By Judi Klontz
Pickle ball is definitely the fastest growing sport in Barriere, as 12 new players turned up to the Barriere and District Seniors Hall last Tuesday, Nov. 20. That combined with the four ‘regulars’ – those who showed up for the first session last week, made for 16 players wanting to learn the game.
A brief introduction of rules was given and the players passed around the eight paddles on hand to practice ball control drills and serving. As the hall has the capacity for only one court, mini games up to five points rather than the usual 11 were played to give every one the opportunity to try the sport.
It was a delight to hear the peals of laughter as players scrambled to hit the whiffle ball all over the hall.
Comments heard were: “this is so much fun”, “so much easier to play than tennis”, “I am so glad Pickleball has come to Barriere, this is something I have wanted to try for a long time, if I had not read about it in the Star/Journal I never would have known to come out”, “I haven’t laughed so much in a long time, I’m coming out next week and bringing my friend”.
In order to keep interest in the sport without so many players sitting around, Pickleball will be played at The Ridge gymnasium on Tuesday’s from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Ridge is the perfect venue as there is the capability to have three playing courts at one time. This will allow for beginners, better beginners and intermediates to play at the same time.
The equipment from Barriere and District Seniors Hall ( net, four paddles and balls) will be borrowed to be set up on one court. A second set of equipment has been borrowed from a Pickleball player in Kamloops, and it is hoped we can secure another net to make use of all three courts on Tuesday.
An evening session (one court available) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. will be at the Barriere and District Seniors Hall on Tuesday evening to give those that work during the day an opportunity to try this sport.
Pickleball is for everyone and it is hoped that this sport will catch on for some of the young adults in the town.