Members at the St. Paddles Day Pickleball tournament.
Do you know what the fastest-growing sport in America is? That’s right, it’s pickleball!
The YMCA of the Suncoast members from seven branches have joined the roughly 36.5 million pickleball player craze.
Pickleball was created in 1965 by two dads, Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell. After playing a round of golf on a Saturday morning, they returned to Pritchard’s home near Seattle, WA to find their families bored with nothing to do! The men then took it upon themselves to create a new fun summertime activity the entire family would enjoy. They began playing with ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball. As the weekend progressed, the men fine-tuned the game, created rules and ensured every member of the family could play together.
Pickleball through the Years
- 1967 | The first permanent pickleball court was constructed in the backyard of Pritchard’s friend and neighbor, Bob O’Brian.
- 1972 | A corporation was formed to protect the creation of pickleball.
- 1976 | The first known pickleball tournament in the world was held at South Center Athletic Club in Tukwila, Washington.
- 1984 | The United States Amateur Pickleball Association (U.S.A.P.A.) was organized to continue the growth and advancement of pickleball on a national level.
- 1990 | Pickleball was being played in all 50 states.
- 2001 | The game of pickleball was introduced for the first time in the Arizona Senior Olympics through the efforts of Earl Hill. The tournament was played at Happy Trails RV Resort in Surprise, AZ, and drew 100 players. It was the largest pickleball event ever played. Over the next few years, the event grew to nearly 300 players.
- 2005 | A new corporation for the sport was established as USA Pickleball Association (USAPA).
- 2009 | The first USAPA National Tournament for players of all ages was held in Buckeye, AZ, November 2-8, 2009. The tournament drew almost 400 players from 26 states and several Canadian provinces.
- 2022 | The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) named pickleball the “fastest-growing sport in America” for the second consecutive year in its annual Topline Participation Report.
Pickleball at the YMCA
A pickleball duo pose with medals after the St. Paddles Day Pickleball Tournament
On March 11, 2023, the Greater Palm Harbor YMCA and Citrus County YMCA members gathered for a St. Paddles Day Pickleball tournament. Greater Palm Harbor branch Executive Director Delonyx Cortez attended the event. Delonyx stepped up and stepped in to play with YMCA member Karen Berger, who needed a last-minute partner for the tournament.
Delonyx and Karen placed second in the 16 – 41-year-old category. Delonyx shared his excitement, “It felt great not to let my partner down. It was awesome to win second place, but even better to get to meet some pretty cool people.”
One of the many highlights of the pickleball tournament for Delonyx was being able to meet more of his members and reiterate the programs and events the Y offers. Throughout numerous conversations, Delonyx was able to connect members with instructors, classes and programs that will positively impact the members’ mental, physical and spiritual well-being.
Delonyx enjoys attending and participating in his branch events, “Participating in events is a special part of my job.” He adds, “Events are a great way to connect and give people a platform to express their wants and needs and how we can better serve not only them, but also our community at large. The awesome part is it's in an environment where we can kick back and have a great and honest conversation.”
You can learn more about pickleball at the YMCA and how you can join a team or utilize our courts by contacting your local YMCA branch today!
Published Wednesday, March 29, 2023.