Pickleball provides healthy activity

Pickleball quickly has become one of the more popular games for seniors at Elyria recreation centers.

A group of friends gathered Oct. 19 at the Elyria West Recreation Center, 1200 Foster Ave., to exercise and take part in the sensation known as pickleball.

Pickleball, a sort of hybrid of tennis and badminton where players hit a wiffle ball over a net, quickly has become one of the more popular games for seniors at Elyria rec centers, according to Elyria Parks and Recreation Director Carrie Reardon.

“We have open play at East Rec, 1101 Prospect St., Tuesdays and Thursdays, and at

West Rec on Fridays; the sessions run from 9 a.m. to

noon,” Reardon said. “The play is open, so no sign up is required.”

Reardon said the game recently became very popular.

“It’s something that has definitely grown in the last five to 10 years and has really taken off,” she said. “It’s something where seniors can play and get very active. It keeps them active without being as stressful on their body as tennis. We had 24 players rotating around three courts at East Rec the other day; they get pretty competitive too.”

Reardon said the West Rec has undergone some improvements that make it a great place to play the sport.

“One of the projects this year was to make improvements to West Rec,” she said. “The floor has been redone as well as new doors put in.

“The floor had aged and needed to be replaced. We also included lines built-in permanently for pickleball.”

Jess Villarreal, of Elyria, was playing pickleball with Margaret Roach, of Carlisle Township, Joan Orndorff, of Elyria, and Mary Speck, of North Ridgeville.

“It’s a fun game and allows us to get out and get some exercise,” Villarreal said. “It’s a game where you play twoon-two, and only score on a serve.

“Both players get a chance to serve before the opportunity is given to the other team. The game is played with paddles and a wiffle ball as you hit the ball over a net that is about the height of a tennis net.”

Villarreal said the game is designed to benefit seniors.

“You have rules in place that make it easier for seniors to play,” he said. “You have the two-bounce rule that forces players to let the ball bounce once when returning a serve and when returning the initial return.

“It allows for there to at least be the initial volley. There is also the kitchen rule. This prevents players from standing over the net and prevent the hard spiking of the ball.

“It’s really a fun time, and I encouraged people to come and check it out.”

ZACH SRNIS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Margret Roach, of Carlisle Township, returns a shot during a pickleball game.