Pickleball

Pickleball continues to rise in popularity in the Edmonton area
Ask most pickleball enthusiasts what drew them to the game, and most would likely say that the unusual moniker first got their attention. But those who started playing the game and are still sticking with it will tell you that it’s not only easy to play, but a whole lot of fun. That, plus word of mouth about the sport, explains why pickleball has exploded in this region over the past decade.
Today, roughly a million Canadians play the game. Stateside, the numbers are a lot higher. In the U.S., a Sport & Fitness Industries Association report boasted a 21.3 percent increase in pickleball players between 2019 and 2021.
Nearly 37 million Americans hit some 10,000 courts across the country that facilitate pickleball, which has received vocal support from such athletic luminaries as Tom Brady and LeBron James. One high-profile, nationally-televised pickleball event in 2023 saw reality TV host Phil Koeghan and country star Dierks Bentley win a tournament final. Such anecdotal endorsements certainly don’t hurt, as pickleball has since become the continent’s fastest-growing team sport (the game usually involves teams of two, or doubles).
The game itself is rather simple to understand and play. All it takes is a beginner lesson and at couple of games before the rules eventually sink in. Nervous neophytes would likely be grateful over how most clubs classify competitors; rather than demographics, they group players according to ability.
That user-friendly aspect has made the sport less intimidating to newcomers, who wrap their heads around a game that combines the attributes of badminton, ping-pong and tennis. Some rules might be a bit unusual to folks, such as serves and initial return shots that need to bounce on both sides of the court before that play can continue. Players are not allowed to volley in areas bookending the net, called the “kitchen,” until a ball bounces in that zone first.
Despite a few arcane rules, one of pickleball’s biggest draws is that it doesn’t require a great deal of speed and strength to master the game. Instead, players concentrate on ball control and placement. It also helps that pickleball courts are smaller than their tennis equivalents. With people finally looking for some fun exercise to do with others, pickleball is quickly becoming a relaxing and sociable option.
Where to play Pickleball
Edmonton
B-Active Badminton Club (14830-112 Ave. NW)
Central Lions Seniors Recreation Centre (11113-113 St.)
Crestwood Community (14325-96 Ave. NW)
Edmonton Pickleball Centre (11420-170 St. NW)
Edmonton Pickleball Club (4030-117 St. NW)
Glenora Community Centre (10426-136 St. NW)
Go Community Sports (11610-65 Ave. NW)
Kinsmen Sports Centre (9100 Walterdale Hill)
McQueen Park (144A St. & 109 Ave. NW)
Pickleball Alley (9767-45 Ave. NW)
Pickleball Hub (6303 Roper Rd NW)
Pickleball Hub West (13461 St Albert Tr. NW)
Saville Community Sports Centre (11610-65 Ave. NW)
Westmount Fitness Club (12840-109 Ave.)
YEG Pickleball 14025-156 St. NW)
Outside Edmonton
Alpine Pickleball Courts (36 Alpine Blvd., St. Albert)
Broadmoor Arena (2100 Oak St., Sherwood Park)
Glen Allan Recreation Complex (199 Georgian Way, Sherwood Park)
Heritage Park (5100-41 Ave., Stony Plain)
Kinsmen Leisure Centre (2001 Oak St., Sherwood Park)
Larose Park (145 Larose Dr., St. Albert)
McGhan Park (441 Meadowview Ct., Sherwood Park)
Millennium Place (2000 Premier Way, Sherwood Park)
Parkland Pickleheads (400 South Ave., Spruce Grove)
Pickleball Hub (25 Chisholm Ave., St. Albert)
Raise Athletics (9 Richardson Dr., St. Albert)
Sherwood Heights (241 Fir St., Sherwood Park)
Terry’s Pickleball & RV Storage (54322 Range Rd 253, St. Albert)
TransAlta Tri Leisure Centre (221 Jennifer Heil Way, Spruce Grove)
Village on the Lake Sports Park (695 Village Dr., Sherwood Park)
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