Pickleball Magazine 3-4 Courtesy of Pickleball Guru | Page 37
Invite others in
Offer free, basic beginner lessons. This
is one of the most effective ways to grow
a program. Lessons on public courts can
be scheduled away from drop-in play times, and evening
lessons accommodate all ages. Partner with indoor venues
to find lesson times that grow the player base for a win-win.
Plan a pickleball media event with the parks department
or private venue and advertise to the community. Invite city
officials and put paddles in hand for a free lesson.
Designate players who will welcome new people at drop-in
play and help them learn the ropes. Beginner players need
to feel included and accepted by more advanced players
during drop-in play in order to keep them coming back.
Plan regular social activities, such as round robin games
and picnics, and personally invite others to join in.
education staff at their former schools. Meet with school
staff to get pickleball started in the district or otherwise
support existing classes.
As numbers grow, become organized
Choose a structure that fits the goals of the group. Being
organized provides additional leverage in working with
city staff and facilitates the process. It helps
identify player numbers, which is useful in
acquiring city support.
Form a volunteer base by establishing
committees such as training, social,
tournament, public relations, materials and
finance. Membership committees provide a place for new
players to contribute and form connections and add focus
and support to various aspects of growing the sport.
Raise pickleball awareness in the community
Design an attractive brochure or rack card with pickleball
information and post it on public bulletin boards and in
recreation centers. Also hand it out at beginner lessons
and health fairs, and make them available at the courts.
Brochures should include information on what the local
pickleball community is all about—this is especially helpful
when approaching city leaders for courts or acquiring
sponsors for events.
Health fairs and community events often welcome a
pickleball table and/or demonstration, and these events
can bring exposure to hundreds of people. Set up a table
with brochures, sample paddles/balls, condensed rules, a
running video and copies of Pickleball Magazine! Engage
those who walk by and provide a sign up sheet for the next
beginner lesson.
Pickleball shirts worn around town start fun
conversations. Somebody will ask, “What’s pickleball?”—
and there you go!
Plan activities that give back to the local community. A
food drive, blood drive, charity tournaments and other such
events demonstrate the pickleball community is a partner in
meeting local needs.
Continue to keep local media informed of, and invited to,
pickleball events.
Remember the youth
Herein lies the future of pickleball. Offer youth clinics and
advertise through the school district. Encourage local parks
& rec departments to offer the sport and provide support.
Tap into community summer youth camps and programs.
Directors of these programs will welcome the support of an
activity such as pickleball.
Retired teachers have connections to physical
Continued on next page >
Growing
Pickleball in the QC
Pickleball in the Quad Cities (QC) began in 2007 when a
few QC friends visited The Villages in Florida during the
winter and learned to play pickleball. Upon returning
home, they approached a local parks department about
the sport, and lines were painted. Soon afterward, the
players and a parks department intern planned a clinic
and the local newspaper covered it. Pickleball was on
its way! Now, pickleball is played throughout the area
on approximately 90 indoor and outdoor courts, which
include 34 dedicated courts. From youth to retirees, the
number of players continues to grow, with close to 450
in club membership and likely twice that in the area
player base.
The QC is made up of five cities along the Mississippi
River: Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline on the
Illinois side, and Bettendorf and Davenport in Iowa. The
area also includes many smaller communities.
The QC Pickleball Club and five area USAPA
Ambassadors all work together across community
and state lines with a common goal—to grow the
sport! Ambassadors Barb Shinbori, Scott Stocker,
Dave Stover, Sharon Walters and Ruth Senneff, along
with club president Larry Miller, all contributed to this
article, BRINGING IT HOME.
JULY/AUGUST 2018 |
MAGAZINE
35