The kitchen is open!
- May 5
- 4 min read
Updated: May 7
How pickleball quickly became the hottest summer activity.
Written by Casey Couch
See bottom of article for a quick written pickleball crash course!
When the spring semester comes to a close, antsy students start to look for an outlet that offers physical activity and fun with friends after being stuck in the classroom all winter. While every student has their own hobbies, one sport in particular has begun circulating in popularity throughout campuses.
This sport is pickleball.
Many college students have taken up the unusual sport of pickleball in the summer and turned it into a favorite hobby that combines socialization, physical activity and time in the sun into one sport.
According to a November 2024 study from the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, pickleball was the fastest growing sport in the U.S. for three consecutive years, with a growth rate of 223.5% within those years. Pickleball still holds that spot today, remaining most popular with young adults between 18-35 years old.
These statistics, while perhaps surprising, bring up a question that can’t wait to answer itself: why is pickleball suddenly so popular? To answer this, there are three areas to explore: the socialization aspect, the physical aspect and the outdoors aspect.
Pickleball in pairs
Perhaps one of the most welcoming parts about pickleball is that it is played in small groups. Players can bring a friend for a one-on-one face off, take significant others for a competitive double date or bring an entire friend group for the ultimate pickleball tournament.
For college-aged students, this is an ideal sport because all you need to play is at least one person other than yourself. Whether you have one close friend or hang with a large group of buddies, a proper game of pickleball is able to be played.
Pickleball can also be as competitive or as leisurely as you want it to be. Perhaps that’s part of the draw towards the game, as it allows socialization to take place in an atmosphere where you’re also participating in physical activity.
It’s exercise, right?
It’s no secret that pickleball bears a close resemblance to tennis, another popular racket sport played on a court. Unlike tennis, however, pickleball offers one rule that makes it much easier for more players: the court is smaller.
A smaller court means that players run less, often making a game of pickleball easier on the cardiovascular system compared to a game of tennis. Because of this, pickleball is often more popular for beginners who want to play a game on the courts.
This, however, doesn’t mean that pickleball doesn’t offer any exercise. Players have to be light on their feet to quickly move back and forth and have to practice hand-eye coordination so that they don’t miss the small ball that they’re hitting back and forth.
Therefore, pickleball is exercise! And the best part is that it doesn’t have to feel like exercise – it feels like fun! Especially when played on an outdoor court in the summertime.
Sunny days ahead
Despite the April snow in Northeast Ohio, sunny days are right around the corner. As thoughts of summertime creep closer, so does the need that students have to spend time outside.
When the sun starts shining again and the spring semester comes to a close, a friendly game of pickleball offers students a great way to unwind, spend time in the sun and give their brains a much deserved break.
Many local parks and recreation departments also host pickleball leagues, in which players enter with a team or teammate and meet up weekly for friendly matches.
Whether you’re looking for a friendly outlet to unwind while exercising or getting serious about competitive gameplay, give a round of pickleball a try this summer and enjoy the blacktop heat!
Pickleball 101
A brief guide to game rules.
Goal: To rally the ball back and forth across the field until a fault occurs. The first team to 11 points with a two-point lead wins the game.
Find a friend or a pair to play with on a regulated pickleball court, which measures 20 feet wide by 44 feet long.
Server stands behind the baseline. Bounce the ball and hit it over the net diagonally to the opposite side of the court. One serve attempt is allowed.
Each time the ball is hit over the net, it must bounce one time before the team can volley, otherwise it’s out of play.
Don’t hit out of bounds or the other team gets the point.
Only the serving team can score points.
The kitchen: The kitchen is a 7-foot area on each side of the net, in which no volleys, or hitting the ball in the air, is allowed.
