WHAT IS PICKLEBALL?

A paddle sport created for all ages and skill levels. The rules are simple and the game is easy for beginners to learn, but can develop into a quick, fast-paced, competitive game for experienced players. A fun sport that combines many elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong.Played both indoors or outdoors on a badminton-sized court and a slightly modified tennis net.Played with a paddle and a plastic ball. Pickleball promotes camaraderie, exercise for all ages. The hybrid sport, invented in 1965 in Washington, combines ping-pong, tennis and badminton to create a unique athletic experience that harnesses the essence of the layout and tactics of each of these traditional sports. Rose Dula, age 72, described the structure of the game as “standing on a ping-pong table.” She explained that the familiar concepts of hand-eye coordination and balance are very important. “The most important thing is to have balance. If you’ve got a little balance, you can do it,” Dula added. Pickleball does help seniors who struggle with balance develop it as they play, explained Penny Bryor, a pickleball instructor at the Gilbreath Center. There are 13,000 indoor and outdoor courts in the United States and it has developed as the fastest growing sport in North America.

DEMONSTRATION AND PLAY TIMES

MONDAY Gilbreath Center: 10 am- 2 pm
TUESDAY Thornton Center: 6 pm-8 pm
THURSDAY Thornton Center: 9 am-Noon; 6-8 pm
FRIDAY Gilbreath Center: 9:30 am - Noon