April is National Pickleball Month Fast-Growing Sport Attracts Players of All Ages and Abilities

To further elevate the stature of one of the fastest growing sports in the United States, the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) recently announced that the month of April will once again be designated “National Pickleball Month.”

Designed to increase awareness in all aspects of the sport, the 2nd annual National Pickleball Month promotion, with assistance from sports industry companies and organizations will support programs and leagues, encourage public parks and other facilities to offer opportunities for players of all ages and abilities to play the game and help bring about a higher level of interest in communities throughout the country.

“Pickleball is experiencing unparalleled growth in the United States,” said Justin Maloof, Executive Director of the USAPA. “By establishing National Pickleball Month again for April, it will help us to continue to promote the sport on a national level and help get Americans moving, stay active and truly enjoy this great sport.”

Pickleball is a fun, active paddle sport created for all ages and skill levels that combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. It’s played both indoors and outdoors on a badminton-sized court with a slightly modified tennis net. Pickleball, which was developed as a recreational game in 1965, uses a paddle and a plastic ball with holes and can be played as both singles and doubles competition.

“We see this as a continuing initiative to help promote the sport throughout the U.S. on the local level,” added Maloof.

The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) 2018 Pickleball Participant Report reported that the sport currently has 3.1 million players in the U.S. – an increase of 12% over the previous year. SFIA is the premier trade association for top brands, manufacturers, retailers and marketers in the American sporting goods and fitness industry since 1906.

Pickleball ambassadors and providers can utilize National Pickleball Month by scheduling events and social play in April, promoting tournaments throughout the month, offering special discounts for first-time players, or other local events to create additional programs and courts. National Pickleball Month will also generate renewed interest in the many health, fitness and social benefits of the sport.

For sports facilities, schools and communities, pickleball courts are easy to build. A pickleball court is 44 feet long by 20 feet wide, and many courts are lined on existing sports surfaces, such as tennis, volleyball and basketball courts, in addition to being built as “standalone” courts. The USAPA estimates that each month, 300 pickleball courts are created in the U.S., either by adding lines to existing courts or building standalone courts. To date, there are nearly 21,000 courts in the United States.

For more information about pickleball, visit
www.usapa.org.