It’s a mash-up of badminton, table tennis and tennis, and it instantly appeals to players.
“I learned how to play, and I was addicted in 15 minutes,” said Lois Keasler, who has been playing the sport for about four years. On most days, she can be found at the pickleball courts at Montclair Park on Crane Ferry Road in Augusta.
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While pickleball has been around for more than 50 years, it’s gained in popularity over the past couple of years, and the numbers of people wanting to play it in area groups has exploded during the pandemic, according to Anne Rheins, a U.S.A. Pickleball Association ambassador, certified instructor and pickleball coordinator at the Wilson Family YMCA and at Montclair Park.
Rheins said there are several reasons she’s seen outdoor pickleball groups such as the one at Montclair explode. The main one has to do with the pandemic itself. Indoor leagues such as the one at the YMCA have stricter guidelines they must follow. There are limits as to how many people can be on the pickleball courts at one time. People have to sign up to reserve a space.
“Outside is safer. You can be six feet away from someone on the court,” she said. “It’s easy to practice social distancing.
Other reasons for the sport gaining ground is that it’s easy to play, and it’s something all ages and ability levels can enjoy, Rheins said. At Montclair, the players range from children to adults in their 80s, some of whom have ailments such as Parkinson’s disease.
A military retiree, Carlos Rosado has issues with his knees, but that doesn’t keep him off the pickleball court.
“Playing pickleball has been good for me,” said Rosado who also admitted to being addicted to the sport. “If I could play every day, I would.”
Rosado plays friendly games of pickleball at Montclair, but he’s also competed in the sport at tournaments in the region. Rheins said there are several people who play pickleball at higher levels.
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The tennis courts where pickleball is played are busy most days of the week. A pickleball court is smaller than a tennis court. The Montclair park converted one of its tennis courts into two pickleball courts. The other two tennis courts can be transformed into temporary courts with ease.
Rheins said pickleball is a social game. The games are short so players can switch courts often and play with other partners. It’s easy to chat with people on the courts as well because players are closer to each other than they are in a game of tennis.
Janice Casaday grew up in Augusta but left for about 30 years. When she returned, she got involved with the Montclair pickleball group and quickly felt at home.
“I don’t think I knew any of the people, but Lois is our greeter,” she said.
Participants play pickleball at Montclair on most days of the week. Group members play in the heat of the summer and the cold of the winter. They don’t let much stop them from their sport.
They’ve even added to the social aspect of their group by having food trucks come in on several Fridays. The next one will be when it gets a little warmer.
Not everyone who belongs to the Montclair pickleball group lives in the neighborhood. They live in other parts of the community but join the neighborhood association to participate. Not only do they come from all parts of the Augusta area, but they come from across the globe.
In October, they observed world pickleball day, and it was a truly international event, according to Rheins.
“We had 19 countries represented,” she said.
Area pickleball players are from countries such as the Dominican Republic, Korea, Brazil, China, Ethiopia and Yemen.
Because she’s such a pickleball enthusiast, Rheins offers free introductory classes. She recently offered the free class to six people who joined the association on the spot. As the ambassador, she often holds informational sessions to groups interested in starting their own pickleball league. She held one at May Park on Jan. 7.
To learn more or to schedule an introductory class, email Rheins at arheins@gmail.com.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
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