The remarkable rise of PICKLEBALL
With pro tours in the US and a move for Olympic inclusion, Ireland is getting in on the sport taking the world by storm
AS the country sweltered in the heatwave last month, Michael McDaid jumped in his trusty old camper van and headed for Listowel from his native Donegal. He wasn’t going there to check out the seaside in north Kerry, though. McDaid was dropping into the local pickleball group, to see how they were adapting to learning this new sport.
McDaid reckons his camper van has been on the high roads and by-roads of every county in the Republic at this stage, trying to spread the word about the racquet sport that continues to gain a foothold worldwide. The name might sound like a child’s game, but pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America with almost five million regular players.
It has gained the all-important celebrity endorsement through the likes of George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio as well as athletic validation, with Michael Phelps a keen participant. The game got mentioned by Larry David in the last series of Curb Your Enthusiasm while The New Yorker recently did one of their deep-dives into its rising popularity, typically headlined: ‘Can Pickleball save America?, implying that the phenomenon bridges across the factions in an increasingly divided United States.
It has gone mainstream across the Atlantic. So much so that two rival professional tours have sprung up in America over the past couple of years, one of which is backed by Texas billionaire and owner of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, Tom Dundon. Heavyweight sponsors such as Lexus are involved and there is a broadcast deal with ESPN. The sport’s biggest star Ben Johns earned around $250,000 last year, according to the New Yorker. This is more than a game for the beach.
Pickleball’s appeal lies in how easy it is to pick up. McDaid was a tennis coach in Donegal Town when he first came to the game via the internet.
‘When I was first introduced to the sport, I thought that this was something to get involved in because largely I could see that it was suited to every age group from eight to 80.
‘When you talk about tennis, to bring someone from a beginner to a competent player, it takes around 12 months of regular lessons. With pickleball, it is about 10 minutes. Within a few minutes of being handed your first paddle, if you have any eye-hand coordination, you will be able to play and engage in rallies. And that is why everywhere we have gone around the country to demonstrate it, nobody has been turned off. Everyone wants to learn more about this sport.
‘And there is a great pleasure in going into a hall where there are a lot of people who have never tried pickleball, or don’t know anything about it and are just there because Billy or Mary down the road told them they would be interested, and by the end of the demonstration, they are hooked,’ McDaid added.
‘We have never demonstrated pickleball somewhere that it didn’t catch on. This is not a fad, it is not like swingball or one of those games you play on a beach. It is going to be a serious sport. It is already a serious sport in other countries, there are professional tours in America and it is spreading across Europe like wildfire.’
Despite the sport still being in its infancy, more than 75 countries are now part of the World Pickleball Association. They are plans to have it as an exhibition sport in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with a view to becoming a full Olympic discipline. McDaid feels that Ireland needs to follow the lead of other countries.
‘It is on the same level as badminton, and the participation level is growing. And when participation level grows, sports become more competitive. It will in time become an Olympic sport, it is in the early stages of recognition in that regard, so we need to get people in Ireland to realise this is a serious sport – and it is a sport for everyone from school age right through. It is a sport for 8 to 80-year-olds.’
The game was invented by three friends in the State of Washington in 1965, one of whom, Joel Pritchard, later became a US Congressman. The three Seattle residents were looking to amuse their bored kids. The Pritchards’ house had a badminton court, but without shuttlecocks or racquets, the dads used paddles and a wiffle ball, lowering the net to three feet. The area close to the net was restricted and the court ended up being a quarter the size of a tennis court. Pickleball, named after the family dog, was born.
McDaid founded Pickleball Ireland in 2016, after viewing the game on the internet. Within a few years, there were 500 regular players in Ireland. Before Covid intervened, the organisation hosted the Irish Open Championship in Westmeath that saw more than 150 people compete. The growth was stunted by the pandemic, but the aim is to drive forward this winter, given the interest in the game.
Heather Campbell Kelly works as a development officer, as well as press officer, for the organisation. She is working hard to get Local Sports Partnerships interested in the game, as well giving clinics in various spots around Dublin as well as places in Kildare and Wicklow. The potential for growth is there, but facilities may be an issue going forward.
Campbell Kelly was recently in Florida, which is the epicentre of Pickleball, and was playing in one facility that had 64 courts. All dedicated to the game.
‘We are working with sports officers in some county councils about getting pickleball into their counties. We have groups meeting in places like Cabra, Celbridge and Portmarnock,’ says Kelly, who was just back from a demonstration in Wicklow when we spoke.
Pickleball Ireland have also worked with Active Retirement Ireland about getting older people to play it. When the game initially took
George Clooney has given it the celebrity endorsement
off in the States, it was in the retirement enclaves in places like Naples, Florida.
‘We have worked with Active Retirement and Age Action Ireland, to get older people playing it,’ Campbell Kelly says. ‘It is an easier game to master than tennis, easier on the limbs, smaller court and it often played in doubles, so there is less court to cover. It’s perfect for the Irish climate, and there are plenty of indoor courts that can be used.’
Campbell Kelly is just back from the Scottish Open that again showed the potential for growth which could be harnessed here with hundreds of players competing.
Pickleball Ireland is now hoping to capitalise in the growing interest by hosting their first festival on September 25th in Ballyfermot in conjunction with Dublin City Sports Partnership. They are hoping that will spread the word even more.
‘It has taken off like a rocket in most other countries,’ says McDaid, who has stepped away from the administration of Pickleball Ireland and is now focusing on developing the sport. ‘And it can do in Ireland too, once we get the message out there. About how easy and fun this game is.’
In America, there has been a lot of migration from the more cut-throat world of tennis and most of the development officers in Ireland have a background in tennis coaching. ‘But you don’t necessarily have to be into tennis to get into pickleball,’ McDaid points out.
The next step for the sport here is recognition from Sport Ireland and then they can join the global association that is lobbying the International Olympic Council for inclusion. As Pickleball has only been in existence in Ireland for less than seven years, it will take a little time.
‘We have done the hard work and the base of the sport is there. Sport Ireland have acknowledged us informally as the body responsible for pickleball in Ireland.
‘We just have a few boxes to tick over the next few years. It is a long, slow process.’
But one which will have its benefits. While it is still viewed as a pursuit to keep older people active, pickleball has become a serious sport in the States. Two professional tours, possible Olympic recognition. It looks like there is a big future in the game. Ireland doesn’t want to be left behind.
lIreland’s first Pickleball festival will be held at Ballyfermot Sport & Fitness Centre on Sunday, September 25