Pickball a fun, social and friendly game 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 summer time activities and needed something new to keep them engaged.
Thus Pickleball was invented as a children’s backyard game.
Some sources claim that the name “Pickleball” was derived from that of the Pritchard’s family dog, Pickles, or from the term “pickle boat”. Somehow the idea that the name came from dog Pickles was attached to the naming of the game.
McCallum made the first paddles that were specifically for pickleball on his basement bandsaw. He tried several alternative paddles, but one he called “M2” became the paddle of choice for most players. In 1972, McCallum incorporated Pickle-Ball, Inc. and manufactured wooden paddles to help grow the sport.
In 2005, the United States Pickleball Association (USAPA) became a non-profit corporation with a mission to perpetuate the growth and advancement of pickleball on a national level. The first official rulebook of the USAPA was adopted by the USAPA shortly after its incorporation. The first National Open Pickleball Competition was conducted at Surprise, Arizona in 2009. In early 2010, a committee was formed to advance the concept of an International Federation of Pickleball (IFP). The IFP is organized under this Constitution to perpetuate the international growth and development of pickleball. The IFP officially established its Constitution, Bylaws and Officers in 2015 with the following inaugural member countries: USA, Canada, Spain and India. The IFP has since expanded its membership to include the following Associations: France, the United Kingdom and Great Britain. Membership is expected to grow each year as the sport continues expanding to new countries throughout the world.
Sunil Valavalkar, a true sport lover, played this sport for the first time in Canada in the year 1999. His attraction towards this sport made him visit second time to Canada in the year 2006. While returning back home he brought few paddles and balls with him. Ever since he came back from Canada, he started giving demonstration of this unique sport to various sports lovers of Mumbai.
To his surprise this sport was very warmly received by cross section of the society. Majority of today’s population is eager to play such a sport which is easy to play, which would offer them fun and at the same time it would also make them fit. Pickleball is satisfying all these requirement of modern society of India and hence there is encouraging response for this sport in India.
Today, Pickleball has reached to 16 states of India with around 15000+ registered players playing the game. The players participate in national and international tournaments. The formation of All India Pickleball Association (AIPA) was an important happening in the history of Indian Pickleball. Since then, there has been a structured growth of Pickleball in India.
Pickball a fun, social and friendly game 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 summer time activities and needed something new to keep them engaged.
Thus Pickleball was invented as a children’s backyard game.
Some sources claim that the name “Pickleball” was derived from that of the Pritchard’s family dog, Pickles, or from the term “pickle boat”. Somehow the idea that the name came from dog Pickles was attached to the naming of the game.
McCallum made the first paddles that were specifically for pickleball on his basement bandsaw. He tried several alternative paddles, but one he called “M2” became the paddle of choice for most players. In 1972, McCallum incorporated Pickle-Ball, Inc. and manufactured wooden paddles to help grow the sport.
In 2005, the United States Pickleball Association (USAPA) became a non-profit corporation with a mission to perpetuate the growth and advancement of pickleball on a national level. The first official rulebook of the USAPA was adopted by the USAPA shortly after its incorporation. The first National Open Pickleball Competition was conducted at Surprise, Arizona in 2009. In early 2010, a committee was formed to advance the concept of an International Federation of Pickleball (IFP). The IFP is organized under this Constitution to perpetuate the international growth and development of pickleball. The IFP officially established its Constitution, Bylaws and Officers in 2015 with the following inaugural member countries: USA, Canada, Spain and India. The IFP has since expanded its membership to include the following Associations: France, the United Kingdom and Great Britain. Membership is expected to grow each year as the sport continues expanding to new countries throughout the world.
Sunil Valavalkar, a true sport lover, played this sport for the first time in Canada in the year 1999. His attraction towards this sport made him visit second time to Canada in the year 2006. While returning back home he brought few paddles and balls with him. Ever since he came back from Canada, he started giving demonstration of this unique sport to various sports lovers of Mumbai.
To his surprise this sport was very warmly received by cross section of the society. Majority of today’s population is eager to play such a sport which is easy to play, which would offer them fun and at the same time it would also make them fit. Pickleball is satisfying all these requirement of modern society of India and hence there is encouraging response for this sport in India.
Today, Pickleball has reached to 16 states of India with around 15000+ registered players playing the game. The players participate in national and international tournaments. The formation of All India Pickleball Association (AIPA) was an important happening in the history of Indian Pickleball. Since then, there has been a structured growth of Pickleball in India.