PINING FOR PICKLEBALL

Story by Daniel Israel Photos Courtesy of the City of Bayonne

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the United States in 2021 and 2022. Pickleball grew in 2021 to 4.8 million players in the U.S., according to the 2022 Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) Single Sport Report on Pickleball. That is evident across the country, but especially in Bayonne, New Jersey.

This 14.8 percent growth from 2020 to 2021 follows 21.3 percent growth during the previous year. According to the SFIA , that equals an 11.5 percent average annual growth rate over the past fi ve years.

Of the approximately 4.8 million total participants, 3.5 million were “casual” players who play one to seven times a year while approximately 1.4 million were “core” players who play eight or more times a year. SFIA stated the number of “core” participants did not grow from 2020 to 2021, but “casual” players grew by about 22 percent.

Of the total pickleball participants, roughly 60 percent are men and 40 percent are women, according to SFIA. However, recently, there has been a slightly faster rate of growth among women.

The average age for all players continues to drop, falling to 38.1 years old in 2021, a decrease of 2.9 years from 2020. SFIA stated the average age of “core” players is 47.9 and “casual” players is 34.3 years old.

A total of 52 percent of “core” players are 55 or older while 79 percent of “casual” players are 54 or younger, according to SFIA. Growth of total participants from 2020 to 2021 was the fastest among players under 24 years of age, totaling approximately 21 percent. Meanwhile, annual growth among players 55 and older was closer to 10 percent.

The name pickleball may sound foreign but it is actually more familiar than you would think. The sport combines elements of tennis, ping pong and badminton.

Pickleball is played with paddles similar to the ones used for ping pong.

A neon green ball used in the game is light in weight, and is similar to a wiffl eball.

Players on either side of the net hit the to and fro across the net until one side commits a rule infraction. The serving team scores one point each time the non-serving team is at fault.

The first side to earn 11 points, in the lead by at least two points, wins the game. Tournament games may be played to scores of 11, 15 or 21 points with players rotating sides at six, eight or 11 total points.

Pickleball can be played indoors or outdoors and is easy for beginners to learn, but can develop into a fast-paced, competitive game for experienced players, according to the USA Pickleball Association. In addition, the game has developed a passionate following due to its friendly and social nature, as well as its multi-generational appeal.

The year 2022 marks the 57th anniversary of pickleball. It was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum. The children of these three dads were bored with their usual summertime activities, leading to the inception of pickleball.

Despite the name, no pickles are used in the sport. Accounts of how the game came to have that name vary, according to the USA Pickleball Association.

According to Pritchard’s wife Joan, she started calling the game pickleball because “the combination of diff erent sports reminded me of the pickle boat in crew where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats.” However, according to McCallum, the game was named after the Pritchards’ dog Pickles who would chase the ball and run off with it. According to McCallum, “The Pritchards had a dog named Pickles, and you’re having fun at a party, right? So anyways, what the hell, let’s just call it pickleball.”

Both accounts could be true, according to the USA Pickleball Association. In the early years, no offi cial name was assigned to the game. Additionally, a year or two after the game was invented, the Pritchards purchased a cocker spaniel and named it Pickles.

As the game became more fl eshed out, the need for an offi cial name arose. Regardless of the legitimate origin, the name “pickleball” was chosen.

To allow Bayonne locals the chance to face off against each other in pickleball, the city has stepped in to serve residents. New pickleball courts were unveiled in August of this year, replacing the southern tennis court area at Thomas DiDomenico16th Street Park.

Our Recreation Division and the Department of Public Works and Parks are always looking for new recreational opportunities for Bayonne,” Mayor James Davis said at the time. “In response to the growing popularity of pickleball, they have provided this new opportunity for Bayonne residents.”

Those southern tennis courts were converted to pickleball courts when the city looked to add hard-surface volleyball courts to the park. There are volleyball courts at Dennis Collins Park, but they have sand fl oors.

The pickleball courts measure 20 feet by 44 feet, the same size as a badminton court. The court includes a net, which is

Tom Cotter and Superintendent of Recreation Pete Amadeo for their eff orts on the project.

3 feet high, and can accommodate singles or doubles games.

“These are the city’s fi rst-ever pickleball courts, as well as our fi rst-ever hard-surface volleyball courts,” Davis said at the time. “We are excited to see our residents enjoying these beautiful facilities.”

Following their inception, the Division of Recreation began off ering lessons with scheduled times on the court. Lessons were off ered twice per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays over a four-week period.

Lessons began on Tuesday, Aug. 23, with eight participants in each session. Sessions included 6 to 7 p.m. for beginners; 7 to 8 p.m. for beginners; and 8 to 9 p.m. for intermediate and advanced players.

The Division of Recreation provided participants with T-shirts and the use of the Division’s paddles and balls. The lessons are available only to Bayonne residents, and have paused for the winter but will return for the spring.

A certifi ed instructor leads the lessons. Register online at register.capturepoint. com/CityofBayonne.

“Bayonne is happy to participate in the growing pickleball movement,” Davis concluded at the time. He thanked Director of the Department of Public Works

Pickleball joins a variety of sports played in Bayonne, including baseball, basketball, cricket, football, rugby, soccer, tennis and volleyball. The city continues looking for new recreational opportunities as it continues renovating numerous parks and playgrounds around Bayonne.

“The City of Bayonne enjoys providing recreational programs to our residents. Under the outstanding leadership of Pete Amadeo, our Recreation Division is always looking to fi nd new sports and other activities that our residents enjoy,” Davis recently told BLP. “In the past year, we have provided a new pickleball facility on the lower level of DiDomenico-16th Street Park. Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the United States. We are proud that Bayonne is providing the community with an opportunity to play this exciting game.”

Meanwhile, the demand for the sport in the city continues to grow, and even Hudson County has stepped in to provide more courts in the city. The county fi nished installing more pickleball courts in Stephen Gregg Hudson County Park in Bayonne on Nov. 10.

Residents eager to fi nd other nearby places to play pickleball can do so at places2play.org. The sport is governed by USA Pickleball Association, which was formed in 2005 to promote pickleball. For more information, go to USAPickleball.org. — BLP