“In pickleball, the only thing better than winning is laughing with friends.”
—from PICKLELAND

One of the newly-found pleasures in my retirement is the game of pickleball. I’m certain most of you have heard of its immense popularity. According to a report in Axios, it’s actually the fastest-growing sport in America. What started as a dialed-back version of tennis, inspired by ping pong and badminton, and geared toward retirees, has now become a national phenomenon.

I’ve thought about the game’s rules, etiquette, and competition, and it strikes me that pickleball is a metaphor for a good way to live our lives. Stick with me here, please.

Most players acknowledge that the game is more fun when played as doubles, not singles. In doubles, each partner counts on the other to help cover the court, and being in just the right spot when needed. Is it not the same in life? Don’t we count on our friends and family members to be there for us when we need them the most—when we’re in a pickle (see what I did there?)? Life, after all, is best lived with help from, and the company of, others.

Often times, there are more players than court space to accommodate them. In that event, players rotate in and out so that everyone has an equal shot at participating, regardless of their level of play. In life, shouldn’t everyone have the opportunity to become involved with something greater than themselves? Give everyone a chance, and then let their skill level—that is, their strengths—determine where they best fit in on the “court” we call life. There’s no reason inclusion has to exclude meritocracy!

In pickleball, foul language is discouraged. While there’s no penalty for said language (thank goodness!), a player will get rightfully-deserved looks and comments when he or she lets a choice word slip. Bad language, paddle tossing, and uncalled-for arguments are simply poor etiquette. How much better would our lives be if we strove to eliminate such talk and behavior?

There’s no line judge, head judge, camera, or instant replay in pickleball. You call the shots in or out on your side of the court, and your opponents do the same on their side. Honesty, trust, and benefit of the doubt come into play. Oh, if that were only the case in our everyday lives! From the highest level of government to the privacy of families’ living rooms, we need, and should be able to count on, adherence to those virtues.

Regarding the elephant in the room—the injuries: Yes, as in all sports, there are injuries that force a player to sit out, rest, and recuperate. In life, sometimes we need to do the same—take a “time out” to simply rest and reflect. As the psalmist quoted God, “Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10 NIV).”

In “sandlot” pickleball, the game’s as much about the joy of fellowship with other players as it is the final score. Good thing, because players at my age usually forget who won the game before they even get home from the court! We compete and play hard, but the fact that we have fun is what draws us back to the court. In life, wouldn’t it be nice if we valued the effort and fun along the journey, just as much or more than the final outcome?

Finally, if you’re physically able, but you haven’t tried the game, I hope you will. Don’t sit it out and miss the fun so many people are enjoying!