USAPA EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
BY JUSTIN MALOOF
USAPA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Happy New Year!
As we enter a brand-new year, we reflect on a
remarkable 2018.
According to the latest report from the Sports &
Fitness Industry Association, the number of players
participating in pickleball in the U.S. has topped 3
million. Worldwide, pickleball is gaining notoriety with
tournaments on multiple continents, including the
2019 Bainbridge Cup in Germany this July. In fact,
the number of member countries in the International
Federation of Pickleball (IFP) is now 15, and the
USAPA’s Places2Play.org added 1,000 new pickleball
locations last year.
This past November, there were 2,204 participants
at the Margaritaville USA Pickleball National
Championships in Indian Wells, establishing a new
USAPA record. Coupled with a sizable increase in the
number of USAPA Ambassadors and USAPA members,
you can see the USAPA and, more importantly, the
world of pickleball had a tremendous 2018.
Here are just some of the highlights of the year.
USAPA members can be proud—knowing your love of
the sport has been an integral part of its overall growth.
TOTAL PARTICIPATION/COURTS
Number of pickleball players in the U.S.:...3.1 million
(SFIA Baseline Participation Report)
Total number of Places2Play locations:....6,885
(1,016 new; 85 new locations per month)
Total number of known pickleball courts:....20,933
Margaritaville USA Pickleball
National Championships: .......................... 2,204
participants (USAPA record)
USAPA MEMBERS
*New 2018 USAPA members: ................... 8,649
(total membership now over 30,000)
USAPA ambassadors: ................................ 432
(new ambassadors in 2018)
*Since 2013, USAPA membership has increased
650%!
TOURNAMENT SANCTIONING/GRANTS
Number of USAPA sanctioned tournaments:....136
Grants: USAPA awarded $40,000 for pickleball
equipment via 153 grants (131 Community; and 22 High
School). Pickleball Central joined USAPA and donated
over 880 wooden paddles to various programs. An
additional $40,000 was raised by USAPA for St. Jude’s
Children’s Research Hospital, USAPA’s official national
charity.
REFEREES
Certified Referees: USAPA added 57 new Certified
Referees. Total number of Certified Referees is
now 161.
Referee Evaluators: USAPA trained and approved
two new Certified Referee Evaluators. Total number
of Certified Referee Evaluators is now 10.
2018 was indeed a special year for the USAPA and
the sport. As we move forward into 2019, USAPA is
in the process of adding staff for a new recreational
pickleball department. We’re also adding staff and
support to manage and grow our competition side.
I wish everyone a happy and healthy 2019, and enjoy
your time on the courts!
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 |
MAGAZINE
9