Del Webb seniors play pickleball

To start with, you need to know that pickleball is a sport named after a dog, not the food.

And there are no pickles used to play the game.

Pickleball is a fairly recent addition to the programming offered for seniors at the Libertyville Sports Complex.

“A group from Del Webb came to me last year to get it going. We said we could easily convert our volleyball equipment into a pickleball format,” said Randy Splitt, supervisor at the complex.

“We now have seniors come on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Pickleball is huge out West, and we have local ambassadors for the sport of pickleball promoting the sport locally.”

Former U.S. Rep. Joel Pritchard of Seattle invented the game in 1965 when he improvised the sport on a badminton court with damaged rackets and a lightweight plastic ball. Pritchard's cocker spaniel, Pickles, would run off with the loose balls, inspiring the name for the new game.

The game is a combination of tennis, badminton and Ping-Pong. Players use a ball similar to a Wiffle ball, oversized Ping-Pong paddles and a 3-foot-high net. Pickleball is popular with senior citizens because the sport is low impact and not too fast, but still provides a great workout and improves hand-eye coordination.

“I loved tennis and basketball when I was younger,” said Bill McCarty of Mundelein. “It's a quick game, and I can still play it even though I'm 80. It's a great sport and very competitive. I enjoy it.”

A group of senior men from Del Webb Grand Dominion spent a recent Tuesday morning playing doubles, hustling around the court and laughing as they watched each other chase down shots.

“It's a lot of fun. It's a way to get guys together and do something energetic,” said Scott Solway. “The guys like competing and we have a good time.”

For details, call (847) 367-1502.