Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the world, and it’s about time we catch on to the rising trend.
Pickleball is a game frequently played across America and the world. With two players on each side, each equipped with a pickleball paddle, they play with rules very similar to tennis. Both sides play to 11 points, which can only be earned by the serving side, reminiscent of old volleyball rules.
Ever since its creation in 1965, the sport has experienced a slow and steady growth in popularity. However, it has undergone an explosion of growth over the last decade, where USA Pickleball Association membership has grown over 1,000% from 2014‒ from 7,000 members back then to over 80,000 today. Additionally, in the 2023 Topline Participation Report, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) named pickleball the fastest-growing sport in America for the third year in a row. According to the report, pickleball reached a total of 8.9 million players in the US in 2023, a huge increase from the 4.8 million players in 2022.
However, looking at a different source, The sport is experiencing even greater growth, with nearly 50 million American adults playing last year, up by over a third from 2022, according to the Association of Pickleball Professionals.
Looking at all this growth, it’s easy to reach the conclusion that pickleball is a dominantly rising sport that has already established itself as a staple in the American psyche. However, we should consider adding it to a school’s curriculum as well.
We wouldn’t even be the first district to take this leap of faith. Maryland’s largest school district, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), has introduced pickleball as an official varsity sport to all 25 of its high school campuses.
“Pickleball is an inclusive sport that fits perfectly with our corollary sports program, which provides additional opportunities for students with and without disabilities,” Athletic Director of MCPS Jeff Sullivan said.
Adding Pickleball as a Varsity sport to the San Ramon Valley Unified School District may be an excellent addition to the repertoire of sports our school system already offers. The competitive inclusivity it offers combined with its rising popularity is evidence of its merit.
