sportstyle

By Judy Leand E ven though it is now considered the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., pickleball has a mixed history in the team sports segment, although Dan Santorum, CEO of the Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR) and the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR), believes that pickleball will be a high school sport and a college club sport before the end of the decade and possibly an NCAA women's or co-ed sport. "We're seeing more and more leagues starting and this trend will only get bigger and will help grow the sport and the demand for lessons," Santorum says. "For team dealers, pickleball hasn't reached a tipping point yet and it's not too late to get involved. We're bullish on the future." Sonny Tannan, a PPR clinician and certified professional, concurs. "Historically, pickleball was a sport played mostly by people ages 50 and over, but now much more attention is being focused on players of college age and younger. e sport's expansion is mostly due to a combination of growth in schools as well as the increasing popularity of youth programs and adult rec leagues," he explains. "From a business aspect, there is value in adding pickleball to the team sports portfolio. It's a fast-moving industry right now and it's important to get people engaged in the sport." He suggests that team dealers work with local assets such as schools, coaches, PTAs and booster clubs to help drive sales. Dealers Get in the Game Although for many team dealers pickleball is a non-starter, others have either already jumped on the pickleball bandwagon or are ready to ride the wave. "We're selling a good amount of pickleball equipment and we have to restock about once a month," reports Kim Karsh, owner of California Pro Sports in Harbor City, CA. "We're seeing some growth in the pickleball category, particularly within the past year to year-and-a half, mostly for recreational adult leagues. It's a slow increase, but it's definitely making progress. ere's very little school business so far." e products most in demand are hardgoods such as nets, balls, paddles and accessories, as well as sets comprised of two balls and two paddles. "Pickleball is definitely growing and is coming in waves for us," says Karsh. "It's not a big part of our business, but it's something we'll stick with." Likewise, Garretson's Sport Center in Greeley, CO, has been involved in pickleball for the past seven or eight years, and currently carries 15 paddle models as well as balls and nets. "We don't have a lot of calls from schools yet, but I think it'll gradually come along, especially high schools," notes co-owner Zeke Garretson. "Pickleball would be great for PE programs and intramurals." e company currently does some league business, which is growing, and rec and club programs are also gaining popularity thanks to more court availability. "We're not sure how pickleball will incorporate itself into the team sports business, but we do anticipate growth," says Garretson. In Idaho, Twin Falls-based Donnelley Sports sells a small amount of pickleball. "We've sold paddles, nets and balls for decades to PE classes and the sport is growing for sure," says Pat Donnelley, president and co-owner. "We sell almost exclusively to schools." Of course, it also helps team dealers when their local communities have top-notch pick- leball facilities and programs already in place. Such is the case for Cook's Inc., situated in North Wilkesboro, NC. "e local government built eight pickleball courts in Cub Creek Park about two years ago and it's become a hot sport in our area," explains Phillip Greene, who handles inside team sales at Cook's. "We've been in the team pickleball market for about two-and-a-half years and we're seeing kids of all ages play, including middle school and high school kids." He also points out that Cook's is involved in local pickleball tournaments and helps promote the sport with T-shirts and other grassroots initiatives. Greene notes that Cook's entered the team pickleball category by selling portable nets for use on basketball courts and has since added men's and women's pickleball shoes, paddles, balls and accessories. "We work with schools and more of them are asking for temporary net systems for indoor play," he says. "Pickleball is an old sport that was mostly played by seniors, but it's had a rebirth in the past couple of years. It's a great game for all ages. e team business will happen eventually and the way that pickleball is growing, we'll soon see high school pickleball," Greene predicts. "Pickleball is a growing sport and the sky's the limit right now." n TEAM DEALERS IN A PICKLE Photo by Venti Views on Unsplash SPECIAL REPORT / PICKLEBALL

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