FOLSOM, Calif. — In case you haven't noticed, pickleball is slowly sweeping the nation.
According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s 2022 Topline Participation Report, pickleball has grown by 39% over the last couple years.
Pickleball is also quite popular in Northern California. It is no strange sight to see Lemi Park in Folsom packed with people playing pickleball on the courts.
"I see people coming out each week who are new to the game, and I see them sticking around," Ferd Galinato, the vice president of the Folsom Pickleball Club told ABC10. "They're learning to play. They're seeing it as they walk through the park, and they're fascinated."
Pickleball is growing elsewhere across the Sacramento region.
In Elk Grove, six lighted pickleball courses were included in Oasis Community Park. Many tennis courts in Davis have been repainted or resurfaced to include pickleball courts.
The Folsom Pickleball Club started in 2018 to meet the growing interest in the sport. They started with just 4 members. Now, they have 405 members.
"First and foremost, we introduce people to pickleball," Galinato said. "We have a monthly class that introduces them to the game. We teach them the basics. It's free."
Many people believe the reason for the recent rise in participation of pickleball is because of the pandemic.
"It's just increased since COVID because they can't play indoors," said Tracy Lind, treasurer of the Folsom Pickleball Club. "They revert to coming outdoors."
Pickleball is for all ages and genders, and some say this is what keeps people coming out to participate.
"That's the beauty of it...it's social," Galinato said. "You don't need to have friends come with you. You can just show up by yourself. You're welcome."
Lind added, "It's fun. You can play with anybody any ages, so it does make a difference. Just come out and try it. If you come out and try it once, you'll be hooked, and you'll be back."
For more information on the Folsom Pickleball Club, be sure to visit www.folsompickleballclub.org.
Pickleball is growing elsewhere across the Sacramento region.
In Elk Grove, six lighted pickleball courses were included in Oasis Community Park. Many tennis courts in Davis have been repainted or resurfaced to include pickleball lines.
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