The next time you walk into a recreation center be on the lookout for pickleball players. They are lurking everywhere. In extreme cases they have been reported to be more aggressive than the Hare Krishnas used to be in the airports.
They have been known to jump out from behind trash cans, gymnastic mats and equipment, and the bathroom stalls in an effort to recruit innocent bystanders to play their game. In Denver the enthusiasm of some pickleball players has reportedly been more extreme than the most diehard Bronco fans.
And their efforts are working. The sport is growing by leaps and bounds. The following are the top 12 reasons pickleball fanatics are able to convince unsuspecting victims to play the sport:
- Although it helps to have athletic ability, it is not required to play pickleball.
- Players can learn the rules of the sport, general strokes, and tactics in an hour. It may take experienced racquet sports players 30 minutes to get the hang of things.
- It is a heck of a lot easier to play than tennis. The only time players run is when the ball looks like it is going to knock over their beer.
- In most cases, the beer is more expensive than the equipment. Paddles cost less than $50 and they don’t need to be restrung. The balls last forever.
- If you want to smoke a cigarette while teaching the sport, that is fine (Frequently seen at courts in Colorado).
- Enthusiasts don’t need fancy cameras to take action shots. A Polaroid or Kodak Brownie camera will capture the action without a blur.
- Matching skirts, tops, and warm-ups are not required. Players usually are adorned in the same clothes they wear when mowing the lawn, doing the dishes, or going sightseeing.
- When players forget the score, it doesn’t matter. Proper protocol is to make up something that sounds reasonable. There is a 50-50 chance the opponent has forgotten the score also.
- Pickleball matches are a great place to find a date, especially for players over the age of 65.
- Pickleball leagues do not require drug or steroid tests.
- You don’t have to worry about playing against a former Olympic pickleball player in your next league match.
- Medicare cards are a valid form of identification for playing in pickleball leagues.
God only knows how many people play pickleball. This is the case because most people under the age of 65 won’t admit they have even heard of the sport, even if they are hooked on it.
For more information about the sport or to find courts in your area contact the USA Pickleball Association or talk to the person hiding behind the volleyball pole at your nearest recreation center.