and women’s on tennis, on racquetball, whatever else you want to call it. But pickleball, you do see a lot of that co-ed play and a lot of that just like in national tournaments as well”.
