Pickleball Americas

In 1916, South America launched the inaugural South American Championship, laying the groundwork for a global football revolution, followed by the first FIFA World Cup in 1930. A century later, a similar shift is happening with pickleball, as the Pickleball Cup (www.pickleballcup.com) aims to create a competitive international framework for the rapidly growing sport. Our Cancún Regional Pickleball Cup in December 2025 will be the first truly international event, with the 2026 World Pickleball Cup further professionalizing the sport. With minimal equipment, pickleball is accessible and inclusive, offering a pathway to global recognition and growth, much like football did with the World Cup in 1930. En 1916, Sudamérica lanzó el Campeonato Sudamericano inaugural, sentando las bases para una revolución global del fútbol, seguida por la primera Copa del Mundo de la FIFA en 1930. Un siglo después, un cambio similar está ocurriendo con el pickleball, ya que la Pickleball Cup (www.pickleballcup.com) busca crear un marco competitivo internacional para este deporte en rápido crecimiento. La Copa Regional de Pickleball en Cancún en diciembre de 2025 será el primer evento verdaderamente internacional, y la Copa Mundial de Pickleball 2026 profesionalizará aún más el deporte. Con un equipo mínimo, el pickleball es accesible e inclusivo, ofreciendo un camino hacia el reconocimiento y crecimiento global, al igual que el fútbol lo hizo con la Copa del Mundo en 1930.

Cancun is now finalized. The tournament will be held at the amazing Club Med between the 15th and 19th of December. www.pickleballcup.com

Pickleball Cup, the premier platform dedicated to advancing pickleball tournaments and events on an international scale, is proud to announce the appointment of?Terry Kukle?as its new?CEO of Global Operations, effective December 1, 2024. Terry Kukle brings a wealth of experience in innovation, marketing, technology, and strategic leadership to Pickleballcup.com. Known for his dynamic approach to driving growth and implementing transformative strategies, Kukle will oversee global operations to further the company’s mission of uniting and growing the pickleball community. “Terry Kukle’s appointment as CEO of Global Operations at Pickleball Cup is a game-changer for the pickleball community,”?said Gary Schwartz, CEO and Chairman of the PFA (pickleballamericas.org).?“His proven leadership and innovative approach align perfectly with our vision to elevate pickleball on a global scale. We look forward to collaborating with Terry and the Pickleball Cup team to foster growth, inclusion, and excitement across the sport.”

Pickleball is being played in prisons across the United States as a way to help inmates socialize, build community, and improve their health and wellness: Pickleball for Incarcerated Communities League (PICL) PICL is an organization that works to bring pickleball to prisons and jails, and teach inmates how to play.?PICL has programs in over 40 facilities in 10 states. Roger BelAir BelAir has coached pickleball to inmates in nearly 20 prisons across the country, including San Quentin, Folsom State Prison, and California State Prison in Sacramento.?BelAir believes that pickleball can help inmates break down barriers, build community, and promote positive social interactions. Mule Creek State Prison (MCSP) MCSP started a pickleball program in March 2023 and hosted its first tournament over Labor Day Weekend.?The program is led by an incarcerated person known as the pickleball commissioner. Connecticut Department of Correction The pickleball program at the MWCI in Connecticut was launched in 2017. The program's director says that participants have seen more positive interactions with others and a healthier outlook on their future. Pickleball can be a great way to help inmates stay in shape, improve their cardiovascular health, and socialize with others.?It can also help inmates learn how to work together in groups and compete healthily.

Movie theaters are repurposing their spaces to include activities like bowling alleys and pickleball courts, reflecting the shifting landscape of the entertainment industry. As streaming services grow in popularity and traditional movie attendance declines, theaters are evolving to remain relevant by offering more diversified experiences. By integrating fast growing activities such as #pickleball, theaters are transforming into multi-functional entertainment hubs, appealing to a broader audience seeking interactive and social experiences beyond just film. This trend highlights how businesses are adapting to changing consumer behaviors and reimagining the role of theaters in the community.

At Wimbledon this summer, tennis player Novak Djokovic said he believed the “economics of sports such as pickleball and its European counterpart padel meant that ‘tennis is in danger’” The battle for court space between tennis and pickleball has arrived: USTA says that at least 10% of tennis courts in the U.S. have “been taken over and repurposed for pickleball,” For private clubs, pickleball “makes plenty of commercial sense.” Robinson notes the same court that accommodates up to four paying customers for a doubles tennis match can be “carved up into at least two separate pickleball courts,” meaning that clubs can “charge up to eight players to rent the same real estate.”

Congratulations ?????? UTR Sports, Pickleball BC (www.pickleballbc.ca) and Brazil Pickleball Confederation (https://lnkd.in/gyfzYEvP) on winning the 2024 #Award of #Excellence from the Pickleball Americas (www.pickleballamericas.org) Pickleball Americas (PFA) is proud to announce the winners of the 2024 PFA Award of Excellence, celebrating outstanding achievements in the pickleball community. This year’s honorees represent remarkable contributions across grassroots advocacy, national leadership, and sports technology, furthering the growth and impact of pickleball around the globe. Gary Schwartz, CEO and Chair of Pickleball Americas, stated, “The PFA Award of Excellence is our way of honoring the innovators and leaders who are driving pickleball forward. These organizations have set the standard for excellence in our sport, and we’re thrilled to celebrate their achievements.” The 2024 PFA Award of Excellence highlight organizations that embody the spirit of innovation, leadership, and advocacy, essential to the continued growth of pickleball worldwide. Pickleball Americas (PFA) remains committed to supporting and recognizing those who contribute to the advancement of this dynamic and rapidly growing sport. For more information about Pickleball America and the PFA Award of Excellence, visit?https://lnkd.in/gb5_7-f3

#Pickleball has finally arrived :)

The Pickleball Cup in S?o Paulo, Brazil is nearly sold out. LOCATION: SESI Vila Leopoldina, Rua Carlos Weber, 835, S?o Paulo, Brazil DATE: September 13-15th, 2024 CONTACT:?[email protected] ? The Pickleball Federation of the Americas (PFA), in collaboration with the Brazilian Pickleball Confederation, extends a warm invitation to All Countries members. This inaugural event, COPA PICKLEBALL represents Pickleball across Latin America. www.pickleballcup.com