Feature we obviously need funds to do what we ’ re doing . A big piece of that is through the membership , so thanking them is important . We need to and want to be delivering value for our members . How do we up our game in how we ’ re delivering value to our members ?”
The focus of the final week from April 23-30 is on what ’ s next for the sport . Earlier this year , USA Pickleball introduced a new-and-improved Golden Ticket tournament format as a consistent path to Nationals , as well as a revamped Pickleball Nationals .
“ Nationals is the pinnacle : It ’ s USA Pickleball Nationals ,” Nealy emphasized . “ We want ours to be known and experienced as the best of the best , and you want to get to Nationals because of what that means .”
Nealy realizes that out of the current 14 million pickleball players in the U . S ., only a small percentage play at a highly competitive level that includes frequently participating in tournaments . So a big focus for him and the rest of USA Pickleball in 2024 is on how to best reach a majority of players .
“ A lot of our emphasis needs to be looking at how do we support and grow the recreational side of this game . That is where the masses are ,” Nealy said . “ That could be in helping out in the club space and leagues , and giving people tips on how they get together leagues or a flex league and be able to play people and grow their experience in the game without having to compete at some tournament level .”
He also wants to see USA Pickleball continue its efforts to help grow the sport internationally , like when USA Pickleball Chief Operating Officer Justin Maloof represented the organization at the 2024 Indian Open .
“ I think the game speaks for itself . It ’ s not just an accident that the sport is growing ,” Nealy added . “ It ’ s growing because it is such a fun game and there are so many nuances on the social side . There ’ s just something really special going on here , from social interaction to the ease of entry and play , and the camaraderie it seems to bring out in people . I think that ’ s why it ’ s going to proliferate across the world , let alone the U . S .”
A nice bonus for National Pickleball Month is that it features two Golden Ticket tournaments , in Mesa , Arizona , April 3-7 and in Las Vegas , Nevada , April 15-21 .
Learn more at usapickleball . org / national-pickleballmonth . •
Stephen Hunt is an accomplished freelance writer and sports statistician who has been blessed to cover a multitude of subjects and sports in his time . He is a freelance contributor to USA Pickleball on behalf of Red Line Editorial , Inc .
52 TO SUBSCRIBE , CALL 412.914.8294 OR GO TO PICKLEBALLMAGAZINE . COM
PHOTO BY BRUCE YEUNG ; IG : @ YEUNGPHOTOGRAPHY