The Great Pickleball Debate: What You and Your Association Clients Need to Know

As pickleball gains popularity as a pastime across the country, some community associations are mulling converting tennis courts or other amenities to pickleball courts. “I’m just blown away by the drive to have it available. It’s the sport du jour right now,” says Paul Grucza, principal with PBG and Associates, consultants for the association management industry.

USA Pickleball, the national governing body for the game, reports that more than 4.8 million people play pickleball in the United States, with a growth rate of about 40 percent over the past two years. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, it’s the fastest-growing sport in America.

The pickleball fervor is hitting community associations, too. “From a management perspective, pickleball for the senior set is this almost overnight phenomenon that’s taking over HOAs in particular, with organized leagues and people just wanting to play,” says Grucza.

But pickleball also has its fair share of critics, who oppose, among other things, the loudness and noisy sound of the ball — a dispute which has sparked lawsuits across the country.

So if a board wants to convert an existing court or other type of amenity to a pickleball court, how should it go about doing it? Does it need to hold a membership vote, or can it make the decision on its own with a board resolution?

Read our new article to learn what you can expect if your clients are considering introducing pickleball in their associations and how you can help guide them to a satisfactory outcome.

Access the full article here: Community Associations Debate Pickleball

Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President