Pickleball’s popularity has been growing over the past couple of years, with leagues springing up nationwide and celebrities like Tom Brady endorsing the sport; yet in Massachusetts, the MIAA — Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association — which offers a total of 33 different high school sports, does not offer a statewide varsity pickleball league. This is causing many to wonder: why isn’t pickleball a high school sport in Massachusetts? 

The answer to this question is tricky.

 First off, what season would pickleball be played in? The simple answer to this would either be spring or fall due to weather restraints. But with tennis already being offered in the spring, it seems like fall can be the only option: mainly because finding court time with two different varsity tennis teams— girls and boys— is challenging enough, so adding in another two teams for pickleball will make it impossible for each team to have time to practice. 

So with the season settled, it then falls onto the interest amongst athletes. With schools offering a variety of sports each season— soccer, football, cross country, etc— what would the interest be in the schools? 

Ava Friese, a Junior in the class of 2026, said, “[pickleball] is for sure trending right now. I would definitely sign up and play; I’m sure others would too!”

So why do schools still not offer pickleball as a varsity sport if athletes are willing to sign up?  Well, some schools are starting to offer pickleball, but it has not caught on statewide yet. As of now, eleven high school teams are piloting a program in Western Massachusetts where pickleball is a varsity-level sport, having the hopes that it can lay the groundwork for pickleball becoming a varsity sport statewide. This means that the idea is there, but making it official is where the complications arise.

MIAA has rejected proposals twice that would make pickleball a high school sport, but proponents are persistent. 

The argument made by the MIAA was that pickleball served as more of a “club sport;” however, this was the case with rugby a few years earlier. Rugby just recently became a high school sport sanctioned by the MIAA in 2016, showing that the MIAA is willing to allow new high school sports; therefore, pickleball lovers have some hope. But to make that hope a reality, pickleball will need to gain more widespread recognition and club participation before being fully sanctioned and supported statewide. 

So, what does “widespread recognition” and an increase in “club participation” mean, truly? That is up for interpretation. But for starters, taking a quick look at the statistics surrounding pickleball can help shed some light. 

Currently, 20 million people have played pickleball in the US as of 2024. This marks a significant increase— 311%— in pickleball players over the last couple of years. With pickleball gaining popularity in the community and with high schoolers making up roughly 4 million players, the support is there. 

But to play a sport like pickleball, you need courts, specialized courts like tennis courts; therefore, pickleball, like tennis, can not be played in a gymnasium that every school already has, or on fields like soccer. Pickleball requires courts that many schools do not currently have. But similarly to tennis, pickleball and tennis are played on the same “hard court.”

So, with the majority of schools or local parks containing existing tennis courts, adding pickleball lines to these already existing courts will help ensure that the cost of adding new pickleball facilities can be eliminated— another excuse that some might make on why pickleball can not become a high school sport. 

As observed by many, though, many student athletes at Ludlow High School constantly find their way to the local high school tennis courts and use pre-existing lines to play pickleball. 

Graduate of the 2024 class, Malina Dinis, said herself that “I have played a lot with my Dad and his friends…It is something that is super fast paced and works on reflexes!!’

She then goes on to state how “[pickleball] is super easy to pick up…even if they’ve never played a racquet sport before.”

Unlike other sports like soccer or football, which require two full teams to play, pickleball is a sport that you and a friend can enjoy. You do not need referees, detailed game plans, or coaches. No! All you need is a paddle, a ball (a wiffle ball, which is accessible to many, can suffice), and a hitting partner.

In addition to that, pickleball is not just a sport that you can play in high school and maybe college if good enough. Rather, it sticks with you when you get older. You’re able to enjoy it with your friends after you graduate from college, or with your grandkids at the age of 70. 

Another benefit of introducing pickleball in high school is that it will encourage students to be active, while simultaneously teaching them how to play a sport/activity that will stick with them as they age. It’s a unique sport that anyone can enjoy, regardless of age restraints— as evident by people in the age group of 60 plus playing locally or a married couple enjoying time together on the nearest court. 

But why does any of this matter? What’s the importance of pickleball being a high school sport? 

Pickleball is not only a sport that avid pickleball players can enjoy, but it’s enjoyable to all, regardless of skill level. It’s a sport that encourages cooperation and teamwork: skills that are needed not just in sports, but in life, and alongside that, it can also strengthen one’s ability to think quickly, forcing players to adjust if their original game plan is not working. 

Ethan Love added to this by explaining how “pickleball is fun! It’s a great way to get in some exercise while spending time with friends. Honestly, I would say that it’s a positive across the board.” 

The benefits are there. But as mentioned prior, pickleball faces many challenges on its journey— whether that be long (3 or more years) or short (less than 3 years) — to become a recognized high school sport in Massachusetts. 

However, if the interest is there in a certain school — for example at Ludlow High School with a high number of athletes enjoying time on the court — creating a school club could be another option. Or for those that have friends that also play, just calling them up to meet you at the court could suffice. 

So to conclude, if the interest is there across the state, recognizing and offering pickleball in high school is a no-brainer. Courts are already provided with tennis courts at most schools and parks, the proven countless health benefits, and the much-needed relief that all students need after a 7-hour school day show just a few of the countless reasons that pickleball should be a high school sport in Massachusetts statewide.