How Lacy Schneemann Found Her Place in Pickleball: In pickleball, where passion meets opportunity, Lacy Schneemann stands out as a remarkable example of chasing one’s dreams. Once an aerospace engineer at Boeing, she took a jump of faith to pursue her love for pickleball full-time—a sport that has rapidly taken the hearts of many across the nation. But her journey wasn’t a straightforward one; it required managing her demanding job while dedicating weekends to practice and compete.
Balancing Act
Schneemann’s transition wasn’t an easy jump; it was more like a careful balancing act.
“I worked my 9 to 5 and then I’d practice after work and play in tournaments on the weekend.”-(Schneemann)
It wasn’t easy, but thanks to understanding managers and a flexible work environment, she found a way to manage her engineering duties with her rising pickleball career.
“Thankfully, between my manager and the company, we had a pretty good work-life balance, so I could get flexible with my time as I needed to play mixed doubles on Fridays, or travel, or take the occasional day off.”-(Schneemann)
However, as her passion for pickleball grew, so did the demands on her time.
“By the time I finished my time there, I was just about out of my PTO, as you can imagine.”-(Schneemann)
The Toll of Dual Careers
Maintaining both roles proved to be a significant challenge.
“The most exhausting thing was coming back to work on Monday morning after a tournament.”-(Schneemann)
Schneemann confessed. The mental strain was often overwhelming, particularly following a exhausting weekend of competition.
“There was the mental exhaustion, the grind, the travel, especially if there were several tournaments in a row. Monday mornings were the toughest part.”-(Schneemann)
In June 2023, Schneemann made the bold decision to leave her job at Boeing and dive headfirst into professional pickleball.
A New Chapter
The shift has been a positive change for her. “I have more time to practice and more downtime,” she said, acknowledging the newfound flexibility that comes with being a full-time athlete.
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“I have a super flexible schedule now, which can be good and bad, but certainly better than it was because that was a grind. It wasn’t sustainable for the long-term.”-(Schneemann)
However, with this change comes a different kind of pressure.
“It’s a double-edged sword. It’s good because you have more time to practice, but once you go full-time, it becomes your job, as opposed to your side hobby that you were just doing for fun.”-(Schneemann)
“Now, it’s your source of income and your results in tournaments are dictating how much money you’re making. I definitely felt more pressure to do well now that it wasn’t just this side gig that I was doing for fun. I had to figure out how to manage that new stress and change my mentality about pickleball.”-(Schneemann)
No Regrets
Despite the challenges, Schneemann remains positive about her decision.
“I have no regrets.”-(Schneemann)
The spirit of countless athletes who pursue their passions against all odds. Her journey serves as a testament to the sacrifices and rewards that come with chasing one’s dreams in the competitive world of pickleball.
News in Brief: How Lacy Schneemann Found Her Place in Pickleball
Lacy Schneemann, a former aerospace engineer, transitioned to professional pickleball player, managing both careers for over a year before fully committing in June 2023. She showed the challenges of balancing work and competition, particularly the mental exhaustion following tournaments.
With her new flexible schedule, Schneemann can practice more but faces increased pressure as her performance directly impacts her income. Ultimately, she expresses no regrets about her decision, supporting pickleball journey of becoming a full-time athlete in America’s fastest-growing sport.
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