HOW MOM MADE IT! playing pickleball

PICKLEBALL! IF YOU DON’T PLAY, YOU PROBABLY KNOW SOMEONE WHO DOES. ACCORDING TO THE SPORTS & FITNESS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, IT’S THE FASTEST GROWING SPORT THREE YEARS IN A ROW WITH MORE THAN 36-MILLION PLAYERS IN THE UNITED STATES.

CALIFORNIA APPARENTLY HAS THE MOST PLAYERS AND LOCALLY, WE HAVE MANY OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE NATION.

IN THIS MONTH’S HOW MOM MADE IT! COVER STORY, WE'RE SHINING A LIGHT ON A LOCAL MOM WHO IS A PICKLEBALL CHAMPION, PICKLEBALL HISTORIAN AND PICKLEBALL HALL-OF-FAMER. HER NAME IS JENNIFER LUCORE.

MOMSTOWN:

Tell us about Jennifer Lucore!

JENNIFER: I am a local mom and I grew up in North San Diego County, graduated from Fallbrook Union High, and currently live in Oceanside with my husband, a retired division chief of North County Fire Department.

I love being a mom, I love pickleball, I love traveling and having fun wherever I go! So, you can see that pickleball plays perfectly into what I love a one-stop shop. I’ve been playing for 15 years, and in that time have earned a collection of titles and am currently involved in:

► Pickleball Hall of Fame inductee

► Co-author with my mom: History of Pickleball – More Than 50 Years of Fun!

► Board of Director at Naples, Florida Pickleball Center (Pickleball capital of the world with 66 permanent courts)

►USA Pickleball Ambassador at Large (since June 2015)

► Pickleball Magazine – Board Member and Around the Post column co-contributor

► USA Pickleball Historian. Assisting the media with their research of pickleball history (got to make sure they get it right! and yes, the sport was named after the dog Pickles)

► Board of Director for the newly a created team Naples JBB United, part of the National Pickleball League.

Through my involvement in pickleball, both as a player and contributor to the sports growth, I’ve been invited to teach, travel and meet new friends throughout the USA and internationally in Canada, the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Japan, Mexico, The Netherlands, UK, Spain (3 trips), Singapore, and Thailand. This year, I head back to Madrid, Spain to teach pickleball on an 8-day adventure.

I never thought that pickleball would bring me and my family opportunities to travel the world. My kids, now age 27 and 30 are still asking, “Mom, where are you going now, can I come?” Also, these last few decades I have spent more time with my parents because they, too, were traveling to tournaments to compete, so we would cheer each other on. #priceless.

MOMSTOWN: Pickleball is sweeping the nation. It’s truly phenomenal how many people are playing. However, pickleball is not new to you. When and how did you get started?

JENNIFER: I played high school and college tennis, then I got married and started a family. I had two daughters so there was no time for social tennis until my mid 30s when my time freed up a bit. Then in my mid-40s the kids were still home but busy with their own activities so HELLOOOO pickleball. My parents have been playing pickleball since the 1990s so I always heard of the sport with the funny name, yet only played with the family. Then in my early forties I gave a pickleball tournament a try and was hooked.

The following year my doubles partner (Alex Hamner, a mom from Carlsbad) and I won USA Pickleball Nationals Open Doubles which further cemented my love of the game and I began my quest to support and grow the sport. That early success put me in a position to travel Internationally, help to build the sport, teach and spread the fun of the game wherever I went. Also, my early success earned me the distinction of being the very first sponsored pickleball player. I was sponsored by Pickle-Ball Inc. who was the first paddle and ball manufacturer and was started by one of the creators and founders of the sport, Barney McCallum.

MOMSTOWN: What is it about pickleball that brings you the greatest joy?

JENNIFER: The fun. The sport is just flat out fun! Besides the long list of positives which includes the social aspect and the great people you meet it keeps you healthy. In fact, I could write a book on the health aspects of the game and how it has truly saved lives.

MOMSTOWN: Pickleball is more than a hobby for you; what role does pickleball play in your life?

JENNIFER: Although my family comes first, my life really revolves around pickleball. I’m not playing tournaments as much but I make up for it with my involvement in supporting the growth of the sport. I respond to inquiries on historical aspects of the sport, update the book as more history evolves, teach and connect inquiries with the appropriate people. I also stay in contact with the hundreds, if not, thousands of people I’ve met playing and teaching pickleball. I’m not sure how, but I’ve become an approachable source for pickleball inquiries and as a result, my inbox is always full but, that’s part of the fun!

MOMSTOWN: What do you think when you see so many people (especially moms) picking up the sport?

JENNIFER: Seeing moms out there playing makes me so happy! Knowing what it did for me and how it can fill a much-needed void for moms who either need a little free time or whose kids have grown and don’t require so much attention. It gets you out of the house, burns some energy, helps with keeping you fit and socializing which, can be the most important part for some. There really is no downside.

MOMSTOWN: What advice do you have for anyone who hasn’t yet played?

JENNIFER: There’s no reason not to give it a try. Nearly all courts/clubs have ambassadors who will help get you started by showing you around, explaining how open play works and even provide some basic instruction. Open play allows anyone to join the action and immediately be included. There are courts all over San Diego County just waiting for you to join the fun. Whether local or traveling you can always check the website Places to Play: places2play.org

MOMSTOWN: Your enthusiasm is both inspiring and motivating. Beyond the pickleball court, what advice do you have to help people follow their passions and create a life that gets them excited to get up in the morning?

JENNIFER: Whether its pickleball or another hobby it’s important to feel connected to something. Because of the social and inclusion aspects of pickleball it’s my feeling that anyone who is struggling with loneliness could find happiness on the court.

Pickleball gets people excited. It gets them off the couch, out of the house and ready to compete, maybe even some friendly trash talking, and when it’s all over the fun continues as we’re off to grab food or drinks with our opponents then repeat the next day.

MOMSTOWN: How can readers learn more about pickleball and follow you on social media?

JENNIFER: To learn more about pickleball, instructional tips, a calendar of camps/retreats and my travels go to:

AllPickleball.com facebook.com/jennifer.lucore instagram.com/jenniferlucore