PLANETPickleball
Enriching Lives : Making Pickleball Accessible Across the Globe
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by RUTH ROSENQUEST and JAVIER REGALADO
GLOBAL PICKLEBALL FEDERATION
The overarching mission of the Global Pickleball Federation is to promote , lead , and support the growth and development of pickleball as a sport for all , for life .
While the sport of pickleball accommodates players of all ages , abilities and backgrounds , paddles , pickleballs and nets remain scarce in many parts of the world .
The Philippine Pickleball Federation has nurtured the growth of pickleball , from temporary courts on the street to 80 clubs and more than 4,100 players today . It all began on Emerald Avenue , in the heart of the Pasig City business district , in April 2018 . Now in its fifth year , Street Pickleball has endured as a popular place to learn the sport .
Coni Ibañez , president of Ortigas Street Pickleball , said , “ We have many new players every week , real first-timers who borrow paddles to try pickleball . We also have many visitors from around the world who hear about us on social media and come to the Philippines to see what we ’ re up to .” From Street Pickleball ’ s grassroots beginnings in 2018 , pickleball in the Philippines is now thriving at 70 venues with more than 170 courts .
The Global Pickleball Federation recognizes that getting paddles into hands is the most effective way to take action to grow the sport . “ To make pickleball accessible to all parts of the world , each GPF member country is eligible to receive 30 GPF Welcome Kits , in partnership with Pickleball United ,” says Javier Regalado , president of the GPF .
“ Pickleball United is excited to work with the Global Pickleball Federation to build the sport of
pickleball at a global level . We believe that our contribution will ignite the same passion we feel for pickleball across all member countries ,” says Pranov Kholi of Pickleball United .
Each GPF Welcome Kit contains :
• One portable pickleball net
• Four pickleball paddles
• Eight pickleballs
The first 10 Welcome Kits are complimentary , with 20 additional kits available at a discounted cost of $ 100 US per set .
Each GPF member country is eligible to claim all 30 GPF Welcome Kits , or simply the 10 complimentary ones . Through this startup program , recipients are responsible for shipping charges and import duties . However , options to defray shipping / duties costs are under review by the GPF .
“ As pickleball equipment becomes more widely accessible , our sport can foster equity , social connections and a greater sense of community in more parts of the world ,” Regalado adds .
For details on becoming a member of the Global Pickleball Federation or about the GPF Welcome Kits program , visit globalpickleballfederation . org . •
Now in its fifth year , Ortigas Street Pickleball is thriving in the heart of the business district in Pasig City , Philippines .
64 TO SUBSCRIBE , CALL 412.914.8294 OR GO TO PICKLEBALLMAGAZINE . COM