Pickleball 52

Pickleball England have announced that 54 new Pickleball Leaders were certified via three workshops last week. And the south-east session, in Caterham, was particularly noteworthy, with 26 attendees including eight deaf candidates plus two British Sign Language interpreters. We spoke to course tutors Mollie Knaggs and Rob Williams about this very special workshop.

"Everyone deserves to play competitive pickleball." One of the UK's leading pickleball players is working hard to ensure the sport continues to grow from the grassroots. Tom Corfield began playing pickleball in May 2022 after years playing tennis. He set up Croydon Pickleball - a network in his home borough of Croydon, London, bringing together the clubs and facilities that offer pickleball.

"I loved how simple the game was to learn, if difficult to master, but most of all I loved the people. The pickleball community is made up of the most wonderful, friendly, supportive and welcoming people I have ever met, no matter where I've played. "Plus it's addictive!" Less than two years since their first-ever session - which attracted just three players - New Mills Pickleball Club now boasts more than 100 players and is preparing for its first Derbyshire County League matches this weekend.

PickleballEngland have announced some important dates for the diary.

Fleet Aces are preparing for an audacious world record attempt – all in aid of Comic Relief Red Nose Day in March. On Friday 21st March, they are hoping to break the record for the most people playing a single pickleball match over the course of 12 hours –?which currently stands at 264, set in the USA in November 2023. https://lnkd.in/efgHfqYe

Running from Friday 29th August to Sunday 31st August, registration is now open for the Welsh Pickleball Festival, priced at ￡70 per person - which is set to include open and graded play, free clinics, an on-site sports massage therapist (additional fee will apply), trade stands, plus a Saturday night celebration with buffet and live music.

"More than just a game, these sessions will embrace the social side of sport, encouraging players to stay afterward for tea and cake. For many, pickleball is as much about community and connection as it is about competition — a true sport for everyone." An amazing new project for people with Parkinson's is about to launch in Hertfordshire. Parkinson's UK Everyone Active - SLM

Daniel Mason still describes himself as a beginner when it comes to pickleball – but he already has big plans in and for the sport. Daniel was born without hands and with half a left arm, but when he joined David Lloyd Clubs, he met Level 1 pickleball coach and Latvia international Sabine Brezina, one of the staff in Peterborough. “He mentioned to me, ‘Oh, I used to play a bit of tennis when I was a child,'” she recalls. “I introduced him to pickleball, he had his first session, he loved it, and it all went from there!”

Online entries for the 2025 Scottish Nationals opened on Sunday 2nd February - and by the morning of Monday 3rd February, they were closed due to overwhelming take-up. The huge take-up is indicative of pickleball's boom in Scotland over the last few years. Scotland's last nationals were in 2023 and attracted 156 entries.?This year they already have 372 entries.?

"This will fill quickly so sign up early. Can’t wait to welcome everyone to the 2025 Scottish Nationals.” Entries open on Sunday 2nd February for the?2025 Scottish Nationals. Running from 29th May to 1st June, the event is open to members of Pickleball Scotland who were born or are living in Scotland or with Scottish parents, and who have not played in another country’s national championships in the previous 12 months.