Pickleball is fun sport with social aspects for all ages

Pickleball is a paddle sport that is a mix between tennis and ping pong. It’s very social, strategic, and convenient because it’s a great game. Players use special paddles and a wiffle ball to play on indoor or outdoor courts with specific lines and nets. The most common game is doubles, but singles is an option as well.
Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America and a fun way to get good exercise and spend some time playing with old friends and new.
Imperial Nebraska Pickleball is a local organization that was first organized in the summer of 2017 by former Imperial natives Deena and the late Dennis Holmes. The couple loved to play Pickleball, and after moving to Texas, they traveled back to Imperial during the summers. While here, they drove to Grant to join Pickleball players there.
In 2017, they decided to get some friends from Imperial together and teach them the game, and you know the rest of the story. Imperial Nebraska Pickleball was born.
The local group of players have free open recreational play on Monday and Thursday nights from 6-9 pm, and Wednesday mornings from 8-10 am, said veteran players, Marla Hamilton and sister, Phyllis Mock.
“Those are our group’s scheduled times, but anyone can use the Pickleball courts to play anytime,” said Hamilton.
Imperial has two locations for Pickleball. During the warmer months, there are four outside lighted courts located on West 6th Street across from the Imperial Skate Park.
During the colder months of the year, Pickleball is played inside the exhibit building at the Chase County Fairgrounds.
“We have plenty of balls and extra paddles for people to come play. We welcome anyone to come see how fun this game is,” Hamilton said.
Mock was instrumental in an arrangement with Lied Imperial Public Library to provide rentals of Pickleball paddles and balls. Contact the library for details.
Pickleball is easy enough for kids to play but challenging enough for adults.
The rules are simple: two or four players use solid paddles to hit a hollow, perforated plastic ball over a 34-inch-high net until one side is unable to return the ball or commits an infraction. The small court is similar in size to a badminton court. Players must keep one foot behind the baseline when hitting the ball.
Pickleball is played indoors and outdoors and is like a combination of ping pong and tennis. It’s more than just a fun and exciting game. It’s a sport that brings communities together and creates a sense of unity and support.
Whether you’re just starting or have been playing for years, pickleball is a great way to build social connections while promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Player Laurie Odens said with enthusiasm, “Pickleball is great! It keeps us out of the kitchen.”
Her comment was actually a tongue-in-cheek pun. The Non-Volley Zone, also known as the “kitchen,” is the section of the court closest to either side of the net on a pickleball court. According to pickleball kitchen rules, it is illegal to volley the pickleball while standing in the kitchen.
According to the USA Pickleball rule book, one of those rules’ states, “no part of your body may be in the NVZ while attempting a volley during a game of pickleball.” What is crucial to know is that “part of your body” also includes anything you are wearing, touching, or carrying.
This means that if you hit a volley from outside the kitchen, and then your hat falls off and lands in the non-volley zone, you will be penalized. You’re also penalized if your pickleball paddle touches any part of the kitchen while you are engaged in the act of volleying. Rules like this can lead to lots of fun challenges and hilarity.
Improvements, fundraisers
In June, the group held a fundraiser by holding a Pickleball clinic for youths ages 10-13.
“It was very successful, and we would like to plan future fundraisers and even tournaments—preferably outside during the summer,” Hamilton said.
Everyone is welcome to come join us and learn to play. Lessons can be provided by request, she added.
The group has been accepting dues from regular attendees of $25 a year to be placed in a fund to help offset the cost of improvements and replacement of equipment.
“This August, with the support of the city and the park board, we were able to upgrade the pickleball/tennis court with a complete resurfacing, four painted pickleball courts with new nets plus a painted tennis court,” she said.
“We welcome any donations to our group to be used for more improvements like benches, wind screens and other equipment replacement as needed,” she added.
At some point, the organization would like to put up signage at the court posting names of all our supporters.
For further information, visit the Imperial Nebraska Pickleball Facebook page, or call Marla Hamilton at 308-882-8669, or Phyllis Mock at 308-882-1754.
Pickleball is a fun and fairly easy sport to learn, and it brings people and communities together.