AROUND THE WORLD
continued
The IFP Initiative—
Taking Pickleball Global
BY ALICE TYM
ourt construction, television segments,
In 2019, European organizers will have a European
a multitude of tournaments, and players
Grand Slam circuit beginning with tournaments in
lined up to play are all indicators of the
England, France and Spain.
rapid growth of pickleball in the United
A calendar of international events is in the works
States and Canada. But pickleball is
for the IFP webpage to help individual tournament
expanding worldwide, too, and the International
directors schedule events and promote regional
Federation of Pickleball (IFP) is working hard to
circuits. Promoting mutual recognition among the
encourage cooperation among the many national
member federations is key to spreading the sport.
federations.
For example, linking contacts with the federations in
It’s not easy to be a member of the IFP. Each
Singapore, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Taiwan, Philippines,
association must be recognized as the national
Japan and South Korea will enhance pickleball
pickleball body of its respective country and be
throughout Asia. Tournaments, training, sharing ideas
recognized as a sports association by the ministry of
for senior recreation, coaching and school programs
sports in that country. Each federation has to follow
are all part of this cooperation.
the rules and objectives of the IFP as well as meet
In November 2018, IFP board member Carolyn
the IFP standard of administration. As a national
Stevens presented a paper at the World Sporting
federation, each body must promote the IFP
Events and Tourism Summit in
objectives and adopt the IFP Constitution
Yangzhou, China. The IFP was one of
and Bylaws. And where there is a national
16 international bodies invited. Carolyn
administrative office overseeing sports,
explained the reasons for pickleball’s
that federation must be registered in that
rapid growth and why Asia should
country. No easy task when you have a
invest in the sport. She highlighted
large country with diverse regions. Mexico,
the possibility of international
for example, has good pickleball in the west
tournaments and tours to augment
in San Carlos, on Baja in San Felipe and
tourism.
east in the Yucatan.
What can you do to support the IFP?
Coordinating under a national umbrella
When you’re on vacation, take your
requires numerous dedicated
paddles and play with the
people to get the job done.
locals. Support international
If a country is not yet
tournaments. Make your
nationally organized, it may
holiday plans to include
join the IFP as an Affiliate
playing in IFP tournaments.
When you’re on vacation,
Member. That gives it five
Play in the Bainbridge
years to work on becoming
Cup! You have a chance to
take your paddles and play
recognized within the country
represent your country on the
with the locals.
by its own national sports
international stage. When you
association. Australia became
see a Global Paddle Share
an Associate Member recently and can now work on
box at a tournament, donate your no-longer-needed
spreading the sport beyond the northeast region.
paddles to be shipped to kids’ programs overseas.
The objective of the IFP itself is to promote and
Encourage paddle companies to help. Riverstyx
develop pickleball worldwide while it governs and
recently donated 300 paddles for overseas programs.
administrates the sport. Maintaining and publishing
Pickleball players everywhere are ambassadors
the Rules and Regulations is a primary duty to
for the sport. The IFP is promoting cooperation
maintain the integrity of the sport. The IFP organizes
among countries to build school and recreational
and promotes events such as the Bainbridge Cup as
play, tournament circuits and, ultimately, get
well as supporting tournaments including the Spanish
pickleball recognized as a candidate sport for Olympic
Open, Italian Open and the upcoming German Open.
competition.
What can you do to
support the IFP?
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