Even though it feels like a recent phenomenon, pickleball has been around since 1965. It was legitimised more recently, though, especially when it became Washington’s state sport in 2021.
Even though it feels like a recent phenomenon, pickleball has been around since 1965. It was legitimised more recently, though, especially when it became Washington’s state sport in 2021.
As more people get into the quirky game that blends elements of various other racquet sports, there’s a chance that it could become a serious competitive offering in the future. With interest in pickleball already high in Sarnia, this area could become a proving ground for future champions.
Over the last few years, pickleball has exploded across Canada. In fact, it’s estimated that 1.5 million Canadians now play it regularly. That figure has shot up by 57 percent in the last three years, highlighting how this craze is spreading like wildfire across the country.
There are various reasons why people take up the sport, with general exercise being the main purpose. It’s a fun and easy way to keep fit, while at the same time allowing for socialising between players. In Sarnia, there are various places to play pickleball already, with the Sarnia-Lambton Pickleball Club witnessing a steady rise in membership. It also recently held its second annual Spring Smash tournament at Lambton College.
Public parks like Blackwell Park and Jake Simpson Park now feature designated pickleball courts, and local recreational centres are seeing increased demand for indoor court time. It feels like there’s a buzz around the sport in these parts. And the more people get into it, the greater the competition will become.
As it stands, pickleball has seen some mainstream adoption and is now governed by national and international bodies. For instance, in Canada, the Pickleball Canada Organization is the overseeing body for the sport. However, it is not yet recognised by Sport Canada, suggesting that it still has some way to go before it can become a major global competition.
The online sports betting market reflects this as well, with no pickleball events currently available to wager on. Sports betting Canada sites offer markets on everything from volleyball to table tennis, and always provide odds for new sports when they enjoy wider adoption as well. The esports industry is a prime example of that, with betting sites helping to legitimise it in recent years. Soon, they could do the same for pickleball.
If pickleball is going to blow up and become a globally contested sport, it would be great if Sarnia could position itself as a hotbed for fostering talent in the game. With a few facilities already in place here, it’s in a good place to make this happen. However, such a reputation could be bolstered even further if the local council could boost the infrastructure more, and expand some of the existing locations.
Putting some quality coaching programmes in place would be another way for Sarnia to boost its chances of developing skilled pickleball players. Encouraging guest appearances from the most accomplished players like Catherine Parenteau would help a lot as well.
With pickleball gaining traction and starting to become a recognised sport, there may be a lot of opportunities for people to become future stars in the game. As pickleball is already popular in Sarnia, the area has the potential to be a major player in the sport one day.
