Why Toronto Families Love Pickleball: Pickleball, a fast-growing sport, has become a beloved family activity in Toronto, bringing together generations on the pickleball court. Whether it’s grandparents teaching grandchildren or parents bonding with their kids, the game is seen as a way to foster connection and physical activity for all ages.
Discovering Pickleball: A New Beginning for Families
Charn Dilokkullanan’s pickleball journey began unexpectedly in 2019. Initially seeking a game of table tennis, he was introduced to pickleball at a local rec center. To his surprise, he quickly fell in love with the sport, teaching his wife, who had no previous racquet experience, to play.
“The nice thing about this game is that even though she had never played any racquet sports before, she was able to hit back and forth on the first day.” – (Charn Dilokkullanan)
After his wife passed away last year, his daughter, Chindarat Morrison, saw pickleball as an opportunity to bring the family closer together. What started as a way to lift her father’s spirits became a tradition for the family, with multiple generations playing together.
Chindarat Morrison’s son, 15-year-old Daniel Morrison, wasn’t keen on the idea at first but soon realized that spending time with his grandfather on the court was more rewarding than he anticipated.
“Playing pickleball with my grandpa is more fun than most other activities because it’s easy to learn, and I have a very skilled grandpa to teach me. We don’t have many things that we all do together as a family, but pickleball is one of them.” – (Daniel Morrison)
A Game for All Ages
Pickleball’s universal appeal is evident across many Toronto families. The Tse family, led by John Tse, took up the sport after converting their badminton league into a pickleball league. “It’s such a great game you can play with all ages.” he says, adding that the sport’s simplicity makes it accessible for everyone.
“It’s such a great game you can play with all ages. We’ve also seen a young couple include their young kids to play, and you just hear laughter.” – (John Tse)
“It’s truly a multi-generation game.” – (Claudia Tse)
For the Tse family, pickleball became more than just another family activity. It was a way to get out of the house and engage in something active together, a change from their usual movie nights or meals at home.
“But I have a theory they got us involved because they needed two other players to make a team.” – (Renée Tse)
“But pickleball has been an interesting additional family activity because it gets us all out of the house and doing something active together. It beats just sitting in front of the TV doing a K-drama marathon.” – (Renée Tse)
Even extended family members joined in, enhancing the bonding experience.
Nature of Pickleball
One of the main reasons pickleball has gained so much traction is its low barrier to entry. It’s easy to pick up, regardless of age or skill level. “It’s a low-commitment sport we can all play together whenever we find the time.” says Jacy Wan, Renée and Claudia’s mother.
“It’s such an easy one to arrange and play together.” – (Jacy Wan)
“It’s nice to get a little competitive with the kids. We don’t go easy on them and vice versa. But it’s all fun and games, as long as we’re enjoying it together as a family.” – (John tse)
The family enjoys the light-hearted competition that arises on the court, and no one holds back during play. “We don’t go easy on them and vice versa,” John says, emphasizing the fun that comes with friendly competition.
“It doesn’t matter how young or old or advanced or inexperienced you are, it’s so easy to pick up. You honestly don’t have to be the best pickleball player to have fun.” – (Renée Tse)
Chindarat Morrison also appreciates the game’s flexibility in bringing people closer. Whether it’s family or community members, pickleball encourages teamwork and communication on and off the court.
“In pickleball, you’re playing doubles. We have to communicate about strategies, like if one person is strong at the net and the other one is stronger at the baseline. The same goes with life: If something is not working, then we must figure out what other things we can do or better things to solve the problem.” – (Chindarat Morrison)
Building Skills and Community Connections
Beyond family bonding, pickleball has also helped players like Beatrice Kim find new skills and connect with their pickleball community. As a mother who spent years watching her sons play hockey and baseball, she found joy in playing pickleball herself.
“I’m really proud to show my kids that mom is athletic and can be competitive, too, and not just cheering them on from the bench or driving them to practice. It’s the kind of game that the boys can meet my skills with their youth and energy, and we can get a good competitive game going.” – (Beatrice Kim)
The game has given her a sense of accomplishment and a platform to stay active alongside her children. Beatrice Kim also highlights how pickleball has allowed her to meet new people. Playing in High Park, she’s encountered many neighbors she would otherwise have never interacted with, creating a sense of community.
“I’ve met so many really lovely people in the neighbourhood playing in High Park that I would have never had the chance to talk to before. I’m hesitant to meet new people, generally, but going out to the courts breaks down those barriers.” – (Beatrice Kim)
A memorable moment for her was playing with a small elderly woman who, despite her gentle appearance, displayed impressive skills on the court, humbling Beatrice Kim and her family.
“But she schooled us pretty quickly! She had skills and spins and reflexes, and we all learned pretty quickly not to underestimate anyone on the court. We were very humbled when we couldn’t hold or own against her.” – (Beatrice Kim)
The Joy of Connection Through Pickleball
For families like the Dilokkullanans and Tses, pickleball has not only been a way to stay active but a tool for deepening family ties. Whether it’s gentle trash talk between grandfather and grandson or learning new strategies with cousins and aunts, the game continues to bring people closer.
“I’ve seen again and again other players — people we’ve never met before — who have been so quick to welcome my dad as a friend.” – (Chindarat Morrison)
“The game just seems to attract people who are kind and welcoming.” says Chindarat Morrison, reflecting on how the sport has positively impacted their lives.
For Charn Dilokkullanan, the transition from ping-pong to pickleball has been seamless. “After I got into playing pickleball, I didn’t miss ping-pong much anymore!” he says, emphasizing the lasting joy the sport has brought to his family and community.
News in Brief: Why Toronto Families Love Pickleball
Pickleball is quickly becoming a favorite family sport in Toronto, bridging generations through friendly competition and bonding. Families like the Dilokkullanans and Tses have found that the game is easy to learn, fun to play, and a great way to spend quality time together.
The sport’s appeal lies in its accessibility, allowing pickleball players of all ages and skill levels to participate. Beyond family connections, pickleball fosters a welcoming community atmosphere, making it more than just a trend but a tool for building lasting relationships.
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