USAP HISTORY: Advancing the Sport Athletically, Socially & Commercially

(Originally published November 9, 2023)

More than 4000 amateur and professional players representing the best pickleball players in the world are converging in Dallas this weekend to compete in the next stop on the PPA Tour; the Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships. Hosted by USA Pickleball, the tournament is expected to see the largest field in the history of the sport. The National Championships have been run by USA Pickleball since the very first tournament 16 years ago, and has cemented the organization’s standing as the de facto governing body of the sport.

Born in the Northwest, Adopted Nationally

USA Pickleball got its start in 1984 as the United States Amateur Pickleball Association (USAPA) when Bryon Olson, Sid Williams, and a few of their Washington state pickleball pals decided to add structure and organization to the fledging sport. At the time, pickleball was being played in all 50 states, but without a set of hard-and-fast rules and no organized tournaments to speak of. The USAPA founders could never have imagined the role their organization would play in the explosive growth of the sport. They might not have invented Pickleball, but within 11 years of the game’s origin in Bainbridge Island, WA, the USAPA hosted the first pickleball tournament and authored the sport’s first rule book.

In 2005, USAPA changed its name to the USA Pickleball Association to include the emerging professional game and established itself as the national governing body for the sport providing official rules, tournaments, and player rankings. The first USPA National Tournament was played in 2007, with 400 players from 26 states and several Canadian provinces competing in open divisions and age groups. For the 2009 tournament, USPA implemented tournament management software from pickleballtournaments.com and a version of that original system continues to be used for all the organization’s tournaments today. In 2020, the organization changed its name again to USA Pickleball and is a nonprofit corporation governed by a board of directors and staff providing guidance and infrastructure for the continued growth and development of the sport.

USA Pickleball in the Palm of Your Hand

Most players know of USA Pickleball every time they step on the court and see the distinctive USA Pickleball Approved logo on their paddle. The USA Pickleball logo represents the gold standard when it comes to assuring that paddles, balls, nets, and courts have been inspected, tested, and meet the standards for tournament play. All paddles used in tournaments must have a core constructed of approved materials, a surface that does not exceed a certain texture, and be within a range of weight and size. In March, USA Pickleball teamed up with Pro pickleball, the PPA and Major League Pickleball (MLP Pickleball), to implement new best-in-class equipment testing standards. USA Pickleball and its partners wanted to create an environment that allows for the continued development of cutting-edge paddles while adhering to a set of rules that ensure fair play and player safety.

USA PIckleball’s product testing is performed using automated equipment designed specifically for pickleball and can be used in lab environments and onsite at tournaments to examine paddles for surface roughness, dwell (how long the ball is on the paddle face after making contact), deflection (how fast the ball pops off the paddle), weight, and size. The testing also includes state-of-the-art software that allows for high-level data analysis to ensure that all players are competing with paddles that conform to established guidelines.

Fairness Baked In

One of the main attractions of pickleball is the social aspect of the game and the ability for players of different ages and genders to play together. That spirit of inclusion has been part of USA Pickleball from the outset. Since its founding, discrimination has been prohibited within USA Pickleball and its sanctioned tournaments are open to everyone without regard to race, age, religion, creed, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin.

At last count, USA Pickleball represents 70,000 members and remains the driving force in the sport. Through its product testing, rules refinement, and sanctioned tournaments, USA Pickleball ensures a level playing field for the best players in the world to compete and rec players to continue enjoying the sport of pickleball.