Pickleball — the popular sport with the funny name

By Manuel C. "Manny" Correira
Posted 9/20/19

A year ago, pickleball was a sport on the rise. The rise has continued, and pickleball is still growing in popularity and participation.

Cliff Teixeira, president of the Bristol Pickleball Club of …

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Pickleball — the popular sport with the funny name

Posted

A year ago, pickleball was a sport on the rise. The rise has continued, and pickleball is still growing in popularity and participation.

Cliff Teixeira, president of the Bristol Pickleball Club of Rhode Island and one of its greatest ambassadors, is all charged up, with the second annual Ocean State Pickleball Classic Tournament right around the corner.

This year’s event will be held here in Bristol, at the Roger Williams University’s Campus Recreation Center Field House on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.,” he announced. “All money collected after expenses will be donated to the ‘Alex’s Smile Fund’ at Meeting Street.”

Meeting Street is a local non-profit organization that is a national leader in child development, education, research and training. Meeting Street provides services for more than 5,000 children and their families each year. “Alex’s Smile Fund” helped Meeting Street construct its therapeutic pool, which is used every day by students both with and without special needs.

“Proceeds from last year’s tournament was close to $1,300,” said Mr. Teixeira, “and we hope to double our donation this year due to the larger facility we will be playing in. Please help us make this event a success and spread the word. We hope to make this event one of our area’s premier pickleball tournaments.”

So you may wonder, exactly what is Pickleball?

Pickleball is a court sport played on a badminton-sized court with the net set to a height of 34 inches at the center. It is played with a perforated plastic ball similar to a whiffle ball and composite or wooden paddles about twice the size of ping-pong paddles. It can be played indoors or outdoors and is easy for beginners to learn, but can develop into a fast-paced, competitive game for experienced players. In addition, the game has developed a passionate following due to its friendly, social nature, and its multi-generational appeal.

Pickleball is being played by more than three million people across the country and is said to be America’s fastest growing sport. For more information on the sport of Pickleball, go to www.USAPA.org. You can also go to www.BPCRI.com to get more information on pickleball activities here in Rhode Island.

“So please come check out the sport with the funny name and watch some of the area’s best pickleball players compete,” said Mr. Teixeira. “Help us make this tournament a success and contribute to a worthy cause.”

Open play and free beginners clinic are held at the Bristol Town Common tennis/pickleball courts. Open play is conducted Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon, and Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Beginners and less experienced players meet on Thursdays from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

“Adults and seniors are welcome,” said Mr. Teixeira. “It’s free instruction. Come learn from experienced players. We have all the equipment you need. Just wear comfortable clothes and tennis shoes.”

For more Information, contact: Cliff Teixeira, USAPA Rhode Island District Ambassador at BristolPickleballClubRI@gmail.com.

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.