Pickleball is quickly becoming one of Eugene, Oregon’s favorite sports. The Emerald Valley Pickleball Club, started in 2015, has grown to over 800 members. The club will host a tournament at the YMCA on Memorial Day weekend. That same weekend, pickleball teams from the University of Oregon and Oregon State University will compete for the first time.
A Growing Club with Big Goals
The Emerald Valley Pickleball Club started with about 30 people playing at a local church. Club leaders worked hard to expand access to courts. With help from the City of Eugene, they added permanent nets at Westmoreland Park and Meadow Park.
“Initially, some pickleball players were, ‘well, let’s not tell anybody, because this is kinda crowded, and we’ll never get to play,’” said club president Roger Schaljo.
To deal with the Pacific Northwest’s rainy winters, the club runs indoor events. Introductory clinics are held at the YMCA and Bob Keefer Center in Springfield. These events help teach new players and keep the sport alive during bad weather.
Easy to Learn, Fun to Play
Pickleball is less demanding than other racquet sports, making it a good choice for people of all ages and abilities. On sunny mornings, Westmoreland and Meadow parks often have 40 to 50 people playing.
“Pretty much any morning when there’s decent weather, you go to Westmoreland Park or Meadow Park, 40 to 50 people are playing,” Roger Schaljo said.
To handle the crowd, players place their paddles in holders. After each game, new players rotate in. If more than five paddles are waiting, all four players switch out.
Roger Schaljo believes the sport is more than just physical activity. “If you get your heart rate going and get the blood flowing, those are all good signs,” he said.
From Campus Courts to Community Impact
Daniel Howe teaches tennis, pickleball, and table tennis at the University of Oregon. He says pickleball is simple to learn and very enjoyable.
“You can start playing and really get into a game and have fun on day one,” Daniel Howe said. “There’s a lot of energy in the room. I love when I get to play and there are students who are better than me.”
In his classes, Daniel Howe teaches forehand, backhand, and serving early on. Later, students learn more difficult shots like lobs and the third shot drop.
“The third shot drop is probably the shot that requires the most skill because you really have to place the ball well from far away,” Daniel Howe said. “By hitting a ball that just barely makes it over the net, it gives the serving team time to move closer to the net.”
The sport is usually played in doubles, which helps players build friendships. Daniel Howe encourages beginners to focus on footwork and soft shots. The University of Oregon offers credit classes and a spring intramural tournament. This gives students many chances to learn and compete.
For Roger Schaljo, the sport’s impact goes far beyond fun. Teaching pickleball to Parkinson’s patients has been especially meaningful. “Someone told me that they hadn’t felt that young in decades,” Roger Schaljo said.
The Emerald Valley Pickleball Foundation will host its YMCA tournament on Memorial Day weekend. The same weekend, college teams from Eugene and Corvallis will face off in their first-ever pickleball match. This growth shows how the sport is bringing people together. With more courts, events, and support, Eugene’s pickleball future looks bright.
News in Brief: Emerald Valley Pickleball Club
Eugene’s Emerald Valley Pickleball Club now has over 800 members and will host a YMCA tournament and a college match between the University of Oregon and Oregon State University on Memorial Day weekend. Pickleball is growing fast in the city with new courts, indoor clinics, and community support.
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