Physical distancing and spending time outdoors in the era of the coronavirus has brought many difficulties when it comes to meeting new people, but Tyler Koch has found community through a sport called pickleball.
Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the U.S. It is appropriate for all ages and skill levels, but it also allows for people to get together- just not as close as usual.
Koch and his wife, Josilee, moved from Nashville, Tennessee, to Sarasota one year ago after they accepted positions at the same coin, comic and collectables grading company.
They did not know anyone in the community when they first arrived, but just by playing pickleball, Koch has already met upwards of 40 people.
A co-worker at his new job first introduced him to the sport, and they have not stopped playing together since.
Rain or shine, Koch is on the courts at least three to four nights per week.
The 29-year-old sports fanatic played a variety of competitive sports throughout his high school and college years, from tennis and soccer to volleyball and baseball.
The coronavirus allowed for the perfect opportunity to try out pickleball for the first time. Now, it is another sport he has added to his skillset.
“Because of the coronavirus, we couldn’t go out and do much,” he said.
“We started out playing with two cheap wooden paddles, and we really liked it. One week later, we ordered some nicer paddles and really started getting into it.”
While pickleball has its own unique set of rules and strategies, Koch compares it to those of tennis and table tennis, combining hard drives with net play.
The USA Pickleball Association describes the sport as “fun, social and friendly,” combining elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis.
It is played on a 44x20-foot court, so four pickleball courts can fit onto one tennis court.
The only equipment needed to play is a paddle and a plastic ball with holes, similar to a Wiffle ball.
Paddle sizes vary but are typically just over half the size of tennis rackets. They can be made out of wood, composite or graphite, with wood being the cheapest option for beginners.
People of all ages and skill levels are able to play games of doubles or singles.
“The rules are simple and the game is easy for beginners to learn, but can develop into a quick, fast-paced, competitive game for experienced players,” states the USAPA website.
Russell Elefterion, founder of the Suncoast Pickleball Association in the Tampa Bay area, claims that the reason behind the sport’s popularity is how social it is.
“It’s a great social activity in that games are to 11 points and take only about 15, maybe 20, minutes. After that, everybody gets new partners and plays again,” he said.
“In a pickleball session you might have 30 people, but everybody plays together.”
This sense of inclusivity is why Marina Bombard enjoys playing pickleball 2 to 3 times per week.
Bombard, 61, began playing four years ago. When she and her husband, Scott, moved to Bradenton from Pennsylvania, they felt that the pickleball community was much more welcoming of people of all different skill levels.
Her favorite way to enjoy games is by connecting with other like-minded players.
“They want the pickleball community to grow and have more players to play with,” she said.
For the Bombards, pickleball is an activity they look forward to and bond over.
“If I can get two other people to be able to play with us, he is excited to go. It is something that we enjoy together,” she said.
Although the coronavirus brings about concerns for players’ health and safety, both Koch and Bombard are confident that any potential risk to the virus is low.
“I feel safer playing pickleball than going to the grocery store,” Koch said.
“We know that being outside in fresh air is safer than being indoors, and a lot of older people we play with feel the same way.”
They also believe that pickleball players have taken the necessary steps in order to make others feel comfortable and safe while playing.
“With pickleball, you are normally about 10 feet apart from each other, so I feel like it's one of the safer sports to play,” Koch said.
“Some people play with masks on, and some people play with their own ball,” Bombard stated.
Pickleball also offers many physical and mental health benefits to its players.
Studies from Western State Colorado University researchers have shown that the sport improves personal fitness and lowers the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
The study, which was published in the International Journal of Research in Exercise Physiology, states that pickleball is “an ideal alternative form of physical activity for middle-aged and older adults.”
Koch, who began playing pickleball in March, has already lost 10 to 12 pounds. To him, the best way to exercise is by playing a sport.
“When you work full time, you come home and you are tired, you don’t really want to go to the gym or go run around,” he said.
Improving mental health among pickleball players is also on the rise. A Japanese study published in Leisure Studies found lower depression rates among participants in pickleball tournaments, which most likely was a result of the social connections made between players.
Because of the findings in these studies, the sport is highly recommended by AARP.
“I like the game and the camaraderie, but I also like the fact that I’m getting exercise with it,” Bombard said.
“It keeps you moving and active.”