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Pickleball was created in 1965 by three dads trying to come up with a game to entertain their bored kids. The game, beloved by millions now – especially us seniors – really didn't take hold until years later, however. An official pickleball rulebook was not published until 1984, and the governing body of the sport, USA Pickleball, wasn't formed until 2005. When the pandemic started spreading across the U.S., it's a little coincidence that pickleball did too. With easy rules to follow and a format ideal for socially distanced competition, it quickly caught fire, with the Sports & Fitness Industry Association naming it the nation's fastest-growing sport two years running, claiming a total participant count of some 4.8 million. Pickleball participation is up 39% over the past two years, and still growing. Pickleball is posed to become a big-time sport. Two magazines dedicated to the sport- InPickleball and Pickleball Magazine - have launched in recent years. Pickleball is in the embryonic stages of growth as a serious sports property. Two leagues - the Professional Pickleball Association and the Association of Pickleball Professionals - have launched in the past few years, replete with sponsors, media deals, coast-to-coast events and bidding wars for star players. A third league, the team-based Major League Pickleball, started in 2021 and has expanded by four franchises this year. Pickleball is also continuing to develop the sport internationally for future consideration to become an Olympic sport. It really is gobs of fun and highly addictive. We encourage you to come out and give it a try. No professionals here, just active seniors having plenty of fun, fellowship, and exercise. You'll be playing games after a brief introduction to the sport, and its simple rules. For more information, feel free to contact either Sue Miller at (503) 70-.4273 or Sandy Stearn at (951) 797-0991. We play Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from 7:30 to 10 am. PICKLEBALL PADDLERS | LIFE IN SOLERA | NOVEMBER 2022 | 37

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