Pickleball, a sport that has swiftly become a national sensation, has officially found its place at the University of British Columbia (UBC) with the establishment of the UBC Pickleball Club. What started as a trend on social media and in recreational leagues has now expanded to campus life, as the club works to offer a welcoming space for beginners and experienced players.
Filling a Campus Gap
The UBC Pickleball Club was founded by two passionate students—second-year psychology major Mathias Henkelman and third-year kinesiology student Josh MacDonald. Both recognized a noticeable gap in pickleball opportunities at UBC, which prompted them to take action.
“I played pickleball last year … with a big group of friends. We were thinking this would be a great thing to reach more people on campus … I was super taken aback by the fact that there wasn’t a club started already, given how many people I knew who played.” – (MacDonald)
The club’s mission is clear: to introduce more students to pickleball, promote physical well-being, and create a strong, inclusive community among UBC’s student body.
A Sport for Everyone
The UBC Pickleball Club isn’t just about introducing newcomers to the sport—it also aims to create a space where all levels of players can enjoy the game together.
“It’s very much a sport where a lot of people can pick it up pretty quickly. There’s a low barrier to entry in a couple senses, where you don’t need a ton of equipment.” – (MacDonald)
Henkelman echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that pickleball’s appeal lies in its versatility. “It’s a sport where a lot of different levels can actually play together,” he said, which is key in making the game accessible to the UBC community as a whole.
First Event a Success
The club’s inaugural event, held on October 11, proved to be a hit, with all 24 available spots filling up within just two days of posting. The event brought together students of all skill levels, and MacDonald noted how quickly newcomers got the hang of the game.
“It went super well. There were eight or so people who had never played before, and by the end of the event, they were all playing games, having great rallies, having a lot of fun.” – (MacDonald)
Growing the Club
Memberships to the UBC Pickleball Club are available for $15, with access to events and equipment for members. The club has partnered with Instagram to manage sign-ups and is in the process of creating a Bounce page with the Alma Mater Society (AMS).
Looking ahead, the club plans to run weekly events at the SRC, with hopes of organizing a tournament in the near future. MacDonald and Henkelman are working closely with UBC Recreation to secure consistent times for their growing community.
“Hopefully in the future, we’ll get some more tournaments and stuff going, but for right now, [we are] just focusing on the social events, social mixers [and] getting people to play.” – (Henkelman)
News in Brief: UBC Pickleball Club
The UBC Pickleball Club has officially brought the rapidly growing sport of pickleball to campus. Founded by Mathias Henkelman and Josh MacDonald, the club aims to make the sport accessible to students of all skill levels, offering social events and competitive play.
Their first event sold out within two days, and memberships are now available for just $15. Moving forward, the club plans to host weekly events and pickleball tournaments with UBC Recreation’s support, fostering a strong sense of community at the university.
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