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Get Ready For The Youth Movement

You’ll feel me coming, a new vibration

From afar you’ll see me, I’m a sensation


I was scrolling through Threads the other day and found a video posted by #thekitchenpickleball. The video showed four women, who appeared to be 3.5 level players, playing in a pickleball tournament. The caption read, “I’ll tell you who I don’t want to face in my bracket… these two.” The two were young girls, aged eleven and twelve. Their competition was twenty and probably unhappy with their draw. They didn’t have a chance; the girls were that good. Young people, some undoubtedly inspired by phenoms Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns, are taking to the courts in increasing numbers.


For those unfamiliar with Anna Leigh, she is the highest ranked female pickleball player in the world. Just seventeen years old, she started playing pickleball in 2017 and turned pro in 2019 when she was eleven. As of 2022 she was ranked No. 1 in women’s doubles, mixed doubles, and women’s singles. Her play is nothing short of phenomenal. Water’s mixed doubles partner, Ben Johns, a 2022 University of Maryland grad with a Materials Science and Engineering degree, is the No. 1 rated male. He started playing pickleball when he was nineteen and turned pro the same year.


Photo: Tim Pitts

The Landings Club has its share of talented young players like Krista Poppell, Lyndsey Thomas and her sister Lexi, all of whom are in their twenties. Until recently, however, the Club lacked a youth program designed to teach basic pickleball skills and raise interest in the sport with our growing young population. But that has changed. Several young players are regulars at the pickleball courts. Charlie Fox and Benjamin Greene are two, but there are others. Chris Kader just announced that we now have a pickleball summer camp. According to head pickleball professional Alex Fox, there are currently 34 kids enrolled for at least one, one-week session. According to Chris Kader, the camp runs from 1:00 to 3:00 Monday through Thursday. Kids who are in tennis or golf camp in the mornings can grab lunch at The Deck before taking to the courts in the afternoon. Ages range from 4 to 13. The cost is $160 a week or $50 a day. For a one-week registration fee of $200, a paddle will be included.


Photo: Tim Pitts

Tennis camp has been a summer staple at The Landings for years. Those nine-week sessions are held at Marshwood and are extremely popular. The pickleball camp gives kids the opportunity to test their skills in America’s fastest growing sport. If it turns out to be as popular as anticipated, we old folks can plan to see and perhaps be challenged by the next generation of pickle wunderkinds. Who knows, one of our rising stars might be the next Anna Leigh Waters or Ben Johns.


Separately, The Kitchen reports that new data from the Apple Heart and Movement study show pickleball has taken over tennis in participation for the first time. Anyone surprised?

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