Kissing Tree hosts pickleball tournament

The active adult community Kissing Tree recently hosted San Marcos’ first Super Senior International Pickleball Association (SSIPA) Pickleball Tournament.

If you haven’t heard, Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the country and players from all over Texas participated in this event.

Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, a short ferry ride from Seattle, Washington. Three dads – Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum – whose kids were bored with their usual summertime activities – are credited for creating the game.

Pickleball has evolved from the original handmade equipment and simple rules into a popular sport throughout the US and Canada. The game is growing internationally as well, with many European and Asian countries adding courts. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) 2016 Participant Report, there are more than 2.5 million pickleball participants in the United States.

“There are over 15,000 indoor and outdoor courts in the United States; and at least one location in all 50 states,” the USAPA organization said.

Pickleball is being introduced to kids and teenagers in physical education classes in middle and high schools. And though the sport has become more competitive through the years, many players enjoy the social aspects of the game and the ability to stay active in their own towns and communities.

As more retirement locations have adopted pickleball as an integrated sports activity for their population of residents, they have seen an explosion of new court construction throughout the United States – especially in the southern states. Tennis, racquetball, badminton and ping pong players love the competitive nature of the sport and regularly participate in local, regional and national tournaments.”

This SSIPA Pickleball Tournament was a Double Elimination/Round Robin with 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79 and 80+ age brackets. A handful of San Marcos residents received medals in their respective brackets.

For more information regarding pickleball in San Marcos, contact San Marcos Pickleball Ambassador Amy Yarbrough at amyyarbrough22@gmail.com.

To learn how to play pickleball, contact IPTPA certified pickleball instructor, Randall Wood at randallwood.pb@gmail.com. The city of San Marcos Parks and Recreation offers pickleball play at the San Marcos Activity Center and Rio Vista Tennis courts.