Why You Should Plan a Corporate Pickleball Tournament

Looking to bring something fresh, fun, and exciting to your colleagues? Well, get your paddles ready because we’ve got just the idea for you. If you haven’t heard of the sport that’s taking the United States by storm, we guarantee you will soon. As in, right now. Introducing: pickleball.

What's Pickleball?

Here are the basics:

Pickleball is a mixture of badminton, tennis, and ping-pong.
It's played on a badminton-sized court either indoors or outside.
The game is either played as singles or with a partner.
The equipment includes a perforated plastic ball and wooden paddles.
It can be played by all ages and skill levels!

History of Pickleball

In 1965, three fathers from Bainbridge Island, Washington were looking for new ways to entertain their children. Bill Bell, Joel Pritchard, and Barney McCallum went around their homes looking for items they could use to whip up a new sport. After piecing together a combination of the rules from tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, they created pickleball (sadly, no pickles were involved).

In 1967, the first official court was built and the rest was history. According to the 2022 Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) Single Sport Report on Pickleball, the sport has grown to 4.8 million players in the US.

Now that you’ve learned a little more about the sport, let’s get into the details. Why should you gather your employees for a tournament (and let us handle all the planning)?

Pickleball is an extremely social sport.

Whether using the activity to meet new people or playing with friends, pickleball is a great way to connect with others. Because it's easy to learn and get started, pickleball is perfect for bringing different departments together at your company.

It's an awesome form of exercise.

Pickleball is a great way to raise your heartrate, burn some calories, and promote a healthy well-being. It's easy on the joints and a good way to increase your step count!

It's FUN!

Ideal for all skill levels, this game is guaranteed fun. It can be played casually for new players or more fast-paced for those with a competitive spirit. It's no wonder pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the country!

All you'd have to do is show up.

Leave the planning to your partner in play at work, ZogCulture! We can help you find a venue (unless you have one in mind!), handle all of the planning, order custom-made tshirts, sweatbands, and trophies, and even provide a DJ to keep energy levels high! A tournament is a great way for your employees to make connections and form special memories. Looking to celebrate afterwards? We can facilitate a post-tournament happy hour, too!

Interested in exploring other options?

We’re more than happy to help you plan a corporate tournament for a different sport, such as Volleyball, Softball, Cornhole, and more! (P.S. our partners at ZogSports run a variety of pickleball leagues year-round!)