A GAME DEVISED IN THE 1960S TO OCCUPY BORED CHILDREN IS NOW A WORLDWIDE PHENOMENON THAT THE WHOLE FAMILY CAN PLAY.
In a pickle on ways to get the grandkids away from their screens? GemLife’s Health and Lifestyle Coordinator Josh Kristenson has the solution.
“Pickleball is a fun and accessible sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages,” he said. “It provides a great physical workout, which the kids will love, but it is also kind on more mature wrist and ankle joints.”
And that’s only the beginning of the benefits, said Josh.
“For younger players, pickleball is an excellent way to help them master hand-eye coordination,” he said.
“Meanwhile, regularly playing a physical sport helps improve fitness and offers a great range of cardio-vascular health benefits. It also reduces blood pressure and the risk of heart disease which is great news for our older residents.”
For those who aren’t familiar, pickleball is a tennis-like game played on a badminton-sized court. It is played with paddles and lightweight perforated plastic balls. The ball is served with an underhand strike. It must clear the net and bounce on the opposite side. Players swap sides after each point is scored.
Josh also points out there are other important but less obvious benefits to playing sports together.
“You are having fun together, which strengthens family connections,” he said. “It also helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.”
To make the most of the pickleball courts at GemLife resorts, Josh recommends being mindful of everyone’s age and skill level.
“Younger children may require the net to be lowered while more mature players may need to pace themselves,” he said. “I suggest mixing things up and rotating team members to ensure that everyone has a go.
“Most of all, have fun and lots of laughs together – that’s my definition of winning!”