SUNY Geneseo welcomes the pickleball club
Gather. Pickle. Repeat.
Photo courtesy Mason Tuttle/Pexels
SUNY Geneseo students have opened a pickleball club on campus, hoping to expand the amount of student clubs, the number of students involved in club sports, and to respond to the national surge of interest in the sport.
Pickleball is one of the most rapidly growing sports in the United States. According to PickleHeads, pickleball has been deemed the most rapidly growing sport within the last 3 years, with particular increases among young adults. Pickleball is commonly described as a mixture of badminton and tennis. It is played on a small, netted, court with paddles and a plastic ball perforated with holes.
The choice to form a pickleball club here at Geneseo came after some interest surveys were sent out and a student-led, unofficial tournament took place. The result is a brand-new student club with weekly play sessions, beginner training, and the potential for tournament play in the near future. As of right now, club meetings will occur on Sundays at 6:30pm, although this is subject to change to better fit the schedules of its student members.
Attendance of the club’s first meeting exceeded expectations, with dozens turning up for open play sessions. The club’s dues are just $15, and welcomes players of all levels of ability, from beginner to expert.
Recent research promotes the notion that pickleball is beneficial in several aspects, from overall GPA to student health and wellness, helping college students become healthier and happier through physical activity. Compared to more traditional collegiate sports, pickleball is not as physically demanding, and therefore more accessible to those students who do not, or are unable to, participate in high-level athletics. The activity also increases social interaction, an extremely important factor in student achievement and well-being.
The club has been considering plans for a future pickleball tournament with club members that is glow-in-the-dark, as well as even a pickleball mixer event with drinks and snacks provided. There may also be hosting biweekly tournaments at Highland Park against other schools. The club is also hoping to acquire some more funding next semester to lower dues for people, once approved by the college’s Student Association.
The student founders of Pickleball Club demonstrate responsiveness to student interest in building its recreational programming. The club contributes to the growing list of student organizations seeking to enhance whole-person development, foster wellness, and create inclusive communities for participation outside the classroom. This new club’s presence signals an interest from SUNY Geneseo students in modernizing recreational offerings while firmly planted in the values of accessibility, participation, and community.