By: Alyssa Cunningham
Junior Reporter
North Canyon High School Sophomore
There are some activities in the sports world that aren’t given enough recognition—one of these is pickleball. Not many of you may be aware pickleball was even in existence—I know I wasn’t until given this assignment—but after learning about it, I now know it is a sport worth spreading around. Just by looking at the semantics of the game, it seems like it would be a mix between ping pong and tennis, and that assumption would be completely right. Pickleball should be played on a badminton-sized court with the ball served diagonally across the net—the serving side is the only team eligible for scoring points. Volleys can only be made if the player’s feet are behind the volley zone, which is located seven feet behind the net.
Although pickleball is mostly played by folks with quite a few years under their belt, that shouldn’t stop all ages from enjoying the ceaseless fun that is sure to take place in pickleball! Recent news reports from NBC have suggested pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States with nearly a quarter of a million players, quite a few of those being athletes of the younger generation. A Deer Valley resident and avid pickleball player, Rick Carbone says, “I play at the Deer Valley Community Center. It makes me glad to think that many older folks are getting fit and having fun thanks to pickleball!”
If you would like to learn the basic skills of tennis but don’t want to jump into the arduous sport right away, pickleball is a good place to start. The same goes for a larger game of ping-pong, if you’re looking for just that, this is your place to begin.
In our local area, the Deer Valley Community Center houses a wonderful opportunity to learn the tricks of this trade. Get involved, you won’t regret it! For more information check out Deer Valley Community Centers website at: https://www.phoenix.gov/parks/recreation-and-community-centers/centers-d/deer-valley
