PickleballCANADA
CANADIAN PICKLEBALL IS STRONGER THAN EVER !
Here in the great white north , pickleball is finally back in full swing . Drop-in play , round robins , king or queen of the court , leagues , ladders , mixers , etc . are all back . For the more competitive players there is also a full slate of tournaments to choose from .
The past couple of years have been difficult for pickleball and most other organized sports . Due to the pandemic , we ’ ve endured court closures , singles play only , playing with household members only — especially restrictive for those with no family members who play — and no socializing before or after games .
It ’ s a good sign that despite all of this , pickleball has continued to grow . Here in Canada , pickleball is stronger than ever . Where is pickleball headed ? All indications are very positive , but only time will tell .
Doubters remind us of the racquetball craze that swept North America in the 1970s and ‘ 80s . Racquetball courts seemingly materialized overnight . Everyone played . I remember squeezing in the occasional game during lunch hours with coworkers . Then , just as suddenly , the masses moved on to other interests . Only the die-hard racquetball players were left and most of the courts closed . The courts
By Wayne Kerr
near my office were torn out and the once-thriving racquetball club became a paintball center .
I don ’ t believe this will happen to pickleball for many reasons . First , it ’ s so easy to play . Newcomers can be playing and competing in actual games within an hour . Second , the rules may sound a little odd or quirky , but they are simple to learn and work for all levels of play . Third , pickleball has always welcomed new players from beginner to pro . Finally , I ’ m always amazed at how many people in the pickleball world are willing to volunteer , mentor and help in whatever manner is needed . This has been true at every club I ’ ve visited . Other reasons include the fun factor , the challenge of learning a new skill or strategy … I could go on and on .
All of this doesn ’ t mean that pickleball doesn ’ t have some challenges . In many regions of Canada there are barely enough