The country’s fastest-growing sport is making a big splash in Coral Springs. Pickleball, a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, has more than 35 million players across the country. It is played on a court that is roughly the same size as a doubles badminton court, with a low net spanning the width of the court.
Pickleball was invented in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, a congressman from Washington state, and his friend Bill Bell. They created the game as a way to entertain their families during a summer vacation. It is a fun and accessible sport that can be played by people of all ages and skill levels. Pickleball has simple rules and a smaller court than other racquet sports, which makes it easy for beginners to pick up and play. You don’t need a lot of experience or skill to start playing.
Pickleball can be played as singles or doubles, and the objective is to hit the ball over the net and into the opponent’s court, with the goal of scoring points. The serving team must serve the ball diagonally across the court, and the receiving team must let the ball bounce once before returning it.
Coral Springs is currently building 10 courts at Riverside Park, including a “stadium” court with seating for up to 60 spectators. When construction is complete, the city will have 26 public courts across Coral Springs’ parks. In addition to the Riverside Park courts, there are eight at Cypress Park, four at Coral Springs Tennis Center, and, four at Coral Springs Middle School.
In addition to the new public courts, many communities are adding Pickleball courts to their amenities or replacing some tennis courts with Pickleball courts. The City of Parkland’s Terramar Park includes four Pickleball courts.
In addition to the compelling recreational aspect of the sport, several emerging professional leagues have recently launched. Several notable athletes have invested in Pickleball teams, including Lebron James, Tom Brady, and Kevin Durant.
