BY ALEXA FULLER ’30
The rapid growth of pickleball has taken over parks across the Island, and soon it may take over High School sports. Pickleball is a paddle sport consisting of a combination of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Some Long Island schools think pickleball can become a Section VIII sport in the future, advocating that adding this fun sport can revive enrollment in high school athletic programs.
“At Jericho, we are always looking for opportunities to expand our athletic offerings and provide students with new experiences,” said Jericho’s Athletic Director Mr. Brett Kornblum. “Pickleball has experienced tremendous growth, and I believe it has the potential to become a great addition to our athletic program.” To raise awareness about this new sport, Jericho High School’s physical education classes have begun playing and learning the sport.
Integrating pickleball should not be a logistical problem at Jericho. According to Mr. Kornblum, the district recently received a donation of pickleball nets, paddles, and balls. With the equipment, space wouldn’t be an issue, as the High School Field House can potentially house nine pickleball courts. Mr. Kornblum believes that trialing pickleball in physical education classes is helpful to gauge student interest in having a future varsity team. Mr. Kornblum said, “With our recent equipment, we will have a great opportunity to introduce more students to the sport and gauge their interest,” said Mr. Kornblum. “I believe that as students gain more exposure to pickleball, we could see increased interest in competitive opportunities.”
With the potential of pickleball on the horizon, Mr. Kornblum acknowledges that the district would have to consider other logistics before making a choice on embracing the sport as a varsity sport. “We need to evaluate how it would impact our existing athletic programs,” said Mr. Kornblum. “Facility availability, practice schedules, coaching positions, transportation, and budget are all important considerations.
With the rise of pickleball comes an opportunity for students who are not active in extracurricular activities to be a part of a team. “Ultimately, our goal at Jericho is to provide as many meaningful opportunities as possible for students to be active, develop confidence, build relationships, and experience the benefits of athletics,” said Mr. Kornblum who can’t wait to see where this sport takes us. No matter what happens next at Jericho, it’s undeniable that the future of pickleball in high schools on Long Island is full of dill-ightful possibilities.
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