About a year after work was completed on the new pickleball courts at Manor Park, the sport is increasing in popularity in Aberdeen.
It’s the fastest growing activity in the country, according to those close to the sport and numerous online reports.
Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, table tennis and badminton. The sport is played on a court similar to a tennis court, but with a smaller court and a lower net.
“It’s exploded and more and more people are hearing about it and interested in it,” said Colette Quam, who is active in the local pickleball community. “I think actually here in Aberdeen we’re maybe even a little behind other parts of the country… I hear stories of up to 200 people showing up in a 30 court complex and people waiting in line to watch in other parts of the world.” to play. So it’s very popular.”
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Options for Aberdeen Pickleball players
There are a number of ways to practice this sport in Aberdeen.
There are two marked spots at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Recreational Center at 1620 Milwaukee Ave., according to Jody Parsons, a local pickleball player. The Matchbox Sports Recreation Center, 110 Centennial St., has three marked spaces and there are four at the Aberdeen Family YMCA, 5 S. State St. Use of the YMCA and Matchbox spaces requires either a membership or a day pass.
There are three dedicated outdoor courts at Manor Park, with an additional court also used for basketball. There are also marked places at Holgate Middle School.
Adding the Manor Park sites cost $203,000, of which $88,000 was covered by a National Park Service grant.
More:The pickleball courts at Manor Park are ready to play
Local players would like to see more courts
Local actors say more sport is needed.
“I think Aberdeen is so far behind as the third largest city[in South Dakota]in the sport of pickleball,” Parsons said. “It’s nice what we have, but we would like more.”
According to Mark Hoven, director of recreation and forestry for Aberdeen Parks, there were plans for six pickleball courts at Manor Park. There are still plans to add three more, but that money is not included in the 2022 budget, he said.
“In order for (Pickleball) to continue to grow, and I’m sure that will happen, we need more outdoor courts,” Quam said.
However, the outdoor courts have already made the players happy.
“These are really nice places. (We’re) pretty happy with it for the most part,” said Brian Schumacher.
Schumacher, who plays in Aberdeen, discovered the sport while wintering in Arizona.
“A friend down there said, ‘Oh, you should try that,’ so I did and that was a blast … And then, luckily, when we came back here, one of my old high school classmates said, ‘We play here Pickleball at the matchbox, you should come and play there,'” Schumacher said.
Most players in Aberdeen are 50+ and often retired. But younger people are also introduced to the sport and taught in gymnastics classes. Quam, who taught at Roncalli for 33 years, recalls teaching the sport back in the 1980s.
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Teaches in physical education, but not only for children
It wasn’t until six years ago that she realized that sport was something for her. That was after a clinic at the YMCA.
“I just didn’t think of (Pickleball) as anything other than something that little kids do in gym class,” Quam said. “After a clinic with a guy from Pierre, it was like, ‘Wow, that’s a lot of fun,’ and our number just kept growing.”
Most groups play in the mornings, which clashes with younger people’s work schedules. There are different groups that play competitively and recreationally.
“I know there’s a trend towards gambling even at a younger age,” Quam said.
She is one of the elite athletes. She, Mark Zerr and Loren Locken qualified for and played at the National Senior Games in Florida last year. Quam and Zerr played mixed doubles and finished ninth out of 44 teams. Zerr and curls played in men’s doubles.
“[We]got to play out-of-state folks and it was really fun,” Quam said.
More:Pickleball Points: How Did This Crazy Sport Start?
Senior games begin Thursday, including pickleball
The local senior games are held in Aberdeen from Thursday to Saturday. Pickleball is one of the events. Others include bowling, golf, bean bag toss, basketball, whist, billiards, and track and field. Anyone over the age of 50 can participate, but pre-registration ended on July 1st.
The South Dakota Senior Games will be held September 8-11 in Watertown. This is an annual event, while the national competition is held every two years. Athletes who win a medal at the State Games this year will qualify for the 2023 national teams.