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USA Pickleball, the National Governing Body for the sport, today announced that it will soon kick off expanded efforts to shine a spotlight on National Pickleball Month throughout April. Established in 2018, National Pickleball Month is designed to connect everyone within the sport while, at the same time, introduce pickleball to new audiences by highlighting its inclusive, fun and healthy qualities.
During April, USA Pickleball will showcase people, places and events across the sport using four weekly themes:
April 1-8 – Why We Love Pickleball
April 9-15 – Up Your Game
April 16-22 – Member Appreciation
April 23-30 – What’s Next/Looking Ahead
“National Pickleball Month represents a special opportunity to celebrate the sport of pickleball and everyone in it. It’s intended to be fun, connective and even inspiring—just like pickleball,” said Chuck Menke, USA Pickleball Chief Marketing Officer. “As the National Governing Body, we’re in a unique position to recognize the countless individuals and groups who come together to form our community and help drive pickleball’s unprecedented growth. We also seek to further educate the public about USA Pickleball’s role within the sport and the benefits of membership.”
National Pickleball Month centers around a digital- and social media-based platform designed to share storytelling and user-generated content from all corners of the sport. This list includes annual members—both recreational and tournament players alike, event directors, facility operators, USA Pickleball Ambassadors, clubs/leagues, certified referees, coaches and volunteers.
USA Pickleball’s valued corporate partners also play a key part and, throughout April, thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes and giveaways will be handed out to National Pickleball Month participants. The four-week initiative is also an opportune time to spread the word to mainstream audiences about the health, fitness and social benefits of the sport.
The 2023 Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s (SFIA) Topline Participation Report named pickleball America’s fastest-growing sport for the third year in a row. According to the report, pickleball participation nearly doubled in 2022, increasing by 85.7 percent year-over-year and by 158.6 percent over the past three years.
More information about National Pickleball Month can be found here.
