Even if you don’t know the difference between a dink shot and a hinder, chances are you’ve heard of pickleball: the sport that’s taking the nation by storm.
Created in 1965 by three fathers hoping to keep their kids entertained in the summertime, pickleball is a sport for all ages. If you’re hoping to jump in on the phenomenon, the Finley Center is hosting an indoor pickleball tournament on March 2-3.
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Hoover Met Complex
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The Finley Center’s pickleball courts are open for players most days from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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Courtesy of The Finley Center
The indoor pickleball tournament features men’s, women’s and mixed doubles in a double-elimination format.
For those unacquainted with the game, think of pickleball as a unique combination of tennis and badminton. It has a slower pace and lower barrier for entry than other paddle sports, giving it an appeal among athletes everywhere. It has grown immensely in popularity, and pickleball at the Finley Center is no exception to this trend.
With pickleball open from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. most days at the Finley Center, staff started to notice just how much the sport had caught on. The best response to this was, of course, a tournament. Lisa Fehr, sponsorship and sales event manager at the Finley Center, said that she and her fellow coordinators “felt like this was the perfect opportunity to do something that the community [was] interested in.”
The tournament is open to all ages and levels of expertise. Fehr emphasized that the competitive nature of the tournament shouldn’t dissuade newer players, saying, “We’re doing a first-class tournament, but we’re gearing it for anybody: the first-time tournament player and the experienced player that travels all around to tournaments.”
Men’s and women’s doubles start on Saturday at 9:00 a.m., and mixed doubles start at the same time on Sunday. The tournament utilizes a double elimination format with each player being guaranteed three games.
Coming complete with bleachers and free tickets for spectators, the tournament is an excellent viewing experience for all. The Finley Center, located just five minutes from I-459, also provides ease of access and plenty of parking for those traveling to the tournament. With the unpredictability of the weather, the tournament’s indoor location is also a plus.
Registration is open until a week before the tournament with a cost of $55 for one event and $60 for two. Players who enter will also receive a player gift and a lunch on Saturday catered by Culver’s, a tournament sponsor. Winners in each category will also receive an award.
Tickets and more information can be found online at hoovermetcomplex.com.