We’ve all read how pickleball is gaining popularity around the globe – and Canberra is no exception.
You can practice pickleball at several locations across Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government venues, including the Belconnen Community Centre and Namadgi School in Kambah.
“Fun! Satisfying! Addictive!”
Stuart Campbell, the President of Pickleball ACT, has been a huge fan of the sport since 2018. He characterizes it as “Fun! Satisfying! Addictive!” and notes that there are approximately 300 enthusiasts in Canberra, a number that is steadily on the rise.
He adds, “In the last three months, Pickleball ACT had over 1,400 attendances at our sessions.
“There’s a further group of social players in Erindale who’ve been around for a while and two new groups – Pickleball Canberra and the Canberra Pickleball League – commenced operating recently.
“Both have generated even more pickleball interest in the region.”
Burgeoning Demand
Meeting this burgeoning demand presents a considerable challenge.
“We have 10 sessions per week, run over seven days, at five different venues. These are almost always fully booked. We just can’t keep up,” Stuart remarked.
The sport’s popularity primarily spreads through word of mouth.
“On top of that, in recent years, the professional leagues have settled on entertaining formats, and that brought in high-profile team investors who all recognized pickleball’s attraction and growth potential.
“Pickleball has also enjoyed quite a deal of media exposure through celebrity pickleball fanatics,” he said.
An Ambitious Vision
Pickleball ACT holds an ambitious vision for the sport’s flourishing presence in Canberra. They aspire to see a club in every suburb, catering to players across all age groups and skill levels, from casual players to highly skilled competitors.
The aim is to achieve the broadest levels of inclusivity, with dreams of dedicated courts in Canberra.
Thus far, the effort has been entirely volunteer-driven. The offer of support from Nick Kyrgios was warmly received, and additional local figures championing pickleball would be greatly appreciated.
About Pickleball ACT
Pickleball ACT (PACT) is a non-profit sports organization established on 8 July 2021.
The PACT Committee members discovered pickleball independently from each other, starting in early 2018. However, it wasn’t until 2020/21 that they connected.
Since then, the presence of pickleball in the ACT has expanded from six to eight individuals casually engaging in the sport to now playing seven days a week across multiple venues (and actively seeking more opportunities).
From this modest beginning, there are aspirations for PACT to evolve into a prominent regional force in the world of pickleball. PACT’s primary objectives encompass the promotion, organization, administration, and overall advancement of pickleball in the Australian Capital Territory.
Contact them via email at [email protected] or reach them through their Facebook Group or at Instagram.
Visit the Pickleball Australia Association by clicking here.
About Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia and emerged following the federation of the Australian colonies, designated as the administrative center for the newly formed nation.
It stands as Australia’s largest inland city and holds the eighth position in the overall list of Australian cities.
Situated at the northern extremity of the Australian Capital Territory, at the tip of the Australian Alps – the nation’s tallest mountain range.
As of June 2022, Canberra’s estimated population stands at 456,692.
