in 2020 was based , in part , about looking at the future , envisioning a different direction to proceed , and , as the governing body of the sport , providing alternatives to its members and the some four million pickleball players in the U . S . and its territories . This Pickleball Hall of Fame would be run by an independent , separate board with the freedom and funding to explore innovative approaches to creating a Hall of Fame . Similar to authors who write books on the same subject , history has shown that Halls of Fame provide different perspectives of the same topic and , overall , contribute to the public ’ s expanded knowledge of the subject . The USA Pickleball Hall of Fame is looking forward to collaborating with the first Pickleball Hall of Fame on future initiatives .
In 2020 , USA Pickleball formed a special search committee to seek volunteers to organize and perform the necessary steps to incorporate a legal entity and become a 501 ( c )( 3 ) charitable organization . The search committee selected five individuals with varied pickleball experience who subsequently became the USA Pickleball Hall of Fame Board . Their challenge was not only to become a Hall of Fame entity but to provide the USA Pickleball members and associated community with unique ways of seeing and learning pickleball history .
One of the first and most exciting differences that the USA Pickleball Hall of Fame is planning is a virtual pickleball history that will incorporate its two purposes . Looking to the future and having a pickleball museum / Hall of Fame available through the internet is beneficial to all of us . It allows USA Pickleball members and most of the public ( who have computers , laptops , cellphones , etc .) to see a portion of the historic and exemplary efforts players and contributors made while promoting and growing our great sport . Anyone who has internet service will be able to perform research , view pictorial displays , and gain insights into pickleball history . With a virtual trip to the USA Pickleball Hall of Fame , you can see it all without the expense and time of travel .
Other initiatives that the USA Pickleball Board is considering have to do with how players and contributors are nominated and voted into the USA Pickleball Hall of Fame . For example :
• Candidate submissions – USA Pickleball members may submit candidate applications throughout the year online at
usap-hof . org . There would be no time limitations .
• Member voting – USA Pickleball members may be able to participate in the final voting for any candidate . Other Halls of Fame ( tennis , for example ) have open voting , and we are reviewing how they permit participation .
• Senior Committee – This committee reviews submitted candidates who have made significant contributions to the sport that are not within the scope of the nomination process . This concept would be patterned after processes that exist within Major League Baseball , the National Football League , and other similar organizations .
• Ambassador involvement – We may use USA Pickleball ’ s ambassadors to assist in performing some of the confirmation work . These individuals already do a fantastic job representing pickleball throughout all the local communities in the states , and their input would be invaluable to the process .
• Ceremony location – Recognizing that for inductees , traveling to Nationals for an award and receiving it before the crowd is easier for some than others , if the inductee would rather have his / her ceremony before the hometown pickleball community , we ’ re considering this as an option .
Along with the preceding and other possible future changes , we will be soliciting your input and comments through our website and other social media as we progress through 2021 . Our processes and bylaws are all online , and we value your thoughts and comments . Be sure to go to our website (
usap-hof . org ), review each of the pages , and give us your feedback for improvements .
Our plan is to optimize the USA Pickleball Hall of Fame through the remainder of 2021 while beginning the virtual experience via the internet by the year ’ s end . Our first ceremony is expected in 2022 . The awarding of the USA Pickleball Hall of Fame designation to any individual is an honor , and we want to ensure , as much as possible , that we ’ re doing it right . With your help and assistance and the new ideas for inducting candidates , we will continue to complement all Halls of Fame that recognize individuals for their outstanding service and contributions to the sports and activities they represent . •
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 | MAGAZINE 49