Our Mission

Sioux Falls Area Pickleball strives to create and promote fun, friendship, and fitness through our shared enjoyment of the sport of pickleball.

How it started

Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, a short ferry ride from Seattle, Washington. Three dads – Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum — whose kids were bored with their usual summertime activities — are credited for creating the game. Click here for more information about the history of the game.

Pickleball is a combination of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. You play with a pickleball paddle, which is about twice the size of a ping-pong paddle. The court is less wide and the boundaries much closer than a tennis court. You play up close and personal with your partner and opponent; only being 14 feet apart at the net. Play to see who will win by being the first to 11 points per game. It’s easy to learn and incredibly fun to master!

Our founders

In 2011, four players used a temporary net and chalked lines on a tennis court at Menlo Park. After the number of players grew to 80 in 2013, the Parks and Rec Department encouraged the group to become an official non-profit organization. The Sioux Falls Pickleball Club was born that same year and now has over 700 paying members. The pickleball courts at Riverdale Park were dedicated on June 12, 2016. The project was a 50-50 partnership between the Sioux Falls Pickleball Club and City of Sioux Falls.

The organization rebranded to Sioux Falls Area Pickleball in August 2019 since we continue to add members from surrounding communities.

The founders of Sioux Falls Area Pickleball first got involved because the sport helped them become more active in their lives. Understanding their physical abilities had changed, they found pickleball satisfied their need to stay active and desire to participate in a competitive sport.

Pickleball has been a lifesaver because it enables players to stay highly active through joining games pretty much any time of day – and any day of the week – and because it invites community and friendship, it is a real opportunity to introduce, or reintroduce, physical activity and social time into your life.

What Skill rating am I?

2.5 Skill Rating

This player has limited experience. Can sustain a short rally with players of equal ability. Basic ability to keep score.

3.0 Skill Rating

A player who understands fundamentals and court positioning.

3.5 Skill Rating

A player who can acknowledge the difference between a hard game and soft game. They move quickly to the non-volley zone. They understand when stacking may be effective.

4.0 Skill Rating

A player who is able to identify and attack their opponents’ weaknesses. They are aware of their partners’ position on the court and are able to move as a team.

4.5 Skill Rating

A player who understands strategy and has good footwork. They are able to communicate and move well with their partner.

5.0 Skill Rating

A player who has mastered pickleball strategies. They have efficient footwork and can easily adjust their game to their opponents’ strengths and weaknesses. They rarely make unforced errors.