Highlander Athletics

Sometimes, I can’t fall asleep because I lie awake thinking about it. My family has said I’m not the same because of it. No, I am not talking about any substance. I am talking about Pickleball. 

Pickleball, a mix of tennis, ping-pong, and badminton, has taken the United States–and the world–by storm in the last couple of years. According to Business Insider, in the last three years, the sport has grown by 158%. Experts say this growth comes from the sport's ease and accessibility. The slow-moving pace, underhand serves, and smaller courts make it so that just about anyone can play.

Even though many country clubs and rec centers have actual pickleball courts, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association believes that over 25,000 courts are needed to meet the needs of the massive player population. However, makeshift courts are also easy to set up in driveways and streets when real courts aren’t accessible. All that is needed is some tape, a pickleball net found at almost any sports store, and enough room for the 44 x 20ft court. 

The sport is accessible inside, outside, standing, or even in wheelchairs. Playing pickleball even comes with significant health benefits, and people who begin playing pickleball are more likely to continue exercising by playing pickleball as opposed to other forms of physical activity. 

According to Mr. John Fitzsimons, the Sports and Society teacher at St. Andrew’s, pickleball’s ease and affordability are some of the reasons why it has become so popular in the United States. “The game isn’t as physically demanding as tennis or as expensive as golf,” Mr. Fitz said. “It has opened the door for people who are not necessarily in the country club circuit to be physically active.”

Long story short, people of all ages and demographics LOVE playing pickleball (and I am one of those people).

Like many others, I began playing very casually during quarantine. But this summer, I began playing many times a week. The game became addictive. Trying to hit spinny serves, precise dinks, and powerful slams kept me coming back to the court. I enjoyed getting better with my friends. Since then, I have become a “serious” pickleball player, playing with my friends several times a week. 

At a similar time to my initial introduction to pickleball, St. Andrew’s Tennis Coach, Ms. Lynsie Lambrecht, began playing with her colleagues to get outside during the pandemic. “I hadn’t ever played pickleball until quarantine, but I began playing with some of the other teachers here,” Lambrecht recalled. “It was our way to be around each other and have communication.”

After the quarantine was lifted and athletics resumed, students were drawn to outdoor sports, which led to the creation of the pickleball team. “We didn’t have enough court space for all the tennis players, so we had to come up with something different,” Lambrecht said. Thinking back to one of her favorite quarantine activities, Lambrecht suggested making a St. Andrew’s pickleball team. “It was a big hit. Since then, it has continued to grow.”

For those interested in beginning to play pickleball, Coach Lambrecht says to go for it. “Even if you don’t think it's going to be your sport, just going out there and playing with your friends will make you love the sport. The more you play with your friends, the better you will get.” 

Star pickleball player and team manager Mason Morgan can attest to Coach Lambrecht’s advice. “I was on the tennis team and wasn’t really enjoying it. I tried pickleball and ended up loving it for the smaller court size and less competitive nature.” 

Even though I and many others love the sport, some people who live near pickleball courts do not share the same opinion. The plastic pickleball mixed with the paddle emits low taps of mid-frequency noises, which is more annoying to the human ear than hard taps of a slow or high-frequency noise. Pickleball play has resulted in numerous noise complaints and lawsuits across the country. One Canadian couple even went on a hunger strike and claimed that the noise from a nearby pickleball court had caused them several health problems, per the Washington Post. 

Amidst the backlash and lawsuits, the sport’s dominance continues. There are many opportunities for St. Andrew’s students, parents, and faculty to get involved if they want to. 

Even if you aren’t on the pickleball or tennis team, Coach Lambrecht encourages you to show up to practice and play a few games of pickleball after school. Also, the athletic department plans to host a tournament at one of the various pickleball facilities around Austin this spring. 

So, go out and give pickleball a shot– it’s no longer a sport just for retirement communities; it’s the future.