According to the annual Topline Participation Report from the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), 13.6 million Americans played pickleball in 2023 last year. That puts our favorite sport in the same league as baseball (16.7 million) and outdoor soccer (14.1 million) and just ahead of downhill skiing (13.1 million).
Impressive Rise In Participation
If baseball really is America’s pastime, what does it mean if nearly as many Americans played pickleball in 2023 as baseball?
The surge of pickleball really began in 2022, when the report for that year showed an impressive 86% rise in participation. This momentum carried over into 2023, with statistics revealing a 52% increase over the previous year.
Particularly noteworthy was the 111% spike in “core participants.” SFIA defines a “core participant” as someone who engages in the sport eight or more times annually.
While pickleball dominated for the second consecutive year, other sports also witnessed growth in their respective followings. Off-course golf activities, such as driving range sessions, saw a surge in popularity during the pandemic, and this trend continued into 2023 with a further 19% increase in participation.
Remarkable Proactive Engagement
Additionally, individual sports like ice skating and bowling, known for their social appeal, saw respective upticks of 13% and 12% in total participation.
Overall, the percentage of Americans engaging in sports or physical activities continued its upward trajectory, reaching 78.8% in 2023, up from 72.7% in 2018. Notably, the 65 and over demographic displayed remarkable proactive engagement, with participation rates climbing from 59.3% five years prior to 72% in 2023.
Despite a decline in core participation in team sports between 2019 and 2022, a reversal was observed in 2023, with 13 out of 23 sports experiencing an increase. Notable examples include indoor soccer and team swimming, each witnessing a 6% rise, followed by flag football at 4%.
Despite the NFL’s efforts to promote flag football, core participation in the sport decreased by 3% over eight years, contrasting with the more substantial decline in tackle football participation (-31%).
Significant Growth
Although most team sports still exhibit reduced core participation compared to pre-COVID levels, total participation has risen for the majority over the past four years. Encouragingly, every sports category outlined by the SFIA, including fitness, outdoor, individual, racquet, team, water, and winter sports, saw an overall increase in participants in 2023.
Winter sports, in particular, experienced significant growth, with nearly one in ten Americans participating. Snowshoeing, snowboarding, and cross-country skiing saw notable increases of 17%, 10%, and 10%, respectively, while downhill skiing experienced a more modest 2% bump.
In the strength and conditioning category, tai chi, pilates, and barre welcomed new members, primarily casual participants, with core participation rates seeing marginal shifts.
Positive Consistency
SFIA CEO Tom Cove noted the positive consistency in participation data for 2023:
“During the pandemic, participation in some sports, like pickleball, golf, tennis, and hiking, skyrocketed, but others, including many team sports and health club activities, suffered.
“I am happy to report that this year, the participation data is consistent and consistently positive.”
Part of the SFIA report also analyzes the cities with the most and fewest dedicated pickleball courts which you can read here.
Please visit the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (sfia.org) and Pickleheads (pickleheads.com) for more information about the data shared in this article.
