Pickleball History Lesson 1 PDF

LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION TO PICKLEBALL Learning Objectives By the end of the lesson, the students should be able to: 1. define and describe pickleball; 2. outline the history and development of pickleball; 3. name and describe the facilities and equipment used in p...

LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION TO PICKLEBALL Learning Objectives By the end of the lesson, the students should be able to: 1. define and describe pickleball; 2. outline the history and development of pickleball; 3. name and describe the facilities and equipment used in pickleball; 4. explain the various terminologies used in playing pickleball; and 5. enumerate the health benefits of playing pickleball. What is Pickleball? As a novice on-looker, Pickleball is a combination of tennis, badminton and ping pong played on a double's badminton court dimensions. It can be played in both indoors and outside ground surface area. The objective of the game is to get the ball over the net and prevent one's opponent from returning it. One unique characteristic of Pickleball is the presence of a "kitchen" area, seven (7) feet away from the net. It refers to the non-volley zone and where "dinking" shots are performed. Another distinct way of pickleball is having the two-bounce -rule which states that after the ball is served, each team/opponent must make one groundstroke before any of the teams/players can volley the ball. Pickleball uses hard paddles bigger than table tennis rackets and a light plastic ball, also known as "wiffle ball" with holes. History of Pickleball The Birth of Pickleball In 1965, Joel Pritchard has invented Pickleball and since then, he was proclaimed as the "Father of Pickleball". He is also a politician. He is a Republican and has served in the U.S. Congress during the 70's and 80's and later became the Lieutenant Governor of Washington State. Incidentally, the legendary expansion of Pickleball was rooted on this man. During their summer vacation in Bainbridge Island in Washington, together with his friend Bill Bell, a Lawyer, political advisor, and businessman, made up a game to conquer boredom of their families while on break. They have found old ping pong rackets and perforated balls to start; and play in a badminton court and net which was elevated 60 inches above ground. The game was played by volleying the ball over the net and later discovered that the ball bounces more on an asphalt surface thus, they thought of lowering the net to 36 inches. In pursuing the game, they wanted to modify the equipment and these two men began fabricating paddles out of plywood and balls with holes (wiffle-type) they have found in their backyard. Bill Bell and Joel Pritchard began creating the game. This is when they called upon Barney McCallum who's in the neighborhood to join. The three of them formulated and formalized the rules of the game to make it more competitive and official. They have The first pickleball court on Bainbridge Island, Washington patterned most of the rules from badminton. As for them, they invented the sport primarily for their entire Families to play and enjoy. The game grew an audience and to validate Pickleball as a sport, Joel Pritchard and several others wrote articles for Pickle ball, Inc. on February 13, 1968. In 1968, Barney, Joel and Bill formed "Pickle-Ball, Inc." the first company to manufacture and market pickleball paddles. The newly established corporation aimed to develop the game of Pickle ball and advertise and promulgate the game legally. In 1992, The Pickle Ball Inc. began producing the first ball in Pickleball. The first design was called DURA 56 Pickle-Ball because of its 56 holes. In the later years, the production expanded in Asia and DURA Fast 40 Pickle-Ball was created having 40-holes balls for greater durability. It then became widely used for outdoor play and tournaments. There were 4.8 million pickleball players in the USA in the year 2021, which showed a 39.3% growth rate for the last 2 years. 6 out of 10 players were men and with a mean age of 38. 1 years old (Player, 2022). While Joel Pritchard served as the inventor and father of Pickleball, Bill Bell and Barney Mc Callum also had their significant contributions to the sport. After the establishment of Pickle Ball Inc., Barney was the one to figure out where and how to fabricate paddles to sell later. He was the proponent of the games' rules on non-volley zone (NVZ) and the double bounce rule. Barney's famous line on Pickleball, "the greatest thing about pickleball is the balance between offense and defense", made a mark on all current pickleball players up to this date. On the other hand, Bill Bel's contribution to pickleball's distinctive rules, was his introduction of "The Kitchen," which added fun and competitive appeal of the sport. The Origin of Pickleball Name If you hear Pickleball for the first time, you will automatically think of pickles, the food. However, up to this date, there is no known definite origin of the game's name. You may find online articles which identify two theories of its origin. One is uttered by Frank Pritchard, the son of Joel. He said that her mother Joan, created the name Pickleball. Her mother was a great fan of an active rowing team in her alma mater, Marietta College and continue his adoration to Washington's rowing program. They owned a "Pickle boat" made up of oarsmen. According to her mother, "Pickle ball" was an appropriate name for the sport because pickleball is a combination of different aspects of other games. The other theory is "Pickles" the Pritchard's dog which has gained credit as to the origin of the name Pickleball. However, frank said that 'Pickles" joined their family in 1996 and was named after the game has been invented. Pickleball Today In 1976, the first pickleball tournament was conducted in Tukwila, Washington at the South Center Club. A lot of local tournaments recreational or competitive were then held. The USA Pickleball Association (USAPA), the National Governing Body for the sports pickleball, was established in 1984 which standardized and published the Pickleball Rulebook that is now used in national tournaments around the world. The association's mission is to promote and develop pickleball in the United States. It provides players with official rules, tournament system, rankings and promotional materials. As the sport grew fast, big sports brands began to take notice. The Head Sports introduced two of their existing lines of paddles in 2017. The Extreme (Tour, Pro, Pro L, Elite) and radical (Tour, Pro, Pro L, Elite. The next year, Prince manufactured five lines of pickleball paddles in partnership with Paddletek. These are the Spectrum, Spectrum Pro, Response, Response Pro, and the Quantum. All of which have distinct features and characteristics designed for every style of pickleball playing. The emergence of the World Pickleball Federation (WFP) and International Pickleball Federation (IPF) foster the increased participation in pickleball among other countries. Form its origin in USA, it has spread to England, Canada, Brazil, China, Italy, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, and Philippines just to name a few. As reported by the Association of Pickleball Professionals, there were more than 36.5 million people who were playing pickleball from August 2021 to August 2022, and is growing up to this date. Famous pro athletes like LeBron James, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, and Kevin Durant even play pickleball competitively. In the Philippines, pickleball began in Cebu at the start of 2016 where Shana, a Filipino from Tennessee, recruited Doug Keener of Pickleball Spring and Sara Ash, a fellow Filipino to teach the sport in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue, Cebu. This paved way to the establishment of various Philippine-based Pickleball Association and Federation that later spread widely in different schools, colleges, and universities in the country. Facilities and Equipment Paddle According to USAP and IFP, a standard paddle size has the combined length and width of 24 inches (0.61 m); while the length cannot exceed 17 inches (0.43 m), in legitimate tournaments. Though there are no requirements regarding thickness or weight:, the paddle must be made of a non-compressible material, and the surface must be smooth with no texturing. Things a player may want to consider in choosing a paddle are (1) playing style (power vs control), (2) skill level (beginners may go for easy to control paddle,) (3) price, (4) size (easy to hold and skill-level based), (5) weight (power vs control), and (6) grip (comfort). Three Main Types of Pickleball Paddles 1. Wood Wooden paddles are the heaviest type of paddles and least expensive. These are typically made from hardwood like maple or birch. Wooden paddles can be hard to control and less durable than other types of paddles. Further, this is not for people with wrist or elbow issues. It has the least control. Still, it is great for beginners who are just getting their toes into the sport and do not want to spend too much on a top-quality paddle. 2. Composite/ Fiberglass Composite paddles are made of a combination of materials, including wood, graphite, and fiberglass. They are lighter than wood paddles, and are also more durable than wood paddles, but these cost more. Fiberglass is efficient in giving you control and precision. This type of paddle also provides a good surface material for people with wrist or elbow issues. 3. Graphite Graphite paddles are the lightest but the most expensive type. Professional pickleball players mostly use this type of paddle as they offer great control and power. It is a light but rigid paddle as its hitting surface is graphite, making each stroke powerful. Ball The balls in pickleball use a non-toxic plastic composite material | that can be molded into several sizes and shapes. The following are the requirements set by USAPA in the official rule book: 1. Diameter must be between 2.87 inches and 2.97 inches. 2. The ball must weigh between 0.78 and 0.935 ounces. 3. The ball must bounce 30-34 inches when dropped from a height of 78 inches. 4. The ball must have a hardness of 40-50 on a Durometer D scale. 5. The ball must have 26 to 40 evenly spaced, circular holes. 6. Colors may vary. Further in sanctioned competitions, for the ball to be "officially approved", it must appear in the USAPA's list of approved balls. In order to ensure consistent bounce, pickleballs must be bounce tested on a very specific surface. Two Types of Pickleball Balls Outdoor balls in pickleball are designed to withstand the effects of wind outdoors because of its heavier, harder, and smooth plastic material. The ball has 40 drilled holes to be less affected by wind. Controlling the outdoor pickleball is harder and requires outdoor pickleballs which are more difficult to control and requires skill to place accurately. Rallies are shorter using the outdoor ball and may be prone to cracks during games. Normally, the sound made by the outdoor balls is much louder than indoor balls Indoor balls in pickleball are softer and have 26 larger holes than outdoor balls. It is a little smaller and lighter than outdoor balls. It is easier to control because of the drag and more difficult to slam hard. The capacity to apply spin is more likely when using the indoor ball because of its texture. Rallies are longer with this type of ball and get softer after continuous usage. Net The length is 20 feet long, 36 inches high, and made of small mesh to prevent the ball from passing through it. The center area of the net is 34 inches high, shorter than its sides due to the center strap. The center strap is used at the center to prevent the net to collapse. Net posts should be placed about 12 inches past th e sidelines. The net is attached to these posts via a cord or cable that runs through the 2-inch white binding located across the top of the net. There are 3 main areas in the court. First is the non-volley zone located 7 feet from the net and referred to as the "Kitchen". A center line that divides the area between the non-volley line and the baseline. Second, the left and right service areas which measure 20 feet by 15 feet each side. The left service court is within the left half of the court excluding the non-volley zone and the right service court is the right half side of the court excluding the non-volley zone. Third, the pickleball lines like sidelines, baselines, and centerlines that divide the court into its 3 main sections. The net divides the 44 -foot-long court horizontally in half. The two baselines on a court are parallel to the net and farthest from it. Sidelines are perpendicular to the net on each side of the court. Pickleball Terminologies Here are some fundamental terminologies in Pickleball that will keep you on track in playing: Ball: The ball used in Pickleball is a plastic ball with holes or a wiffle ball. Paddle: This is used to hit the Pickleball and never called as a racket. Doubles: A game of pickleball doubles is played with four people divided into two teams with two players on each team. Singles: A game of pickleball singles played with two people, one on each side, with no second server on either team. Non-volley Zone: This 7-foot section of the court is on either side of the net at the front. Pickleball players cannot hit balls out of the air with volleys if standing in this area. Non-Volley Line: The line parallel to the net that indicates the non-volley zone. Backcourt: The few feet at the back of a courtside near the baseline. Double Bounce Rule or Two Bounce Rule: Both teams must play their first shot after letting the ball bounce. The receiving team must let the serve bounce and the serving team must let the return of the serve bounce before playing it.  Centerline: The centerline divides the service court into halves from the non-volley zone to the baseline. Sideline: The lines on each side of the court. Baseline: The line at the back of the court. A baseline is usually 22 feet from the pickleball net. Rally: This is the continuous play from the time of serving until a fault or point occurs. Serve: An underhanded shot that begins a pickleball rally. In pickleball, you get 2 serves. The player must serve the ball from below the waist level. Service outside scoring: In pickleball, a player must get the serve to win a point and you can only get a point if you are serving. Lob. A lob shot is one in which the player shoots the ball high into the air, putting it deep into the back of the court. It can be used both offensively and defensively, with the purpose of driving the opponent back to the baseline or passing the ball over End change. An "end change" is a pickleball rule that allows players to move sides of the court during a game. This occurs at a specified moment in the game, based on the total number of points scored. For example, in an 11-point game, teams switch ends when the first team scores 6 points. In 15-point games, the transition occurs after a team reaches 8 points. In games that go to 21 points, the end change is 11 Side out. A "side out" occurs when the serving team loses its serve and the receiving team gains serving control123. It occurs when the serving team makes a mistake, the server loses a rally, or the server hits the ball outside the opposing team's authorized play area. Server number: If playing doubles, the server must call their number - either "1" or "2", depending on whether you served first or second on your side. This number must be called out along with the score. Volley shot: This shot picks the ball out of the air before it bounces. This move is not allowed when the player is in the kitchen (see below) or before the first 3 shots. Ace: This happens when a serve is not returned by the opposing team. Line Call: This refers to calling the ball in or out. Foot Fault: This happens when you make an illegal serve or volley because of your foot placement. Dink: Most commonly used shot in pickleball. This stroke is hit at the kitchen line with finesse. Preferred grip is continental although some ex-tennis players use eastern or semi-western grip. 3rd shot drop: This shot is hit at the baseline off a return of serve. Think of it as an elongated dink. Drive: This is a similar stroke to a basic tennis forehand and backhand. Most aggressive players will opt to hit this stroke over a 3rd shot drop. Block: This stroke occurs off an attacking ball and is hit from midcourt to the kitchen line. The paddle involves little movement and absorbs power from the opponents. shot. The key is to drop the block back in the kitchen to reset the point. Crosscourt: This is a high percentage shot which is any stroke that is hit diagonal from your hitting position. Down-the-Line: This is any shot that is hit directly across from you. Optimal shot to hit for attacks at the kitchen line. Open Stance: This is a body position at point of contact. Open stance is when you hit the ball with your weight positioned on the outside foot and chest is facing the net. Benefits of Playing Pickleball Like any regularly played sports or games, pickleball offers many benefits not only to our body but also in developing our social skills. 1. It provides a good aerobic workout without stressing and straining much the joints and muscles. 2. It provides the feeling of both enjoyment and challenge to its players especially for the older players. 3. It elevates self- esteem and fights depression especially in older players. 3. It improves reaction time since pickleball is a quick-thinking sport which requires a good eye-hand coordination. 5. It is a social sport which allows meeting of people from different age groups, social status, and nationality.