Pickleball is currently one of the fastest-growing sports in the U.S. It combines elements of other sports, such as badminton and tennis.
The rules are straightforward: two or four players play against each other in a 20×44-foot court split by a small net. These courts are much smaller compared to normal tennis courts, which are 78×27 feet.
Just like tennis, the other team or player has to hit their ball into the opposing team’s area of the court. Whoever has the most points wins 11 points by the end of the round.
According to the official USA Pickleball website, the sport of Pickleball has existed since the 1960s. But why is it so popular now compared to other years, and how has Statesboro been with this growth?
According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), Pickleball games have increased by 158.6% in the last three years since 2023, with almost 8.9 million players since 2022.
Statesboro also has been seeing a rise in the popularity of Pickleball, and there are many options to participate. Georgia Southern’s Campus Recreation and Intramurals offers a Pickleball league that hosts local tournaments for GSU students and the Bulloch County Recreation hosts a pay-to-play local Pickleball league for all ages.
Currently, Statesboro has only one place to play Pickleball: the Sue Oertley Tennis Complex, located at 1 Max Lockwood Drive. The complex has only six courts, which isn’t much compared to other courts.
“During my first semester here at Georgia Southern, I would play Pickleball a lot, and we usually played for about 2-3 hours,” says James Neal, a student at Georgia Southern. “Usually, when we are out there, the courts are usually super full or only have one or two spots open, which makes it really hard for me and my friends to play.”
While the courts may be small, they are very popular with students.
“I mean, I love Pickleball. I see a lot of familiar faces that play there,” said Brooks Robinson, a student at Georgia Southern. “My friends and I play there a lot, but we usually play at night after we’re done with class. It’s a fun and engaging sport that always connects people.”
One of the main reasons why Pickleball is so popular is its easy accessibility. Pickleball is a sport that is accessible to anyone. All you need is some paddles, a couple of friends, and a court to play on.
Another reason why it’s so popular with students is that it’s a great game to play to stay physically active.
“I love the sport because it definitely helps me to stay active,” says Daniel Pritchett, a student at Georgia Southern. “It helps me to meet new people, and it’s a great way for me to get out of my dorm and take some time off from schoolwork.”
Overall, Pickleball is a very popular sport among students and Statesboro residents. It’s a very simple sport to play and it’s a great way to meet new friends and become more physically active.
