because the security and safety of everyone involved is paramount . They had to look into whether paddles could be used as weapons . Everything was inspected .”
Roger passed muster and wooden paddles were shipped to the jail . Once the due diligence was completed on the front end , Roger found himself in maximum security , surrounded by inmates charged with the most brutal of crimes .
“ The inmates had a variety of backgrounds ,” Rogers says , “ and every one of them was very cautious . For me , despite having a lot of pickleball training , I ’ m not used to that type of environment . Everyone was a little hesitant , but there are magical qualities about pickleball and , in no time , they were dropping the barriers .”
Roger says pickleball played right into the inmates ’ routines . “ There ’ s a zen-like quality to pickleball when you ’ re playing it ,” he says . “ You can ’ t think about anything else other than hitting the ball over the net . These are people who have tremendous stress in their lives — they live in anxiety , but once on the court , you could see the stress melt away , and they became incredibly joyful .”
Roger ’ s instruction was every day for a week . The schedule coincided with the daily recreational time of the inmates . The structure of their daily lives , he says , is important for keeping order in the jail .
At the end of his week , the administration was extremely supportive of the game . The superintendent was playing against the inmates , morale was up , and the exercise helped foster an environment that was less adversarial .
While he hasn ’ t been back to Chicago yet , Roger says he ’ s setting his sights on Washington state to teach at four sites in that correctional system . The vetting game is on once again , but Roger is optimistic things will proceed to plan once again .
“ Johnny Appleseed started with one apple , so I ’ m trying to be patient ,” he says . Roger ’ s hope is that he
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Everyone was a little hesitant , but there are magical qualities about pickleball and , in no time , they were dropping the barriers .”
can help make the country a little bit safer by helping to reform inmates so that they can better cope with the stresses of life once they ’ re released .
“ I read an awful lot — two to three hours a day . And the fact is , the U . S . has five percent of the world ’ s population , yet 22 percent of the world ’ s incarcerated people ,” he says . “ Ninety-eight percent will be released back into society , in our malls and our parks . If we can make them better people on the inside , it will be safer for all of us on the outside . It just connected with me — here ’ s an opportunity . Here ’ s an individual really trying to work on challenges they have with mental illness ( which afflicts a third of all inmates ), plus they ’ ve committed horrible crimes . Why not use pickleball as a metaphor for learning life skills , playing by the rules , and being a good teammate .”
Roger says he doesn ’ t go in preaching but lets the game speak for itself . Pickleball , he says , is a game of finesse , not power . And , like society , there ’ s a proper way to reach your goal . While Roger is extending his reach to more correctional facilities nationwide , he says anyone can do their part to enact change in their neighborhoods .
“ To be a great teacher takes two things — know more than your students , and be willing to share your passion with others . I encourage people to not consider their skill level but to consider their willingness to teach — at a senior center , a youth camp , whatever . For me , I prefer working with the toughest cases , guys I can help the most . It ’ s nice to teach at a high-end resort , but it ’ s a different kind of nice when I ’ m in this type of environment .” •
MAY / JUNE 2018 | MAGAZINE 21