CLEVELAND — Pickleball is perhaps the fastest growing sport in the country, and it's estimated that nearly a third of the millions of players in the U.S. are over age 50.
It may look like an easy game, but it's not easy to master the nuances of a game that's not only great exercise, but also requires strategy and involves great social interaction. The Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging's mission is to keep seniors healthy and in their own homes, but lately, they started receiving dozens of calls a day from people wanting to learn pickleball or how to find courts to play.
CEO Doug Beach saw an opportunity to not only give the 315 employees an exercise outlet, but also train some to become coaches to teach some of the 12,000 clients in five counties how to play the game safely and without injury.
Recent studies showed that bone fractures relating to pickleball have increased 200% in the last 20 years, mainly due to falls among those over age 65. Achilles tendon injuries, as well as strains and sprains, were also on the rise.
Professional coaches from Lifetime Fitness were brought in to teach WRAAA employees how to play the game, and some say they are interested in getting certified to become coaches themselves. The courts will stay and be available to employees as well as other corporations who would like to use them for corporate wellness initiatives.
Those interested can email June Taylor, chief of performance and strategy, at jtaylor@areaagingsolutions.org.