Impact of Pickleball on Inmates’ Lives: Sarah Gersten, a lawyer and founder of the Last Prisoner Project, has brought pickleball to MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution in Connecticut. The sport has become a source of joy and camaraderie for inmates, many serving long sentences, through the Pickleball for Incarcerated Communities League (PICL), launched in 2023.
The program, inspired by Gersten’s discovery of a similar effort in Chicago, teaches inmates the sport while fostering community and teamwork. Every week, inmates organize tournaments, teach each other the game, and build meaningful connections through pickleball.
“There’s an element that’s built into the game that creates more camaraderie than other sports.” – (Gersten)
A Unique Setting for Pickleball’s Growth
Gersten recognized the simplicity and accessibility of pickleball made it ideal for prisons. Its social nature encourages teamwork, respect, and bonding.
“Something we always teach them is in the game, you paddle-tap your opponents, you paddle-tap your team member. That’s just a part of it; that’s part of the culture. I think because pickleball came up as not so much as a sport but more of a community activity, it builds more of the social aspect and sportsmanship is a core part of the game.” – (Gersten)
She partnered with pickleball coach Roger Belair and worked closely with the administration at MacDougall-Walker, New England’s largest correctional facility, to bring her idea to life.
Since its introduction, the program has thrived. Inmates participate daily in open-gym sessions and weekly clinics, helping to grow the sport behind bars. Recreation supervisor Rodolfo Alvarez, who first introduced pickleball to the facility in 2017, noted the difference the formal program has made.
Learning and Teaching Through the Game
The gym workers, a group of eight inmates who manage the facility’s recreation activities, have become key to the program. Trained by Gersten and professional coach Angelo Rossetti, they act as coaches, organizing leagues, hosting tournaments, and teaching other inmates to play.
Rossetti, initially hesitant after an intense volunteer orientation, found the experience deeply rewarding. “It was the most awesome, rewarding experience I’ve ever had,” he said. His coaching has been instrumental in refining the players’ skills and spreading the sport throughout the prison.
“I knew right away I was making a difference in the life of an individual who has lost hope.” – (Rossetti)
Inmates Find Hope and Purpose
For many inmates, pickleball offers a much-needed escape. Mario Rivera, a participant, described the sense of belonging the program creates.
“We don’t get to be around our families here so we’ve kind of created that family dynamic, and having that second family say, ‘We got you,’ means everything.” – (Mario Rivera)
Former high school football quarterback Joseph “Joey” Losgar, another gym worker, spends about 24 hours a week playing and teaching pickleball. He noted how the sport has transformed the environment at the prison, bringing joy and reducing stress for everyone involved.
A Path to Future Opportunities
The success of PICL at MacDougall-Walker has inspired similar programs across the country. By providing inmates with skills, teamwork, and a sense of purpose, the program offers a glimpse of hope for those in difficult circumstances.
As the program continues to grow, it demonstrates how a simple sport like pickleball can make a profound difference in even the most unlikely of places.
News in Brief: Impact of Pickleball on Inmates’ Lives
Sarah Gersten’s Pickleball for Incarcerated Communities League (PICL) has brought pickleball to Connecticut’s MacDougall-Walker prison, fostering teamwork and joy among inmates. Through weekly tournaments and coaching, the program creates a sense of family, reduces stress, and inspires hope, demonstrating how sports can transform lives in challenging environments.
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