Pickleball is quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, and it’s no surprise that kids are joining the craze! Pickleball is a fun, engaging, and beginner-friendly sport that’s perfect for children of all ages. My 5 and 8 year olds enjoy themselves tremendously while working up a sweat everytime we bring them to the courts.
So what actually is pickleball?
Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. It’s played on a smaller court (similar in size to a badminton court) with a low net. From a distance, a pickleball might look like a tennis ball as the colour is similar. However, a pickleball is bigger and less bouncy and it’s made of hard plastic. Its holes are spaced evenly, to ensure that the ball flies straight. The paddle is much lighter than a tennis racquet and smaller than a badminton racquet which makes it easier for kids to control. The game can be played as singles or doubles.
Why is pickleball great for kids and why my kids enjoy it
Easy to learn
The rules of pickleball are simple, making it an ideal sport for beginners. The smaller court size and slower-moving ball mean kids can start playing quickly without feeling overwhelmed. The first time we brought the kids to the court, just after a couple of tries, my 8 year old managed to get the hang of hitting and returning serves.
Social and fun for all skill levels
Pickleball is designed to be enjoyable for everyone as it accommodates all skill levels. It’s less physically demanding than some other sports, allowing kids of different ages and abilities to participate and have fun. For example, my 5 year old practices hitting across the net while my 8 year old will practice returning serves and rallies and both of them always have fun despite focusing on different things on court!
Benefits of pickleball for kids
- Improves physical fitness while having fun at the same time. As with most racquet sports, pickleball provides a full-body workout. However, it is much less strenuous compared to other sports, making it perfect for the older age group as well (ie:parents!!). It helps kids improve their hand-eye coordination, agility, and reflexes too.
- Encourages outdoor play. In an age dominated by screens, pickleball is a great way to get kids outside and active. There are many outdoor courts around and if you go in the mornings or evenings when it’s not too hot, you get to enjoy the fresh air while playing!
- Helps you socialise, build teamwork and sportsmanship. Pickleball is a very social sport. My kids have invited their friends to play together and everyone always ends up having a great time. When playing doubles, kids learn to work together, communicate effectively, and support their partners. Kids also learn how to handle wins and losses, all valuable lessons to learn.
How to Get Your Kids Started with Pickleball
Find a nearby court in your area
With pickleball courts popping up like mushrooms these days, it shouldn’t be a problem finding a court. Try and look for beginner-friendly spaces (ones that have barriers/nets between courts as you don’t want to spend half the time chasing after balls that have rolled into the next court). As we live in PJ, we are spoilt for choices but some of our favourite places include Pickle Social Club, Hyprground and Picklepark. Some of them even have a cafe attached so we can grab a bite or some drinks after the sweat sesh!
Invest in kid-friendly gear
Lightweight and smaller-sized paddles are available to make the game more comfortable and fun for the younger ones.
Play as a family
Pickleball is a fantastic family activity. We always enjoy this as a weekend bonding activity and extra plus points because we are all staying active together!
Join a class
There are many pickleball classes and camps for beginners these days. Enrolling them is a great way for them to learn the basic techniques.
Pickleball is more than just a game—it’s a gateway to fitness and fun. For kids, it’s an exciting way to stay active while having fun with family and friends. Trust me, once you get started, you will get the itch to keep playing so grab a paddle, hit the courts with the kids and enjoy!
