Pickleball fast becoming a sport for all ages in the Beatrice area

BEATRICE – It’s the latest craze in sports and recreation….an activity for all ages and skill levels…..pickleball…..and it’s really taking off in the Beatrice area.
Wednesdays are a 50-and-over tournament league at the pickleball courts in Chautauqua Park…..but participants say they’ve seen players at various times from age six, up to 85.

Al Aksamit, who’s 75….is hooked. He got connected with the sport by three friends while at the local YMCA courts. Played on a smaller sized tennis-court-looking surface….the distances to run are shorter.

"In pickleball, you have a kitchen which is right by the net that you stay out of....so that's different from tennis. Outside of that, it's about the same."

It’s not expensive to get into. A paddle and plastic balls and the appropriate clothing and court shoes with good stability…and you’re good to go.
"I've got a hundred and thirty dollar racket...or paddle anyway. And, that's the most I'm going to....I'll stay with that for years. So, the expense isn't there...and it doesn't cost anything to use the courts."

Aksamit said there are plastic balls for a harder surface and have about 40 holes in them… while wood court balls have about 26 holes.  Any sport carries the potential for injury…and Aksamit said one thing he’s learned about a ball going over your head…."Never back up. Turn, and run for the ball. A lot of injuries happen when they back up and fall....fall down on their back."

Joni Bruhn’s friend, Connie Harmon….got her started in the game last October, and now she’s addicted to it….playing about every day.

"The community of it...and I like the idea that all ages can play it and be competitive, or just for rec. There's lots of opportunities. I applied to be a USA Pickleball ambassador and just found out that I was accepted for that. Now, when people come to town or are passing through, my name will be on the website so they can contact me and say, hey...what's happening in pickleball and where can we go play...and that type of stuff.....so I thought that would be fun."

There’s a few crazy and funky rules, in Bruhn’s words…and how to keep score takes some knowledge….but it’s a lot of fun.  Bruhn says she’s thankful the City of Beatrice turned a seldom-used set of tennis courts, into a now much busier pickle ball complex….and the six courts are getting plenty of use.

"I'm so proud of the city for doing this. They really did a top notch job of re-doing these courts. We have people coming down from Lincoln and surrounding areas and they're impressed with them. We're very lucky and I just can't say how much we appreciate the city for doing this."

Bruhn says she has hosted one tournament for a church mission trip…and will host one for this year’s American Cancer Society Relay for Life, in August.