In The News

Pickleball's Fast, Fun Pace Attracts Prescott Players From 9 To 86 (May 21, 2013 Prescott, AZ, www.dcourier.com) After Pickleball players Tom Riley and Damon Olsen scrambled to return a serve by Nancy Miser during a recent tournament at the gym at Prescott's Willow Hills Baptist Church, Riley said "I'm hooked. I love this game."

Life-Size Ping Pong: Valley Pickleball Tourney Draws Large Crowd To Brittlebank Park (May 20, 2013 Terre Haute, IN, tribstar.com) Some people call it “life-size ping pong where you stand on the table.” But the folks at Brittlebank Park this weekend call it pickleball, and they are wild about the sport.

Pickleball Has KG YMCA Members Jumping For Joy (May 15, 2013 King George, VA, www.journalpress.com) Welcome to the world of pickleball, the newest recreational sensation for youths to seniors that will have your body feeling vibrant and rejuvenated.

Pushing For Pickleball: Local Enthusiasts Ask Park Board For Locations For Outdoor Play (May 9, 2013 Racine, WI, journaltimes.com) On Wednesday, close to a dozen of the sport’s devotees filed into the City Hall Annex, 800 Center St., in an effort to convince the Board of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services to give them more city-owned places to play, especially outside.

Pickleball- The Newest Sports Craze For All Ages (May 5, 2013 Omaha, NE, www.omahalifestyles.com) “What I love about pickleball is that it can be a family game that you play with your grandchildren. It can be a slower paced social game that you play with your friends. Or it can be a fast paced competitive game. It is for all ages, it is for men and women and anyone can play..."

Pickleball Popularity Growing In South Windsor (May 1, 2013 South Windsor, CT, southwindsor.patch.com) On a recent warm Wednesday afternoon, the gymnasium at the Ellsworth School was thumping as brightly colored wiffle balls were batted to and fro over a short net. Dozens attended a recent clinic hosted by the town human services department in hopes of honing their craft and learning some tips for the court.

A Pack Of Pickleballers (Apr 29, 2013 Corvallis, OR, www.gazettetimes.com) The tournament area was bustling in organized chaos Saturday as volunteers refereed one of six matches going on at any given time, helped participants at the registration and tournament tables, and tallied match results.

Pickleball Catching On In Steamboat Springs (Apr 28, 2013 Steamboat Springs, CO, www.steamboattoday.com) Two years ago pickleball wasn’t even an afterthought of a sport in Steamboat Springs. A tournament Sunday at the Tennis Center showed just how much that’s changed.

Pickleball Play In Collier Park (Apr 26, 2013 La Mesa, CA, scoopsandiego.com) The game has earned a devoted following in La Mesa, where players meet to battle it out on Wednesday and Friday mornings in Collier Park. In addition to the obvious health benefits, the opportunity to interact with others and make new friends is an added bonus of the sport.

New Sport Finds A Home (Apr 24, 2013 St Albert, AB, www.stalbertgazette.com) Residents of all ages will soon be able to play one of North America’s fastest-growing sports on an outdoor surface in St. Albert. “This will allow many more residents to play this sport and improve the quality of life and health of residents.”

Local Talent Shines At SunRiver (Apr 24, 2013 Sun River, UT, pickleballplanet.com) There was some incredible action at the SunRiver Pickleball Tournament this past weekend. While there was a kite festival nearby, the courts were packed for three days with skill level events.

Pickleball Now Coming To Quail Creek (Apr 19, 2013 Sahuarita, AZ, www.gvnews.com) “As people in our demographic are aware it’s become a very, very popular sport,” Michael Dalton, vice president of sales at Quail Creek said. “I had never heard of it just a few years ago and now I’m hearing about it all the time.”

Pickleball Gaining In Popularity At New Port Richey Recreation And Aquatic Center (Apr 16, 2013 New Port Richey, FL, www.tampabay.com) The popular senior game that is well known throughout Arizona and other parts of Florida is steadily growing in popularity at the New Port Richey Recreation and Aquatic Center. On an average day, the gym is packed with up to eight doubles teams battling it out in round-robin style format.

Pickleball A Tangy New Sport In Boynton Beach (Apr 11, 2013 Boynton Beach, FL, www.palmbeachpost.com) The game with a silly name is anything but. A lower-impact variation of tennis and racquetball, played at a low net with small paddles and a “whiffle ball,” it’s championed as “America’s fastest growing sport.”

Pickleball Craze Is Sweeping State (Apr 8, 2013 Orlanda, FL, www.orlandosentinel.com) Pete Patterson calls pickleball "a wonderful, positive addiction" — one that has many Florida seniors in its grip. But don't get the idea it's a leisurely sport. It requires "hand-eye coordination, sportsmanship and extreme cardiovascular exercise, much more so than tennis."

Pickleball Pays Its Way In Surprise (Apr 6, 2013 Surprise, AZ, www.yourwestvalley.com) A familiar refrain echoed for much of Tuesday’s special Surprise City Council workshop session. Then the Surprise Pickleball Association announced it was able to pay for itself.The non-profit association announced it has raised $11,000 for improved lighting at the eight pickleball courts at Surprise’s Community Park, 15930 N. Bullard Ave.

Pickleball Players Find It's A Dilly Of A Workout (Apr 4, 2013 Melbourne Beach, FL, www.floridatoday.com) Today, there are more than 200 participants who circulate throughout the county’s four community centers offering the game. “It’s been a real positive for all of the centers who have it.”

Phoenix Eyes Adding Pickleball To Rec Centers (Apr 4, 2013 Phoenix, AZ, www.azcentral.com) Phoenix plans to add pickleball — often touted as America’s fastest-growing sport — to some or all of its recreation centers because of high demand."We’re just trying to assist with the latest and greatest sport,” said Esther Avila, Phoenix Parks and Recreation’s northwest division deputy director.

Pickleball Creates A Racket For Empty Roller Hockey Rinks (Apr 3, 2013 Oakland Park, FL, www.sun-sentinel.com) No one gets body-checked, and speedy skaters have been replaced by white-haired folks who often wear knee braces. But at least South Florida's roller-hockey rinks are seeing some action.

USAPA Rolls Out Its First 'Super Pickleball Weekend' In Arizona, April 6-7! (Apr 2, 2013 Scottsdale, AZ, www.usapa.org) The USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) is rolling out two diverse events in the Valley of the Sun to showcase one of the fastest growing court sports in North America, April 6- 7, 2013. Both the ‘Art is Alive’ festival in Surprise and the Scottsdale SUPER Expo appeal to large, family-oriented audiences.

'Pickleball' Comes To Manchester (Mar 27, 2013 Manchester, CT, articles.courant.com) It was first played in 1965 in Washington state, but pickleball is only just now beginning to catch on in the northeast. One of its most recent locations: Manchester.

Happy To Be In A Pickle: Pickleball Gaining Loyal Following In Broomfield, Region (Mar 17, 2013 Broomfield, CO, www.broomfieldenterprise.com) Today, a six -person pickleball group started in 2010 has blossomed into more than 800 fans who play the tennis-like sport at the Broomfield Community Center and other area recreation centers.

Pumped For Pickleball (Mar 13, 2013 Lake Havasu City, AZ, www.havasunews.com) Local interest in pickleball has soared this winter and organizers of the sport recently requested the city help them find more courts for their burgeoning base of enthusiasts.

Pickleball League's 'Shootout' Attracts Strong Teams (Mar 6, 2013 St Petersburg, FL, www2.highlandstoday.com) Competitors from each community commented on the enjoyment of visiting one another's communities and improving their skills with the high level of competition in league play.

Pickleball Finding Its Niche (Mar 3, 2013 Delray Beach, FL, www.sun-sentinel.com) Boynton Beach's Eileen Tuckman, a former racquetball champion, positions herself for a return shot. Pickleball's national rise in popularity is evidenced by spirited competition at the local community center.

Pickleball Makes Great Strides (Mar 2, 2013 St Petersburg, FL, www2.highlandstoday.com) It's one thing to introduce a new activity but it is quite another challenge to keep it alive and growing. It takes the dedicated work of several enthusiasts and in Tanglewood there are such people.

Pickleball Craze Hits Tamarac Community Center (Feb 28, 2013 Tamarac, FL, www.sun-sentinel.com) There's a new game in town and pickleball is its name. If you can play anything that involves a racquet like tennis, racquetball or ping pong, you can play pickleball.

Little-known Sport Pickleball Catching On In Delray (Feb 20, 2013 Delray Beach, FL, articles.sun-sentinel.com) "It's physical. It's social and it's competitive."

Pickleball Establishing Itself As Part Of Senior Games (Feb 19, 2013 Yuma, AZ, www.yumasun.com) Organizers call pickleball the fastest-growing sport in Arizona and is spreading throughout Yuma. "Pickleball here has progressed extremely quickly, and the quality of play has just skyrocketed.”

Pickleball Growing In Popularity (Feb 16, 2013 Sebring, FL, www2.highlandstoday.com) The Tanglewood Pickleball Club now boasts a membership of more than 140 players who compete in a variety of leagues within the park as well as friendly encounters where the name of the game is fun.

Pickleball Plans Move Forward (Feb 15, 2013 Anderson Township, OH, news.cincinnati.com) Anderson Township could be the home of a new pickleball facility next year. The Anderson Pickleball Club would help run free clinics to teach the community how to play this unique sport, which is popular among seniors and, increasingly, high school students.

More Pickleball Courts Coming In Bend (Feb 12, 2013 Bend, OR, www.ktvz.com) Pickleball is a fast-growing sport in Central Oregon, and the Bend Pickleball Club is taking action to see that eight new courts are developed in Bend.

In A Pickle: Seniors Unite Around Lynchburg’s Newest Sport (Feb 11, 2013 Lynchburg, VA, www.newsadvance.com) “I want to help encourage these people to have healthier lives. So, I see pickleball as being more than just a game.”

Crusaders Crush Pickleball Tournament (Feb 10, 2013 Clark, NJ, njtoday.net) Miss Bundy’s fifth period physical education class at Arthur L. Johnson High School in Clark are about to start their pickleball tournament.

Seniors Serve Up Exercise And Fun On Pickleball Court (Jan 26, 2013 Liberty Lake, WA, www.spokesman.com) They’re a diverse bunch of seniors, all trying to stay fit by playing pickleball. The pickleball group meets four times a week and it’s hoping for a bigger crowd at the HUB Sports Center.

Some Fans In North Texas Enjoying Pickleball, Tennis-like Sport Gaining Attention (Jan 22, 2013 Dallas, TX, www.therepublic.com) It's a way to burn calories and be social, and it's easy to learn, even for those without much athletic experience. For all of those reasons, players find pickleball addictive, with demand for court time often exceeding available space.

Pickleball (Jan 17, 2013 Aventura, FL, www.communitynewspapers.com) A new game is sweeping, slowly, into south Florida due to the efforts of one man, Mitchell Ball, a respiratory therapist and organizer of a 150 member running club. He became a Pickleball ambassador and set about searching for suitable locations to play.

Let's Play Pickleball (Jan 16, 2013 Sun City Center, FL, www2.tbo.com) "It's a fun sport for people of all ages and skill levels," said Benningfield, 67, president of the Sun City Center Pickleball Club. "It can be very competitive but here in Sun City Center it's more of a social, recreational game."

Pickleball Drawing A Crowd In Fort Mill (Jan 14, 2013 Fort Mill, SC, www.fortmilltimes.com) Instructors show off pickleball, a popular game in Sun City that's made its way this month to Fort Mill.

Richland Sweet On Pickleball (Jan 8, 2013 Richland, PA, www.msnbc.msn.com) Last spring the racquet sport was introduced to the township after officials agreed to temporarily convert one of the tennis courts at Robert O. Keller Memorial Park off California Road into a place for pickleball. The game has garnered interest and now a group of pickleball enthusiasts want Richland to make the switch permanent.

Group Wants To Bring Pickleball To Brigham City (Jan 8, 2013 Brigham City, UT, www.cachevalleydaily.com) St. George has 63 pickleball courts and a move is underway to construct playing courts in Brigham City to accommodate the more than 100 players in that Box Elder County community.

Pickleball Growing In Popularity Among All Ages (Jan 3, 2013 Brentwood, TN, www.brentwoodhomepage.com) “We’re seeing more and more people who are hearing about the sport and wanting to play,” said Gary Hathcock, athletic administrator for Williamson County Parks and Recreation. Pickleball came to the area by way of the Tennessee Senior Olympics.

A ‘bunch Of Rowdy Seniors’ Bring Pickleball To Eden Prairie (Dec 31, 2012 Eden Prairie, MN, southwestmetromag.com) Apparently no one can resist the allure of the game. There is considerable mix of athletic ability, ranging from those who have never played a paddle sport in their entire lives to people who have played tennis for years.

Phoenix At Center Of Growing Sport -- Pickleball (Dec 29, 2012 Surprise, AZ, www.usatoday.com) Organizers tout pickleball as America’s fastest-growing sport. For many players, the Phoenix area serves as their mecca — the national tournament is held each year in Buckeye, and Surprise is home to pickleball's official non-profit organization.

Pickleball Picks Up In Popularity (Dec 28, 2012 Punta Gorda, FL, yoursun.net) Residents around Southwest Florida are crowding courts to play pickleball. Area government park departments have started designating courts and hours for the fast-paced, tennis-like game that already has become an event at the Senior Games.

Local Players Relishing Pickleball (Dec 28, 2012 Pinehurst, NC, www.thepilot.com) “We fashioned Pickleball courts at the main tennis club on the hard courts. We used tape and created temporary boundaries and used the tennis nets, and lowered them to the correct height.”The interest in Pickleball at Pinehurst grew exponentially after that.If interest in the sport continues to grow at its steady pace, the surrounding communities may be “in a pickle” trying to find new ­locations to play.

Hooked On Pickleball (Dec 28, 2012 Albany, NY, www.cdseniorspotlight.com) Today with more than 500 people involved, Capital District Pickleball provides opportunities for both social and competitive play to anyone interested in the game.

Pickleball: The Sport With The Funny Name Taking Hold Everywhere (Dec 26, 2012 Ponca City, OK, www.poncacitynews.com) Pickleball (named after a dog, Pickles, whose perforated ball was used in the first games) is taking over country club tennis courts and church gyms around the country. A growing number of players in Ponca City play at the Ponca City Country Club’s tennis center.

In A Pickle — And Loving It In Wilton (Dec 22, 2012 Wilton, NY, saratogian.com) The game is played all over the Capital Region, but, locally, Gavin Park is said to be the place for a friendlier, less aggressive game. Two of the three gyms at Gavin Park during pickleball time are full of players of both genders and all levels of expertise, who share the courts in good-natured fashion.

Pinehurst Players Find 'instantaneous Love' On The Pickleball Court (Dec 22, 2012 Pinehurst, NC, www.fayobserver.com) Bob Becker has his eyes on the ball. Moore County residents who love tennis are playing Pickleball. "We were blown away by how fast this has taken hold," he said. "Everybody has a lot of fun."