Random Blog Post 2

Pickleball


I have recently picked up playing pickleball with friends and it has been such a fun way to go outside and be active. Pickleball is a sport that lies somewhere between tennis and ping pong, with more of an athletic demand that one would expect. You can either play 1v1 or 2v2 (fair warning: 1v1 matches become tiring very quickly). There are a lot of rules that make pickleball unique (which I won’t go into too much detail about since it is confusing without being able to play the game while learning). One of the game’s odd rules regards The Kitchen: an area in the center of the court that players are not allowed to step in to return hits unless the ball has touched the ground prior. This is one of many odd rules that makes pickleball so much fun because it makes the players have to implement strategies that are different from other sports. 


Pickleball is rapidly rising in popularity. While some may see the sport as an alternative to tennis for people who are not as physically active as they once were, it is actually popular amongst people of all ages. USC has pickleball courts that my friends and I will often use (which can sometimes be difficult because of how many students are at the courts). They are connected with the tennis courts and are next to Kaprielian Hall.


Unfortunately, the school is planning to tear down the courts this coming May to create more space for the baseball fields, destroying both the tennis and pickleball courts. Students have organized a petition to help save the courts before it’s too late. If you would like to sign the petition, I will have it attached below. I am hopeful that the courts are still around so that more students at USC can discover the sport and play with their friends, much like I did. 



(Here is the link if you would like to sign it)

https://www.change.org/p/secure-usc-s-tennis-pickleball-courts-replacement-by-fall-2024 

Comments

  1. AlmaApril 7, 2024 at 8:03 PM

    Hi Anders, I played pickleball for the first time last week! I used to play tennis so I really enjoyed playing pickleball. I am shocked that the school is tearing down the courts because I know they are always packed with students utilising them. I signed your petition, I hope it helps!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hannah WuApril 8, 2024 at 12:02 AM

    Hey Anders! I actually took a pickleball class at USC last semester and it was super fun. Some people in that class were INSANELY good and I didn't even know it was possible to be that agile in such a small court. I'm sad to hear that USC is tearing down the courts and I hope they reconsider their decision given how popular the sport has become.

    ReplyDelete
  3. ChloeApril 8, 2024 at 5:22 PM

    Hey Anders! I also recently got in to pickleball and was so sad to hear that they are tearing down the courts since I love having courts so accessible and being able to practice the sport. I will definitely sign the petition, thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jack DossApril 11, 2024 at 5:43 PM

    Hey Anders. I honestly just started playing as well and I got to say it's one of those games that is so fun and for me the people who I don't expect to be the best always surprise me and outplay me. I got to say though, I have played over 30 times and think I have one only three, so maybe it is me who is not good.

    ReplyDelete

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