Els Wilson and Eleanor Knox had never played pickleball before until they called in to the YMCA last week and picked up a racket. 

But two weeks in to a month-long trial and the pair are hooked. 

“We love it. It’s great fun.” 

The pair are among a group of people heading to the YMCA each Monday morning to play pickleball for an hour. 

Pickleball combines elements of tennis, table tennis, and badminton, and is played using a wooden or plastic paddle, and a plastic ball, on a court about the size of a badminton court. 

The free sessions are part of a trial set up after several events to test the demand proved successful. 

Sport Southland’s Healthy Families Invercargill systems innovator Laura Faherty said the pickleball initiative was a good example of collaboration working well. 

“Sport Southland, the YMCA, and Waihopai Tennis Club are working together to make this happen, it’s providing an opportunity for people to be active in a way they possibly haven’t previously been exposed to, it’s providing a platform for further experience and training for the person facilitating the sessions, and it’s showing how easy it can be for people to get active. 

“The great thing about fun activities like this is that it shows people what they can do during a lunch hour to get active. They aren’t getting hot and sweaty, they don’t need to change out of their work clothes, they can just get in and have a go, have some fun, and move their bodies.” 

YMCA South Health and Fitness manager Suvi Pawar said the sessions were a relaxed, low-key way for people to get some activity into their day. 

“You don’t have to be a player, you don’t need to know the game, you can even stand on the spot and just hit the ball.” 

The initiative was a great opportunity for the YMCA Sport and Recreation student who was running them, to gain valuable experience in running classes, and was also a great way to share some of the different activities that could be available at the YMCA, he said. 

Anyone interested in giving pickleball a go can head down to the YMCA on Monday mornings from 9am until 10am during May. 

Article added: Monday 17 May 2021