At Folsom State Prison , two incarcerated individuals fist-bump with the warden and her chief of guards after a spirited game of pickleball . This is the first time the warden at Folsom has played a sport with the incarcerated .
As prisoners begin tapping the ball back and forth over the net , BelAir says you see smiles , hear laughter , and some gentle ribbing .
Then BelAir wondered if his favorite sport could not only bring inmates together , but even more . “ What about getting some staff involved playing pickleball with the inmates ?” BelAir asked his handler . “ Maybe even the warden ?” No way , no how , was the reply . “ Roger , this is San Quentin . It ’ s been around for over 100 years ,” he was told . “ Staff does not participate in that kind of thing with the incarcerated . The warden has never participated in something like that .”
Not a rejection that left much room for appeals , but BelAir wasn ’ t going to be deterred too readily . He waited a couple of days . The warden had given him his private number , so he called just to check in .
“ It ’ s going well ,” he told the warden . “ We ’ re making good progress . Pickleball is great for breaking down barriers .
“ What about getting involved , and I can teach you the game at the same time ?” BelAir suggested . The warden agreed . “ The day I showed up , the warden was at the net with his paddle ,” BelAir says .
The film crew went to four different prisons shooting footage . Besides Folsom and San Quentin , they also visited California State Prison in Sacramento .
“ There were some toughlooking guys there ,” Komenich
recalls . “ It was raining that day and you could see the joy in these guys , getting a chance to
try something that wasn ’ t part of the prison routine . It made a difference for them that day .”
Many wardens say pickleball is a positive , and something for inmates to look forward to . And the thought of losing the opportunity to play deters inmates from breaking the rules .
Associate Warden Sarah Shepherd at California State Prison , Sacramento , says , “ Pickleball gives the population an opportunity to get out and have positive social interaction . It provides a different avenue — team building . I think we ’ re going to see more and more facilities welcome this sport .”
From the prisons ’ perspective , BelAir ’ s pickleball tour has been such a success that department officials are brainstorming how to get the sport into other state facilities , which would make pickleball accessible to thousands of inmates .
One inmate from San Quentin says , “ I think it ’ s important to have communication and direct contact with the outside while you ’ re incarcerated to remind us there ’ s life beyond these walls . Pickleball is something to keep your mind busy and get a little exercise and talk with others , meet new friends and enjoy something new . Pickleball is also a pretty cordial sport . I don ’ t foresee any troubles in this game . And for somebody like me who doesn ’ t want any conflict , I think it ’ s a great way to get out some of that competitive energy in a positive way .”
Another inmate chimes in , “ We have the warden , we have COs , and they ’ re playing the game and learning the game with incarcerated folks at the same time . And I have to say , this is about the first time that I ’ ve seen prison staff playing a sport with the incarcerated residents . And it ’ s really beautiful to see .” •
Steve Kettmann is a former San Francisco Chronicle sportswriter whose books include “ One Day at Fenway ” and “ Baseball Maverick .” His work has appeared in The New York Times , Washington Monthly , NewYorker . com and GQ .
SNEAK PEEK ! With the documentary in production , Daniel Ostroff is raising funds through crowdfunding . To view the trailer or support the effort , visit kickstarter . com / projects / 1827539222 / pickleball-in-prison .
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