The Inevitable Growth of Pickleball on Campus

Pickleball, the fastest growing sport in the world, has largely been ignored on the Campolindo campus. Because it combines ping pong and tennis into an accessible game that can be played competitively by people of all ages and athletic ability, pickleball has grown exponentially throughout the past few years with an average growth rate of 158.6% per year.

Lafayette has seen hundreds of new “Pickleheads” each year, leading the city to embrace Pickleball as an integral part of the community. The hockey rink by the Lafayette Community Center has been repurposed into the beacon of pickleball within the city. As pickleball becomes a larger part of the Lamorinda community, Campolindo has yet to provide the proper means for students to enjoy the game on campus.

Pickleball has been incorporated into the physical education curriculum, but only gives students the opportunity to play the game for a couple weeks throughout the year. Coach Adams has noticed an increase in pickleball’s popularity among her students: “They have lots of great games and even asked to extend the unit beyond the number of days or weeks,” Adams said.

While pickleball is far from becoming a high school sport, recreational play is extremely popular. Varsity tennis player sophomore Finn Lindsey-Renton believes that, “students should have the opportunity to enjoy pickleball on campus even if it isn’t a recognized sport. It’s clear that the demand for pickleball is high among students and would be a beneficial addition for students.

The accessibility of pickleball as well as its potential mental health benefits make it a worthwhile addition for the campus. “Pickleball is far easier to learn and much less cutthroat than tennis,” senior Jamie Kelly said. Incorporating the game on campus allows students who aren’t currently playing a sport or didn’t make their respective team to have a fun physical activity that is easier to learn.

Furthermore, pickleball is considered to have mental health benefits: “Slamming the ball and getting the energy out is great for mental health,” Kelly said. Pickleball requires consistent focus and offers a distraction from the stress that high school provides.

Admittedly finding the space for these courts may prove difficult. However, tennis players are willing to make minor sacrifices to make pickleball a possibility on campus. “I’d be fine with pickleball lines and boundaries being painted on the tennis courts similar to Moraga Country Club if it helps the game grow,” said varsity tennis player senior Patrick Floyd.

Some have taken a more controversial approach to get pickleball courts placed on campus. “Down with the tennis courts,” said senior Alex Thomasson who considers himself to be “ambassador of pickleball” on campus. While Thomasson’s uncompromising approach may be too extreme, Floyd makes a strong argument that pickleball could be a cost-effective and beneficial addition to the campus. In order to accommodate pickleball courts and give students time to use facilities, “appropriate administrative protocol must be taken,” Adams said. It would be necessary to both talk with tennis coaches and find a compromise regarding the repainting of the lines.

It’s clear that cultivating an environment that fosters the growth of pickleball would be a positive development at Campo. Supporting pickleball would allow kids to avoid the intense nature of high school sports or enjoy a fun athletic activity during the offseason. It would also provide both physical and mental health benefits to Campo students. Only requiring different nets and painted boundaries, pickleball would be a cost effective addition to the campus that would appeal to the entire student body. By compromising with coaches and teams who use the court facilities, it is plausible for pickleball to become an integral part of Campolindo’s campus.