What Is The Best Age To Start Pickleball?

Pickleball is a growing game that includes elements of table tennis and regular tennis. Players play on a court slightly smaller than one for tennis and use large paddles to hit a plastic ball that closely resembles a wiffle ball over the net and onto their opponent’s side. It is an excellent game for all ages, so long as you can hold a paddle and run around a court. Keep reading to find out the best age to start playing pickleball.

Defining Goals

Before getting your child involved with pickleball, it is imperative to define appropriate goals. Are you simply looking for a fun hobby or getting your child into a serious program/club that can aid them in their future college pursuits? Pickleball, like many sports, instills values such as teamwork (in doubles), dedication, exercise habits, and determination. It also can open doors for socializing and teaches strategy and hand-eye coordination.

Ages 3-5

You can start young kids playing pickleball as long as they have the coordination and strength to hit the ball over the net. Ping pong is a great place to start if you want to get your child ready for pickleball once they are older. Practicing with the smaller table tennis paddles will be easier, and it will help them establish muscle memory when the time comes to play pickleball.

Another option is to buy junior paddles for your kids so the game will be easier for them to handle. Start things slow and stick to the basics. Teach your kids how to hold the paddle and hit the ball with a straight wrist so that the ball does not shoot off at an odd angle.

Ages 6-11

Pickleball is a great way for kids ages six to 11 to have fun, socialize, and get outside. At first, it may be a little difficult for your child to get the hang of the game, but improvement is inevitable with practice. The game's rules are fairly easy to get the hang of, so your child will only need to know the basics at this point. It is an excellent family activity that fosters friendship and strengthens relationships.

Ages 12 and Up

You can expect the game to get much more competitive for older children, but it is still a great way to have fun and socialize. Older children will be able to grasp the game quickly and have the strength and energy to keep up with adults. At this age, kids should be able to get their serve locked in and understand the tactics and strategy of the gameplay. Clubs and teams are always an option. Most schools do not offer Pickleball as a sport, but even hanging out with family and friends allows older kids to practice and have fun.

For Future College Athletes

Pickleball is not an officially recognized college sport. There has been a push to see pickleball become more integrated into collegiate sports in the future. In the meantime, there are many college pickleball clubs, so the opportunity to play in college is still available. College clubs and pickleball players can receive funds from the USA Pickleball Grant Program, and these grants are usually around $350. Since colleges offer pickleball as a club sport, getting on the team is only as difficult as signing up.

For Future Professional Athletes

If you want to prepare your child to become a professional pickleball athlete, no time is too early to get them started. Like any professional sport, mastery in the subject takes time, effort, persistence, practice, and determination. Professional careers typically start towards the end of high school or during college years, so they must master the sport and find years of competitive success before then.

The PPA, or Professional Pickleball Association, offers tours for men's and women’s singles and doubles, as well as mixed doubles. The professionals in these tournaments are serious athletes, so it will take significant training to play at this level. To be recruited, they must have years of practice playing the game.

Safety Concerns

Pickleball is an incredibly safe sport, but it still has some risks. Potential dangers involve slipping while running, heat stroke, exhaustion, dehydration, asthma attacks, and getting winded. These are essentially the same risks inherent in the game of tennis. Make sure your child is hydrated and wearing sunscreen, and you are all set. Avoid letting them play on rainy days if you worry about them slipping and getting hurt.

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