KENTVILLE, N.S. — Yes - it’s really called pickleball.
No - there aren’t really pickles involved. Sorry.
After you’ve come to terms with the lack of delicious vinegar-soaked cucumbers, turn your attention to the game itself - a hybrid of badminton, tennis, and table tennis.
Now you probably have even more questions.
Husband and wife Brent and Charlene Reid sit on the board for Pickleball Nova Scotia as representatives of the Valley players and explain it’s actually a simple sport to pick up and great fun to play. Recently, they both took the first Pickleball Canada Scorekeeping clinic, allowing them to score keep at national tournaments.
The Pickleball Nova Scotia website reports about 50 new members are joining each month, with about 200 members residing in the Valley.
“You play on a smaller court - similar to a badminton court, and the nets are lower - similar to tennis. The paddle is like a table tennis paddle but a bit bigger. The rules are quite like tennis, but the ball is hard and made of plastic, with lots of holes in it. But it doesn’t wiffle like a wiffle ball,” explains Brent.
Brent has been playing pickleball for four years and got Charlene interested about a year ago. In this short time, the couple has become quite passionate for the budding sport and promote it across the Valley.
Since then, the Reids have qualified themselves to teach others the sport, after taking the instructor’s course with the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association.
“I played tennis all my life, and it was getting harder to get around the tennis court. Then, someone recommended I try pickleball. At the time, I had never heard of pickleball, and it was very uncommon in the Valley. Then, one afternoon I went into Windsor and two older gentlemen taught me how to play, and I’ve been in love with it ever since,” says Brent.
Charlene adds, “I had never liked tennis and I played a bit of badminton, though not to a large degree. Then, as soon as Brent got me into pickleball, I completely fell in love with it. I’ve been playing ever since.”
Brent and Charlene highlighted the sport is a great way for anyone to get active, as the smaller course means less running, and isn’t as hard on the joints.
“It’s a great workout and anyone can do it. Doesn’t matter if you’re old or young. You can choose if you just want to be a recreational player or if you want to train and compete in tournaments.”
The Reids say although the sport started as one mainly played by the older generations, elementary schools and parks now have pickleball courts popping up all the time.
Pickleball is also a very cheap sport to play. There are extra racquets available at recreational matches for newcomers and a night of pickleball usually only costs $2. The Reids and other habitual players usually end up getting their own racquets after they get a feel for the game.
All schedules for nearby matches are posted on the Facebook page Annapolis Valley Pickleball. The page is quite active and posts tournament highlights, helpful tips, and updates on court conditions. There are also several classes available in the Valley to either get into the sport or hone in on specific skills.
Another big selling point for Charlene was the nature of the sport and the athletes.
“It’s a very inclusive game. There’s a sense of comradery, people are laughing - it’s a fellowship, a community. You may play a competitive game, but as soon as you step off the court, it’s all smiles. I’ve never seen anything like it in any other sport.”
