TENNIS AND PICKLEBALL FOLLOW THE MONEY

TENNIS AND PICKLEBALL FOLLOW THE MONEY

September/October 2018 Issue PICKLEBALL MAGAZINE, “Tennis And Pickle ball -- A Match Made In Heaven?"  By Justin Maloof, USAPA Executive Director. Required reading for any serious dedicated pickleball instructor or coach.

Excerpts taken from the article by Justin Maloof, Executive Director USAPA, provide insight into the motivation of the Tennis Industry, to suddenly want to help pickleball continue to flourish and grow even bigger and better, just  as long as pickleball does not out grow the Tennis Industry.

One excerpt from Mr. Maloof's Article reports, "the USTA Officials I met with were very complimentary of the USAPA's efforts and the sport in general."

The article goes on to say, "the USTA announced a new pilot program with 60 grants available for tennis facilities looking to add blended pickleball lines to quick-start (10 and under) tennis courts.  In addition six grants were made available for full, regulation blended pickleball lines. The purpose of the pilot is to gather feedback from the facility owners, club managers and players to better understand the economic impact of adding pickleball at these facilities and how to proceed going forward."

Another excerpt of the article reports, "the "USAPA has been working with the USTA on the initiative and is encouraged by the ongoing dialog and willingness to perhaps embrace pickleball as a complement to tennis."

When I read this "article" my observations regarding the motivation behind the Tennis Industry's sudden good will interest in pickleball, were confirmed, "Its not about helping the sport of pickleball and the players, it's about tapping into the millions of dollars of new revenue generated by the growth of pickleball. 

There was no reference in this article that any Tennis Grant Funding Monies would be used to add lines to existing public funded indoor and outdoor underused tennis courts. Nor was there any mention that Grant Funding would be available for "dedicated regulation lined pickleball only courts at Tennis Facilities, or fund any new community pickleball start-up programs .

All the "feel good rhetoric between the USAPA and the USTA, and funding for Tennis Facilities Pickleball Court Lining Grants are doing little or nothing to benefit the average pickleball player at large.

Remember,  to use the superimposed pickleball lined tennis courts, you first must be a paid member of the Tennis Facility. The Private Tennis Facility annual membership dues are not necessarily affordable to the average working class pickleball playing family. 

Why is the USAPA encouraging the USTA to embrace pickle ball as a “complement to tennis?” Pickleball has existed and grown significantly on its own merit since 1965.

Forty-seven (47) years later, on September 14, 2012 the “IRS” granted 501 ( C ) ( 3 ) Tax Exempt Status to the USAPA. The USAPA evolved from Pickleball.  Pickleball existed for 47 years without the USAPA.  So why now does Pickleball need to “compliment” the sport of tennis ?  The Tennis Industry would then control “all things pickle ball.” Is this what we the people of pickle ball want, to be subjugated to the Tennis Industry ? 

Personally, I think pickleball is doing just fine on its own.  Pickleball does not need tennis oversight to tell us how to manage our sport, how to regulate our tournaments, how to play the game,  and then control who is best qualified to teach and coach pickle ball for new and experienced players.

Pickleball rose to this level of popularity primarily by "word of mouth" from our loyal and dedicated players at all economic and skill  levels.  Let’s keep control of our sport !  Who better to manage and protect pickle ball than those who love the game and play it on a regular day to day basis. 

Maybe its time for another National Pickleball Organization (NPO) dedicated  solely to serve the needs of the game and its players, and let the Tennis Industry take care of its own.