The popularity of the sport pickleball has drastically increased amongst teenagers and adults across the country. Within the Bloomington Normal community, more courts are being added to local parks as interest continues to grow. Last year, Thomas Raycraft and Haley Martin, then sophomores, launched the U-High’s first Pickleball Club, with Maria Pessman as the sponsor.
The idea of a smaller court, affordable cost, and the new friendships from the pickleball club have sparked interest among all grade levels.
“You start building a community of people once you go out and start playing, especially when you go to the same courts multiple times; you start building friendships,” Pessman said.
Rollingbrook Park is just one of the locations that installed new courts to satisfy the increase in pickleball players.
“Pickleball just took our community like a storm,” senior pickleball player Julie McCarron said.
Raycraft believes the sport will only continue to grow because it’s accessible to almost everyone, and people who are really competitive will only continue to learn new techniques.
“The skill ceiling is super high, so you can keep getting better,” Raycraft said.
People of all ages and skill levels are able to enjoy this sport because the court is smaller than a tennis court. According to Sportmaster.net, four pickleball courts fit on a standard tennis court. This reduced space makes it easier for people to get more coverage and return the ball.
“I’ve seen every age play, the oldest being around 70, and they were still able to cover the court,” Raycraft said.
Students developed interest in the sport when the idea of a pickleball club spread around. Students who attended this club expressed interest in learning this sport and developing skills. McCarron joined this club along with her friends and it gave her a new hobby that she can enjoy year round, on indoor and outdoor courts.
“Pickleball club was fun because it allowed me to play with other people who also enjoy it and since it was cold out it gave us courts inside, so we were still able to play,” McCarron said. The small and large gyms easily convert into multiple pickleball courts with just a net.
The club gave students a fun, indoor activity to participate in during the cold months. Making new friends, getting in exercise, and developing a higher skill level were all factors that drew interest to the club. Last year, Pickleball club brought in around 30 students and is expecting even more due to the expansion of interest.
“I believe pickleball will enter the Olympics one day,” Pessman said.
The first pickleball meeting is Sunday, Nov. 19 in the small gym.
