Okay, we get it – young people everywhere are picking up Pickleball as a hobby faster than they picked up Pokémon in the 90s. The sport is undeniable. It’s easy to learn, and accessible to pretty much any type of person living anywhere – men, women, city-people, suburban-people, country folk, the rich, and the poor.
But what about elderly people?
Millennials and Gen Z can’t stop raving about how fun Pickleball is and how they are ditching “elitist” sports like Tennis to play it. But is there something about the sport that makes it inherently for young people?
We don’t seem to think so. If you are a Baby Boomer looking to enjoy retirement, look no further than the fastest growing sport in America – Pickleball. Pickleball players come in all shapes, sizes, and ages – and that includes older adults and seniors. Any young person who has had the privilege to play pickleball will tell you that playing pickleball will be easy to pick up for active older adults. My grandfather played Tennis well into his 80s and I can guarantee he would have loved Pickleball.
But enough of me blabbering on about it, let me tell you what Pickleball is and why Pickleball is a great activity for older adults and senior citizens.
What is Pickleball?
Pickleball is a sport that was invented in Bainbridge Island Washington State. It is a racket/paddle sport with a net similar to a tennis net played on a court the size of a badminton court. The rules are also similar to badminton and tennis, and it is quite easy is easy to pick up and play with your friends on blacktop or a tennis court. The game involves either 2 pickleball players playing singles or 4 pickleball players playing doubles.
Is Pickleball safe for Seniors?
Yes, Pickleball is safe for seniors that are fairly active. Active adult communities everywhere have started to pick up Pickleball as a more welcoming alternative to tennis. It is actually a bit safer than tennis as it is a little bit less intense, and requires less sprinting and stopping on a dime because the court is about the size of a badminton court. Tennis can be a bit rough on one’s knees, and although Pickleball is not without its injury risk, if you play at a slower pace it is safe for most active seniors to pick up.
Are other Senior Citizens actually playing pickleball?
Pickleball is being enjoyed by people of all ages across America, including Senior Citizens. Great examples of this are the Mountain View Pickleball Seniors club in Mountain View, California, and the Cresswind Lakewood Ranch community which is one of the more active adult communities Florida has to offer.
Here is another retirement community called Blossom Ridge in Oakland Charter Township, Michigan that also hosts Pickleball. Expect the number of retirement communities that organize Pickleball to grow in the coming years.
Do a local search to find some Pickleball clubs for seniors near you. And if you live in an area where there aren’t any, what’s stopping you from starting one yourself?
What Benefits of pickleball for Seniors
Moderately Intense Cardio and Exercise
What qualifies as great exercise for those in their 60s and older is something that is fun but that doesn’t take too much of a toll on the body. Pickleball would qualify for this. The CDC classifies doubles Tennis as a moderately intense activity.
I know of tons of seniors that enjoy playing doubles tennis, and Pickleball is not even as intense as doubles Tennis. So it would make sense that Pickleball falls into this category of a cardio exercise that would give older adults an aerobic exercise that isn’t too strenuous that they could do a few times per week.
Additionally, most older adults have a lot of time on their hands, it is imperative you fill your time with activities that will deliver health benefits. Seniors that play pickleball get a regular amount of cardio exercise that helps stabilizes blood pressure, build & maintain upper body strength and maintain a healthy heart.
Community Building
As a senior, your two main goals are to achieve physical fitness that can extend your life and to strengthen your interpersonal relationships with your family and community. Forming friendships within a supportive community is key to maintaining mental health and a good life. So it’s good to know that the Pickleball community is one of the biggest reasons that people are so excited about the growth of the sport. The community is very welcoming to people of all skill levels and walks of life. Pickleball clubs like the ones mentioned above aim to do just this.
What Seniors need to be careful of when playing Pickleball
Even though the health benefits outweigh the risks when playing Pickleball, it’s important for older adults to be careful of a
1) Knee & Ankle Health
An unfortunate truth for active older folks is that the health of your knees and ankles is the hardest to maintain. My grandfather loved tennis, and he had a couple of knee replacements. The fact is that you’ll have some sore knees and ankles if you plan to play some pickleball on a hard surface like a tennis court or blacktop. Knee injuries and ankle injuries like Achilles tendon strains are common in sports like Pickleball. This is where it is important for older adults to wear protective gear like knee and ankle braces when they play pickleball.
2) Heat Exhaustion
It seems as though every summer we have another serious heat wave every summer in every region of the US. In retirement communities like Florida, these can pose risks for Pickleball players, especially for those playing on hot surfaces. If this is you and you are an older adult, try to monitor the heat. If it’s a 95-degree day, pick a court that is in the shade.
3) Falling
As mentioned above, as you grow old your bone health starts to decline. This makes falling risk for seniors, as a fall for a 70-year-old man can impact their bone structure much more than a fall for a 45-year-old man. Luckily, diving to make a shot in Pickleball is much less common than in Volleyball or even Tennis. Seniors just have to be careful on those hard surfaces like blacktop and tennis courts that they are wearing the right footwear and making sure to stay upright.
In Conclusion
Pickleball is a fantastic sport for seniors. It’s incredibly fun, not super hard or intense, and can be enjoyed by your friends or even a mix of seniors and young kids in case you need a fun game to play with your grandchildren. The rules are simple to learn and the game is accessible in pretty much every part of the country. Pick up a Pickleball set, and get right into it.