As pickleball works its inexorable way through the demographics, kids are starting to become a big part of the story, too. From clinics and clubs to partnerships and new statistics, pickleball among children is rapidly becoming “a thing.”
Pittsburg, Kansas
The Pittsburg Parks & Recreation Department in Kansas is scheduled to host the “Little Gherkins” indoor youth pickleball clinic at the Lincoln Center starting Thursday, October 26.
This clinic, tailored for various age groups – 5-7, 8-11, and 12 and older – will run to November 16 every Thursday evening.
The cost per child is $30, inclusive of an exclusive T-shirt and all necessary equipment.
For further information or to register, please contact (620) 231-8310 or visit the Lincoln Center at 710 W. 9th Street, Pittsburg, KS.
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago’s largest indoor pickleball facility is poised to debut in the Lincoln Park neighborhood in the upcoming winter season.
The new establishment, SPF, will be situated at 2121 N. Clybourn Avenue and is designed to function as a year-round recreation center and community focal point.
The business plans to introduce the Cucumber Club, catering to children aged 3 to 11, offering tennis and pickleball camps, lessons, special events, and more.
The facility is slated to open following the completion of the initial phase, featuring eight dedicated pickleball courts equipped with instant replay technology, along with an indoor turf field adaptable for various games and events.
Ample guest amenities will be available, including spacious locker rooms with saunas and showers, and phase one will also include a comprehensive coffee bar service.
Subsequent to court installation and commencement, SPF envisions incorporating distinct local dining options into the event center.
Richard Green, Partner at SPF, stated, “When designing SPF, we set out to create an experience that is very uniquely Chicago while giving guests a space to stay active and engaged with friends and family throughout the year.”
Life Time
Life Time, the preeminent healthy lifestyle brand and the largest provider of pickleball facilities, programs, and leagues in the nation, has announced a collaboration with DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) to introduce new junior pickleball programming, aiming to acquaint more children with the sport.
Recognizing that 70% of kids cease participating in sports by the age of 13 (as per the National Alliance for Youth Sports), Life Time’s innovative junior curriculum prioritizes learning through enjoyable practices, as opposed to drills and lessons often perceived as “boring” by kids.
We published a full report on the partnership in this article.
State Of Play 2022
The Aspen Institute recently released its annual report on youth sports titled “State of Play 2022,” an organization known for its comprehensive research on various pertinent issues, including youth sports.
According to the report, the top five competitive sports among children aged 6 to 12 are basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, and, if both tackle and flag variants are combined, football.
Pickleball was not in the top five, but it has witnessed remarkable growth, experiencing an astounding 83 percent increase in participation from 2019 to 2021. This surge drew nearly half a million regular players aged 6 to 17.
One contributing factor to pickleball’s popularity among the younger demographic is the presence of teenage sensation Anna Leigh Waters in the professional pickleball arena.
