Dilly of a Sport

Sea Isle Is Caught Up in the Pickleball Craze

Mayor Leonard Desiderio cut the ribbon for the new pickleball courts on 42nd Place last June.

Imagine playing a ferocious game of up-close tennis, smacking a Wiffle ball with a solid-faced paddle while standing on pingpong table.

That’s pickleball, the fastest-growing sport in the United States, not to mention in Sea Isle City and the surrounding communities, where the distinct “racket” made by paddles hitting plastic balls echoes in local gymnasiums and on outdoor courts.

You may not play the game, but chances are you know someone who does because the game with the name that has nothing to do with the sport has become what bowling was in America in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

The title of “fastest-growing sport in the United States” comes from its 39.9% increase in participation over the last two years, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association Sports, Fitness, and Leisure Activities Topline Participation Report, which tracks participation in 120 activities. The report noted that there were 4.8 million players.

Laura Gainor, the director of media relations for USA Pickleball, said the recent growth spurt includes all age groups.

“Adults participate in big numbers, but we’re seeing more young people coming to the sport, which is easy to learn and play,” she said. “As we move out of two years of social distancing, people are hungry for activities with friends, in person. Pickleball offers a healthy atmosphere and a high level of physical and aerobic exercise. A 90-minute session can burn 600 calories.”

Scaled down to half the dimensions of a tennis court, Pickleball mania has made court time as coveted as a prime beachfront rental in the summer. Court lines have been drawn on outdoor tennis and basketball courts and gymnasium floors, and there are active programs in the summer and offseason in Sea Isle City.

To flip the “Field of Dreams” prophesy about creating a baseball field in Iowa, in this case for a flood of Pickleball players looking for courts, “If they come, you must build it.”

The “social game” also has media platforms where enthusiasts can communicate; among them, South Jersey Pickleball and NJ Pickleball Forum on Facebook, which boasts 4,000 members.

Cape May County resident and USA Pickleball Ambassador Tracie Holmes has experienced the game’s rise in participation locally over the last decade.

“Although it is easy to learn the basics, there are intricacies that can be mastered to allow for a higher level of play,” she said. “This makes the game fun and challenging for all levels, from beginners to elite athletes.”

Community Services Director Kathy Custer has watched the growth of the game in Sea Isle City. Sea Isle relined shared tennis courts at Dealy Field for pickleball a decade back and added two exclusive courts on West Jersey Avenue across from the city’s recreation complex to keep up with the demand.

But the pickleball fever demanded more available court time.

“We saw the need for a dedicated facility for our pickleball community and used a municipal property to make it happen,” Custer said. “Sea Isle cut the ribbon on seven newly installed courts on 42nd Place in June of 2021 and it’s been great for the players, many of whom play through the fall and winter.”

The pickleball phenomenon began in 1965 near Seattle when three dads created a “backyard” game with a badminton net, pingpong paddles, and a plastic ball to occupy their bored kids. Joel Pritchard, who was a U.S. Representative from Washington state, and his friend Bill Bell got the pickleball rolling. When they discovered that the ball bounced well on a hard surface, the net was lowered from 60 to 36 inches. Another friend, Barney McCallum, joined the effort and the men created rules, adapting the sport for family play.

According to USA Pickleball Association, the origin of the name remains a quirky question.

Pritchard’s wife, Joan, started to call the game pickleball because “the combination of different sports reminded me of the pickle boat in crew where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats.” But according to Barney McCallum, they named the game after Pritchard’s dog Pickles, who would run off with the ball while it was in play. The first true admirer of the game.

Pickleball players pride themselves on being a welcoming group. A camaraderie among players builds during play and friendships develop that go beyond the game.

“I moved to the county year-round in 2010 and have made most of my year-round friends here through pickleball,” Holmes said. “After meeting through [the game], our friendships have developed beyond the court, and it has really made the transition to the area as a full-time resident very easy.”

Holmes adds: “The major differences in the game from indoor to outdoor are the weather factors, sun and wind. These can impact play, and some players adjust to the conditions better than others. The in-season play here is primarily outside as we have far more outdoor courts in Cape May County than indoor courts.”

The standard court measures 20 by 44 feet. The net is set at 36 inches at the ends, dipping to 34 in the middle. A non-volley zone, known as ‘the kitchen,’ extends 7 feet back from the net on each side.

Pickleball founders Joe and Joan Pritchard play on the court where it all started in 1965. (Photo courtesy of USA Pickleball)

Competitive paddles are a high-tech composite, and the ball is made of plastic, weighing .78 to .935 ounces with a diameter of 2.874 to 2.972 inches. The ball must be a single, consistent color.

“The ‘drop-in’ nature of open play encourages participation,” Holmes said. “Time is scheduled for play at each set of local courts and players just show up and play. There is no need to pre-arrange a group. This makes it very flexible, and you can decide to join in when it is convenient for you.”

The Avalon Open Pickleball Tournament, set for May 20-22, will highlight the pre-summer season with more than 300 players registered to compete in men’s and women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles as well as Skills/Age and Social Play divisions. To register, sign up at pickleballtournaments.com/tournamentinfo.pl?tid=5930 by May 10.

Pickleball has planted its flag firmly in the local communities and promises to add fervent followers.