Pickleball courts are famous for their diversity. Young players love the sport as much as their silver-haired opponents. Why, then, shouldn’t the little ones be enjoying this amazing sport?

From its inception, pickleball was meant to be the everyman’s game. Anyone could play it. That was the sport’s raison d’être. It was conceived as a game simple enough for children and engaging enough for adults. Much like ping-pong, the game called pickleball is meant to be a fun way to connect with others.

America’s fastest-growing sport is also known for its physical benefits. As with any physical activity, it’s a great way of building self-confidence. Every hit trains hand-eye coordination, while each step improves balance. Many communities have noticed these traits and incorporated the sport into local physical education curricula.

However, the sport with the funny name is easier to play at school than at home.

So, how can you get young players excited to join you on the pickleball court?

3 Tips and Tricks to Ease the Journey

Of course, you’ll always start with the basics.

You can’t play the game without knowing the rules. Unfortunately, it’s easier said than done. Kids aren’t well-known for patience. Few will be interested in learning the complexities of scoring and hitting forms.

Start simple and build up; don’t overwhelm your younger audiences with unnecessary information. Begin by teaching those ground rules and add as needed.

We suggest using fun games and drills to build those core skills. Don’t hit the court immediately. Play pickleball solo or with close friends before trying a “real” pickleball match. This gives you a better shot at slowly inviting players of all ages into the game.

1. Compare and Contrast

While pickleball is on the rise in schools, it hasn’t reached every corner of the nation. If your kid hasn’t played before, don’t sweat it!

Use the sports they already know as guidelines for your lessons.

Compare pickleball’s rules to those of more common sports, such as basketball and tennis. Some easy comparisons you can make include:

• Doubles Games: Like tennis and badminton, pickleball can be played solo or with a friend!
• Serving: In baseball, players take turns hitting. It’s not the same in pickleball, but servers do swap places!
• The Baseline: A pickleball serve must be performed behind the baseline. Similarly, in basketball, players cannot go beyond the free throw line when throwing a penalty shot.

2. Get Involved

Kids love a competitive group activity. Just think about your own childhood. Even the least competitive youngsters have more fun with others. A singles game might keep them entertained for a few minutes, but an all-hands-on-deck family pickleball match will keep them engaged for hours!

Involvement is particularly important for shy young players. On the surface, these matches give kids something to watch. Even if they’re not playing pickleball, they can learn the rules. However, these games also show kids that it’s a pretty easy game to learn.

Encourage curiosity by watching matches with your little ones. Ask them questions and encourage their growth. If there’s a pickleball court near you, take the family on a picnic. You’ll be creating memories and helping your kids grow. Otherwise (or if it’s just a rainy day), you can find plenty of videos online.

3. Ask Important Questions

Stumped?

Don’t be!

Pickle Goddesses is here to help. Empowering women also means empowering their families. We love seeing people of all age groups playing pickleball, so we put our heads together to make a plug-and-play pickleball questionnaire.

If you’re unsure of what questions to ask your kids as you sit on the other side of the fence, just think of us! Use some of our questions to develop the basic skills and concepts your children need to play pickleball:

• How are the players moving when they serve the ball? Point out their grip and stance. Call your child’s attention to the player’s feet and remind them that they must be behind the baseline when serving.
• What’s the score? This may seem like a trivial question, but it helps the little ones hone their attention spans. You can also use this as an opportunity to remind younger players of the sport’s side-out scoring.
• Where did the ball bounce? This question works for many situations. After the initial serve, you can point out the ball’s landing point. You can also teach children about out-of-bounds balls with this question.
• Why do you think the players switched sides when serving? Use this as an opportunity to reiterate the importance of teamwork and taking turns. Remind your children that everyone gets a chance to serve in pickleball!

Encouragement Goes a Long Way

Above all else, don’t be disappointed if they aren’t interested.

Kids are fickle! Try again some other day.

You can also encourage them by signing up for clubs and lessons. If you can’t attend the lessons yourself, seek out pickleball activities that match your child’s age group. They’ll gain a better understanding of the sport and have access to peers for social growth. (Child-friendly pickleball courses are also more likely to include some form of chaperoning than mixed-age meetups.)

Continue your own pickleball journey, too. Never grow complacent.

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