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 uses a paddle and a plastic ball with holes, and is played as both singles and doubles.
 
According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, the sport has surged in participation over the last five years, with more than 2.8 million players as of 2017, placing pickleball among the fastest growing sports in the U.S.
 
“Pickleball is just exploding with players and interest,” says USAPA Executive Director Justin Maloof. “Creating National Pickleball Month for the month of April will help us to promote the sport nationwide to people of all ages, and help to get Americans moving, active and enjoying this fun sport.”
 
National Pickleball Month is designed to boost all areas of the sport, from bringing more people into the game, to helping pickleball “providers” promote programs and leagues, to making public parks and sports facilities aware of the interest in pickleball in their communities.
 
“We see this as a ‘rallying point’ to promote the sport throughout the U.S. on the local level,” Maloof says. “The USAPA has built up a nationwide network of 1,700 dedicated ‘Pickleball Ambassadors,’ and designating April as National Pickleball Month will help them to spread the word about all the great benefits pickleball can provide, not just to individuals of all ages, but also to communities.”
 
Pickleball ambassadors and providers can tie-in to National Pickleball Month by scheduling events and social play during April, promoting tournaments during the month, offering special discounts for first-time players, or any other local promotion that will help bring more people into the game and create more programs and courts. National Pickleball Month also is a time to get out the word to mainstream consumers about the health, fitness and social benefits of the sport.
 
“Pickleball in the CSRA continues to grow at an exponential rate,” according to Anne Rheins, the YMCA’s Active Older Adults and Pickleball Coordinator/USA Pickleball Association Ambassador.  “One of the most attractive aspects of the sport is that it is easy to learn, and people of all ages and athletic abilities enjoy it after a brief introduction.  It is also a very social sport which brings together a diverse group of people like no other activity.  I encourage everyone to try it, but consider yourself warned…the sport is addicting!”  
 
For sports facilities, schools and communities, pickleball courts are easy to create. 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.

For consumers looking to get into the game, the USAPA offers a “Places 2 Play” guide on its website, www.USAPA.org. Pickleball providers can sign up their locations, programs and contact information for free, and players can do a simple search to see what’s available in their areas.
 
The Augusta area boasts many pickleball venues.  In addition to USAPA’s “Places to Play,” locals can find specifics of pickleball opportunities on the Augusta Pickleball facebook page.
 
There are several local places to learn to play.  The Wilson Family Y has Pickleball Fundamentals classes every Tuesday and Thursday at 10:00 am, taught by Anne Rheins and several volunteers. A similar class is offered at Warren Road Community Center on Fridays at noon.  For the month of April, free fundamentals classes are also available every Saturday at 10:00 am at dedicated outdoor courts in Montclair subdivision.