As we happily say goodbye to April rain showers, we give a warm welcome to May flowers and…National Physical Fitness and Sports Month! What better time than now to get outside: be active, sweat a little bit, soak up some vitamin D (but wear sunscreen!!). Need another reason to get out and be active? Check out Tony, the founder of Fit After Fifty, as he shares his story here. Psssst…you can share your story too, to help inspire others.
In observance of National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, we’re taking the opportunity to highlight some lesser-known sports, as well as some of the people who participate in them. Starting with: PICKLEBALL.
Seriously, that is the name: “Hi, my name is Pickles, the family cocker spaniel of one of the co-inventors of Pickleball. I used to chase stray balls and then hide in the bushes, so they named the game after me.” – Pickles, the dog.
Now that we’ve clarified that it is a legit sport, let’s learn more about it. Think tennis meets badminton meets table tennis. It’s played on a badminton court (smaller than a tennis court) with a shorter net, reaching 34 in. at the center. It’s played with a whiffle ball (plastic with small holes) and wooden or composite paddles similar to those used in table tennis. You can play singles or doubles. Perhaps its growing popularity is due to the sport’s appeal to both beginners and more experienced players, as the pace of the game is dictated accordingly. AND, it’s a sport you can play inside in the winter and, in nice weather, on an outdoor court.
For more info, check out this video, compliments of the USA Pickleball Association:
