It is always great to see the kids playing a sport that they love. Pickleball may be new to your kids, but this is a sport that they would enjoy! This sport is suitable for pretty much all ages. If you are trying to find a sport for your kids, then Pickleball might be the way to go.
These are 20 reasons why your kids should play Pickleball.
1. Easy to Play
Unlike tennis, Pickleball is a racquet sport that is easy to learn and play. Literally, you can learn and play a full a game of Pickleball on your first day. The more kids play the game, the easier it is to build and improve their skills.
2. A Family Sport
As mentioned above, the game is excellent for all ages. Pickleball is great to play with the family. Your kids can play with their parents, grandparents, or cousins. You name it! It is a chance for a great family bonding that usually doesn’t happen due to busy schedules.
The best part about this sport is that children get to play outside with all generations of the family. This is, also, a great activity to play during family events or parties since you can improvise a court in your backyard.
3. Breaks Up the Monotony
Pickleball is such an exciting game for everyone to try out. It is an excellent activity for recreation, and it is different from regular sports. Children could potentially learn how to strategize in unusual scenarios; for instance, playing with older people.
Take a ten-year-old and a fifty-year-old playing against each other, of course, each one has their strategy. It is a big difference in age and a big difference in the way that they work towards winning the game.
4. Affordable Equipment
Unlike other sports, the equipment that you will need to play Pickleball is not expensive. The basic equipment that kids would need is paddles, balls, and shoes . The price for the balls can be less than $10, while the paddle may range from $20 to $150. In the beginning, kids could use regular shoes and buy more appropriate ones later on.
The court, on the other hand, can be improvised in any flat surface. If you want your kids to play the sport anytime, anywhere, then purchasing a portable net and doing the lines with tape is the way to go. This is an excellent sport that your kids will enjoy and would not hurt your wallet!
5. Smaller Courts
Pickleball courts are less than 1/3 of a tennis court. And if we take into consideration the type of balls used (which are slower), this translates on points and rallies lasting longer, compared to tennis. Therefore, it’s easier for kids to learn the game, as well as to have fun, even as beginners.
Also, it’s more feasible to set up a pickleball court in your home, unlike a tennis court, which can be quite costly.
6. Great for All Ages
Since the ball travels slower and the court is smaller, compared to tennis, the game can be played by people of all ages, as well as fitness levels.
For adults, Pickleball provides more action and stimulation to those who want to be fit even at an older age. The smaller court and the slower ball are great because it offers less strain on the joints and muscles. This creates an excellent combination because both children and adults can play with each other and enjoy it at the same time!
7. Training Camps
Pickleball organizations such as the USAPA provides training camps for children who want to learn the ins and outs of the game. Each camp is equipped with great trainers who would teach kids the specifics of the sport.
Some camps provide a three-day training which will require students to attend five hours a day. This would give a chance to the children to master the game, and it is also a gateway to joining competitions throughout the state.
8. Quick Matches and Set-Up
It is easy to make time to play Pickleball because of the fast turnovers on court. Unlike tennis, Pickleball is played up to only eleven points; which makes the games shorter and faster.
It is also easy to find a place to play if you don’t have a specific pickleball court in your area. Simply go to a tennis court and lay down some tape to have the exact measurements of what a pickleball court should be.
9. An Opportunity to Compete
There are different pickleball tournaments in several regions of the world. The kids can start young and may have an interest in joining competitions if they are given a chance. For the children who enjoy competition, entering tournaments would be great! This is also a good experience for them to meet different children and make new friends.
10. Fitness
Just like any other sport, Pickleball allows children to stay active and fit while having a great time.
11. Easy to Understand
Unlike some sports, Pickleball is a straightforward sport to understand. It doesn’t take a lot for the pickleball newbies to start rallying back and forth.
The rules of Pickleball are simple. There are just four rules that the kids would need to take note of when playing the game, and they are scoring, the serve, double bounce rule, and no volley zone. Pickleball has a lot of similarities with tennis and badminton. Now, if you already know how to play these games, then you’ll get Pickleball in a snap!
12. A Sport for Life
Starting kids young in sports is great! They will learn a lot of lessons that can be used in their daily life. Since Pickleball is excellent for all ages, children can continue playing and enjoying the game until they reach their golden years.
13. Opportunities for Scholarships
Throughout the years, Pickleball has been quickly rising in popularity. Children can pick up Pickleball at an early age, which gives them a chance to get scholarships in the future. In 2017, Southern Utah University became the very first college to offer a pickleball scholarship.
Several other universities are already thinking of adding the sport to their scholarship lists. Scholarships are always a great help, not just for the kids but also for the parents.
14. Easy to Socialize
Since players are closer to each other in a small court, it is easier to socialize and exchange words.
15. Health Benefits
Racquet sports, in general, are among the healthiest sports to play. A study found that playing racquet sports can increase a person’s lifespan and reduced by about 45% their risk of death.
16. Making New Friends
Pickleball has a very welcoming and friendly community that children can join across the country. This gives them an excellent opportunity to meet new people and eventually, friends. Children will also learn to mingle with different age brackets, from teens to seniors.
17. Finesse Game
Unlike many sports, where players would need to exert a lot of strength, Pickleball focuses more on placement and strategy. Children learn to develop control, as well as patient to outsmart their opponents.
18. Less Chance of Injury
Pickleball is a sport where there are fewer chances of getting injured. Of course, there are still some risks of injuries, but not as much as you would get when playing other more popular sports.
19. Not Seasonal
Pickleball is a sport that is available all year round. Your kids can play it during the Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall. If it is the cold season or summer is just too hot for the kids to play outside, there are a lot of indoor places where you can play the sport.
20. Portable and Mobile
Children can play Pickleball anywhere, anytime. If there is a nearby tennis court, they can turn it into a pickleball court with just a colored tape. They can also play the game on, literally, any flat surface; by drawing the lines with chalk and using chairs and caution tape as the net. If your kids are really into the sport, you might want to consider buying a portable net.
In overall
There are a lot of reasons why your kids should start playing the beautiful sport of Pickleball. This sport, which is quite easy to learn and play, will provide significant health benefits to your kids. Besides, it’s also great to have kids try a sport that is new to them.