The sport of pickleball has become a sensation for all ages, and the President of Pickleball Manitoba, Ted Fardoe, couldn't be happier with where they are, or more excited for where the sport is going.
"It's incredible how much the sport has grown overall," Fardoe says proudly. "In Manitoba in particular, every day there are new people playing, and it's growing geometrically, it seems. When I started with Pickleball Manitoba three years ago, we had approximately 400 members, we now have somewhere between 2500 to 3000 active members with Pickleball Manitoba. Every day we are adding, more and more people are finding the sport, and loving it, playing with their friends, inviting new people, and I just to see what's going on with it."
From the start, the sport of pickleball was one that was for all ages, though it started primarily for one age and then saw a shift. "When the sport was developed back in the 60's, it was put together to keep some kids entertained," Fardoe explains. "Obviously as it grew, it became more and more of a senior sport. When I got involved, I'd say it was predominately a senior or retiree sport, but the demographic is now changing. The average age of players, I'd say has dropped by about 10 years. I would say in the province right now, the average age of our membership is somewhere close to between 50 and 55 years old, where just a few years ago, it was closer to 65 years old."
With the sport gaining more traction with younger players, more high schools have begun to play, more kids are taking it up, and for Fardoe, it shows just how popular the sport is and will continue to be. "It's so amazing. It's been part of Pickleball Manitoba's mandate for the last two years, to promote in the schools and youth programs, in particular. We actually ran the high school provincial championship this year, we had 90 plus kids participate, and they loved it. There were medal presentations, and they were so excited. We're seeing more and more of that. As we go here, we've run a couple of youth clinics and camps in the last couple of months. We're planning for another high school provincial championship next year, so we're building it, and we're so excited to see it. We're actually hosting the National Championships this year, and we're actually going to have a youth division this year, for the first time ever."
Fardoe says it's been great to see the province step up and be as excited about the growth of the sport as the players are. "For me personally, I see pickleball as a sport for life. The learning curve is very steep, you can pick up the game very quickly, and it's so much fun. It's a healthy activity that just generates excitement, generates a great social atmosphere, I believe we're just so lucky to have it."
Growth also means an increase in demand for hosting events, and Fardoe says they're ready to head to any community of any size anywhere in the province to show off pickleball. "We reach out to all communities around the province, as much as we can, and we have increased our clubs from one just a couple years ago to fourteen or fifteen that we have now as affiliated programs, and these are in all kinds of small towns. Brandon has a huge pickleball community, Neepawa, Dauphin, Arborg, Portage la Prairie, and Niverville, we recently captured as an affiliated club. It's growing in every community and it's becoming a great community activity, as well."
Seniors have been at the core of the game for long time, and as it continues, Fardoe says they'll make sure it remains for them. "It's healthy living, we're creating longevity, and we're creating a sport for life. We have people playing in provincial championships that are in their late 70's and early 80's, it's fantastic for the older population and it will always be for them."
Looking forward, Fardoe has some big hopes for the game and where it will go in Manitoba. "We think about the future all the time. We have a long term strategic plan, and we're reviewing that plan in September again. We're reaching out and applying at Sport Manitoba to be a recognized sport within the province. Pickleball Canada just recently became a recognized sport with Sport Canada, and that allows us to apply for funding and build programing. I'd expect that within our next long term plan, we see youth leagues, more youth clinics, the possibility of more and better facilities both indoor and outdoor. From our perspective, we're facilitating the sport for our population."
Fardoe says that in the near future, he can see pickleball being on the biggest world stage, the Olympics. "I think we're going to see that sooner than later," he says confidently. "The sport is growing so fast, and so many high level athletes are engaging it, that if it's not a demonstration sport, it'll be a sport within one of the next few Olympics, and likely, the next time it comes through North America."
From the courts around the province to the Olympics, things are looking great for the sport of pickleball and the thousands that love to play.