Introduction to Pickleball
Imagine wooden paddles larger than ping pong paddles, hollow, rigid, and perforated plastic balls, singles or doubles matches played on a tennis court the size of a badminton court – welcome to the unique and playful world of pickleball. Born in the United States in 1965, the sport is becoming increasingly popular and spreading rapidly. In France, it has almost turned into a trend since the French Tennis Federation added it to its roster last November, alongside paddle tennis and beach tennis. Many clubs are offering introductory sessions or creating pickleball sections, including Marcigny. The US Tennis will host a free discovery day open to all on Saturday, May 2nd from 10am to 4pm.
A Dedicated Court
Originally planning the club’s revival in 2024 with his colleague Michel Popelin, Jean-Yves Julien recently completed a Level 1 instructor training with the Bourgogne/Franche-Comté Tennis League under Alain Aupoil. “We had the idea for a year to launch a new activity to continue developing the club,” he explained. “It’s part of our 2027 project which also includes court renovations. We discovered pickleball and thought: why not try to introduce it? People are much more demanding now, our goal is to give them options.” With a basic investment of only 1,500 euros for equipment, the association is now equipped and ready to go. Court number 3 will be dedicated to this new practice, with four created courts, although it can be converted back to tennis if needed.
Lighthearted Spirit
Now, they just need to find players. In addition to tennis training sessions, coaches offer introductory sessions to young members. Elliot, trying it out, commented, “I find it fun and amusing.” In June, 3rd-grade students from Jean-Moulin College will have reserved slots. In the summer, a court reservation system will be set up using the Ten’Up app, providing rackets and balls for everyone to discover the sport. “Seniors love it because it doesn’t require great technique or physical exertion since the courts are small,” added co-president Jean-Yves Julien. “You still need to move, but more in a lighthearted spirit. Initially, our goal is not to compete but to establish sessions in the halls for an initiation starting in September.”
Contact: 07 60 77 57 48 or 06 85 17 63 92.
