A new wave of pickleball players is creating unexpected demand for court spaces across Calgary, as the sport’s appeal continues to trend younger. Read More
Playing spaces scarce across Calgary for fast-growing sport
Playing spaces scarce across Calgary for fast-growing sport
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A new wave of pickleball players is creating unexpected demand for court spaces across Calgary, as the sport’s appeal continues to trend younger.
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At Fit Kids child care, owner Susan To is struggling to keep up with demand, with children as young as four years old wanting court time.
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To introduced the paddle sport as a daily activity for her charges, and it quickly became one of the centre’s most requested programs. It wasn’t long before interest exceeded the centre’s capacity. She now has 100 pickleball enthusiasts wanting playing time.
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“We need a new centre up here, and we definitely need a junior program,” she said.
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The daycare is in northwest Calgary, where indoor pickleball courts are scarce, said To. She often attempts to reserve court time at the YMCA for larger games but said they’re usually fully booked.
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“You can’t get anything anywhere and it’s really sad,” she said. “All the courts are opening up in the south.”
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Pickleball ‘not just for your grandparents anymore’
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The Calgary Pickleball Club has addressed the growing interest with the addition of a junior program, which runs for three weeks at a time.
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“We are passionate about getting kids moving and off their phones,” said club president Cat Hackman.
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A government grant allowed the club to expand play to youths aged eight to 17.
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There are 18 kids in the program who compete against each other during lessons. Many are introduced to the sport by parents or grandparents, while some come in through school programs.
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Hackman said the sport is cheaper than tennis and more accessible than badminton.
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“What other active sport can you see all ages of a family play together?” said Hackman. “It’s not just for your grandparents anymore.”
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Pickleball is similar to tennis, badminton or ping-pong but has a shorter learning curve, according to Fit Kids’ To. The court is about half the size of a tennis court. Players need a perforated ball, individual paddles and a net.
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It can be played in singles but she said it’s mostly played in doubles.
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Outdoor pickleball courts have been created across the city to accommodate growing demand, said Kaila Lagran with the City of Calgary. She said there are currently 160 city-operated tennis courts throughout Calgary, most of which have been adapted for pickleball. The city does not operate any indoor courts.
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To help meet the demand for the sport’s growth in popularity, the city added 12 new dedicated courts solely for pickleball at Foothills Athletic Park last year. Pickleball-only courts are also located at Walgrove Park in the southeast.