Pickleball a varsity high school sport? It could happen

More young people are discovering the appeal of pickleball, and it could lead to the popular paddle game becoming a varsity sport at the high school level in New York.

Tom Combs, the executive director of Section XI, which governs high school sports in Suffolk, said discussions already are taking place.

"It's gaining popularity among teens and it's another healthy outlet for young people to get exercise and have fun,” Combs said. “We had discussions among our members about adding the sport for boys and girls."

It’s a positive step in the long process to become a varsity sport across the state.

Pickleball resembles tennis in that players use paddles to hit a ball over a net. The ball is plastic and doesn't bounce as high or as fast. A pickleball court is smaller than a tennis court, and the game can be less demanding on the body, which has helped in its popularity among older people. The game can involve two or four players and be played indoors or outdoors.

The Sports and Fitness Industry Association’s 2024 Topline Report lists the largest age bracket for the sport as ages 18-34, representing 28.8% of all pickleball players. That’s a 10.3% increase from 2021, when the most popular age group was players over 55 years old.

Robert Zayas, executive director of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, said pickleball’s road to becoming a varsity sport begins on the sectional level. At least four of New York’s 11 sections must have four or more schools competing in pickleball . That would qualify it as an “emerging sport” under the NYSPHSAA’s guidelines. That's the first step to becoming a state-recognized championship sport.

“Flag football was an emerging sport, girls wrestling was an emerging sport,” Zayas said. “So, once we have six geographic sections with four participating schools, that’s considered to be a ‘championship status’ sport. That’s when [NYSPHSAA] can host a championship.”

 No section has recognized pickleball yet, Zayas said. Section XI could be the first.

"There are pickleball courts at many high schools in Suffolk," Combs said. "They're all over the place, whether it's a dedicated space or a tennis court divided up into sections to accommodate the size of a pickleball court. We're getting a lot of feedback from our member schools who want to add it to the physical education curriculum."

Pat Pizzarelli, the executive director of Section VIII, which governs sports in Nassau, shared Combs' enthusiasm for pickleball but noted that he hadn’t heard of any schools considering varsity programs yet.

“I know pickleball is rising in popularity among high schoolers,” Pizzarelli said. “Some schools are adding it to its curriculum. I know I would definitely add it if I was still teaching.”

'Something everyone can play'

Joe Swinarski, who graduated from Massapequa in June, first played pickleball in middle school gym class. He is playing this summer with his friends at local courts.

“It’s like tennis, but it’s something everyone can play,” Swinarski said. “You can just pick it up in one day . . . People who aren’t even really athletic can have really good rallies, and that’s fun.”

Ben Kennedy, a 2024 Smithtown East graduate and baseball pitcher, also enjoys playing. “I’m an athlete, I pretty much love playing all sports, but pickleball was a lot more fun than a lot of others,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy was introduced to the sport in gym class. and said he would consider joining a club team if it didn’t interfere with his baseball commitment.

“Everyone I played with seemed to love it,” Kennedy said.

223.5% increase in participants

Scott Green, founder of Around the Post Pickleball in Hampton Bays, has noticed the popularity boost as well. His organization’s six licensed instructors have taught nearly 1,000 people over the last two-and-a-half years. The SFIA’s report shows a 223.5% increase in participants since 2021, coinciding with the ease of COVID-19 restrictions.

Pickleball is already in the curriculum of Hampton Bays , with Green having donated nets, equipment and his time painting the courts years ago. Green’s organization ended up coaching the school's physical education teachers on how to teach pickleball to their students.

Soon, those students could be playing pickleball on an even higher level. It’s something Green is happy to build toward every time he picks up a paddle and prepares to serve.

“I see high school, college – you already have the pros,” Green said. “Are the Olympics next? It could be.”

With Gregg Sarra