As the popularity of pickleball has skyrocketed over the last few years, it was perhaps inevitable that its demographic would start to extend beyond the once-standard spectrum of retirees and older.
Spearheading The Initiative
At Arizona State University, the student demand to include the sport on campus was definite, and now multiple opportunities exist for students to get involved regardless of their experience.
Spearheading this initiative is business sophomore Nathan Tang, who, along with other upperclassmen, founded the ASU Pickleball Club.
Operating primarily at the Sonora tennis courts in Tempe, the club hosts open plays every Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., consistently drawing in a turnout of 60 to 80 students. Despite boasting approximately 440 registered members through Sun Devil Sync, Tang estimates the actual membership to range between 500 and 600 individuals.
Rejecting Strict Membership Requirements
Tang estimates the actual membership to range between 500 and 600 individuals and points out how inclusive the club is and how it eschews strict membership requirements.
“The courts are distinguished based on skill,” Tang told The State Press. “So the far right courts are going to be the beginners, the new players, then it’s more intermediate, and then advanced. So basically, you have four courts going the entire night, all recreational games, and it is played at your own pace.”
Spring heralded a significant milestone for pickleball enthusiasts at ASU: The sport officially became an established club sport under Tang’s stewardship.
Operating out of Pickleball Kingdom in Chandler, the club holds rigorous training sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays, covering drills, tournament preparations, and even mock competitions. From a pool of 60 to 70 hopefuls, the club handpicked a dedicated team of 30 members to represent ASU in tournaments across the southwest region.
Read more about our coverage of pickleball at universities here.
Devoted Members
Among the club’s devoted members is Zocelyne Kow, a biological sciences student who found herself drawn to the vibrant community aspect of pickleball.
For Kow, the allure lies not only in the sport itself but also in the diverse friendships: “There are a lot of people on the club team and just the club in general who’ve made friends who are going to be roommates because of pickleball or just forever friends.”
Beyond the confines of the club, ASU’s intramural sports program provides yet another avenue for pickleball enthusiasts to engage with the sport. Spearheaded by Chris Johnson, the sports program coordinator at the downtown Sun Devil Fitness Complex, the program experienced a notable uptick in participation following its inaugural pickleball tournament.
A Growing Community
What initially began with a modest turnout of eight participants soon burgeoned into a growing community of 65 players, indicative of pickleball’s escalating popularity within the university setting.
Johnson attributes this surge in interest to the sport’s accessibility and the prevailing spirit of camaraderie among participants:
“There was a lot of demand for it (pickleball),” he says. “Different people kept playing around town, and it wasn’t really something we did in our building, so we wanted to bring that into our space and offer students the opportunity to play it.
“There was a lot of feedback from students that they knew about the game but never really had an opportunity to play.”
Surpassed Expectations
Johnson noted that pickleball has surpassed expectations in terms of popularity, attributing its appeal to a more relaxed approach to competition. Players are drawn to the sport not primarily for its competitive nature but rather out of curiosity and a desire to explore something fresh alongside friends.
This aspect resonates with Johnson as he values the inclusive and exploratory spirit, where the emphasis is not solely on winning or losing but on enjoying the experience with others.
Arizona is one of pickleball’s busiest states – click here to read more of our coverage.
