Feature hosts special events including holiday costume pickleball parties .
Building off the USA Pickleball model , Nguyen now has ambassadors of his own who volunteer for Santa Monica Pickleball during open play to welcome people to the courts , help newcomers get oriented and make sure they know where to go , and tell them all about the program . The volunteers wear special T-shirts , Nguyen said , so people always know who to ask if they have a question .
“ Can you imagine going to open play where there ’ s 100 people playing , and you ’ ve never played before ?” he added . “ That ’ s intimidating . Having someone there to say , ‘ I ’ ll teach you the basic rules — don ’ t worry about messing up ,’ and take their hand and give them a paddle , show them where to put it down and let them know you ’ ll be right there if they have questions , that ’ s important .”
New players are encouraged to ask questions during open play , but there is a rule against unsolicited instruction . Everyone ’ s just out there to have fun , Nguyen explained , and not everyone appreciates
Nguyen has also begun offering free beginner clinics every weekend , helping more people learn about pickleball and improve their play .
getting advice they haven ’ t asked for . And making sure the sport is not only free but also welcoming is what the club ’ s all about .
“ The only other sport I can really compare it to is drop-in basketball ,” Nguyen said . “ And that ’ s kind of tough , too , because I ’ ve been that person who nobody wants to play with because I ’ m short . But in our program , if you put a paddle down , you ’ re going to play . You ’ re going to be rotated in .” •
Karen Price is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has covered Olympic and Paralympic sports for various publications . She is a freelance contributor to USA Pickleball on behalf of Red Line Editorial , Inc .
The Santa Monica Pickleball Facebook page alone has grown from 800 members to more than 4,400 since Nguyen became an ambassador for USA Pickleball .