Pickleball is a sport originating in the United States that began to be practiced in the 1950s. At GNDiario we have spoken with the vice president of the Spanish Pickleball Association, Marc Jacques Declerq, who has clarified more details about the beginning of this discipline: “The pickleball began to be practiced in the back of a house of an American senator among friends under a badminton net. They played with shovels similar to those on the beach. The name of this discipline is due to the fact that the founder of this sport had a dog and every time he sent him for the ball he said ¡¡Pickle, ball!!“
The arrival of the pickleball to Spain arises in 2012
Pickleball has a great tradition in the United States but, nevertheless, it is a very young sport in our country since it has a history of only 9 years of history. This sport came to Spain from the hand of an American citizen, Michael Hest, who created the Spanish Association and his idea was to introduce the sport in our country: “In those years, Michael perfectly managed to establish this discipline through interviews, documentaries and began with a very important activity that is the International Pickleball Open that takes place in Madrid.”
As Declerq has clarified, in our country the following calendar for the pickleball is handled. The Pickleball International Open takes place in Madrid during the month of September. The National Open of this same discipline was held between the months of May and June in Madrid. Another novelty that is being considered in order to carry out between this year and next is a National Circuit. For this, it is important to create associations in the different autonomous communities. “A circuit will be created with several local tournaments and they will score for the Spanish Ranking.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQbmdWwouwk
How do you play this sport?
This sport is played both singles and mixed doubles, men’s and women’s doubles. Declerq has clarified that the pickleball in Spain is in an American format: “It is played by categories, by age and by level.” In the International Open, the participants play based on those established criteria that will be the same in the case of the National Open.
In the United States, a category called Elite has begun to be created, since it is made up of professionals and it is a new category that also plans to move to Spain.
The vice president of the Spanish Pickleball Association anticipates that a World Cup of this event will be held for 2023 in the United States. It will be the first time that a national team of this discipline has been sent and, the list will be made up of men and women in the same proportion as has been assured by Marc Jacques Declerq.
What kind of adaptations does the pickleball have?
The pickleball may have accommodations based on disability category. It should be noted that 2 Spanish won a bronze medal at the European Open held in the Netherlands and one of the members had an intellectual disability. However, there are adaptations for people who play in a wheelchair.
The double jackpot is one of the few modifications that it has: “Being an inclusive sport, you only have to respect the way you score.” At the moment, they do not have events in which only people with disabilities participate because they are committed to an inclusive sport.
The Spanish Pickleball Association will be at Villaverde Sport4All
The Spanish Pickeball Association has held an event within Villaverde Sport4All this morning from 10 to 1 in the afternoon. Declerq has clarified that it has not been an open house event since there are a series of requirements approved by the European Commission in the program Pick4All:
“We have invited organizations that represent the world of inclusion such as chair racket sports, a women’s penitentiary, Club Chamartín inclusive badminton, A LA PAR Foundation, GMadrid Sports managed by the LGTBI collective and the most important support since, behind all these groups is the World Pickleball Federation ”.
Zetazebra has also been there, which is the company that manufactures the material for Pickleball. In total more than 100 people. Two moments have been differentiated: 10 tracks within Plaza de Castañar with 2 groups of 5. All the tricks of the sport have been known: blows, the way of counting… During the second half, the spectators were able to try the pickleball.
Pickleball could make it to the Olympics and Paralympics
Pickleball works to become an Olympic and Paralympic sport in the coming years, although without clarifying what year it would be ready for: “Work is being done worldwide through two international federations: the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) and the World Pickleball Federation (WPF) “. The criteria for this to be carried out depend on the federated countries and the registered players. In terms of countries there are more than 60.
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