The Pickleball for Incarcerated Communities League (PICL) has transformed lives at MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution. This initiative, led by Sarah Gersten of the Last Prisoner Project, has expanded to every state-run prison in Connecticut and is reaching facilities nationwide.
The program teaches pickleball to inmates, fostering teamwork and positivity while offering a low-impact alternative to more physical sports. Gersten’s efforts have not only introduced the game but also inspired a sense of community and growth among participants.
A Game That Builds Trust
Jason Faison, an inmate serving a 40-year sentence, was initially skeptical about pickleball. After injuries from basketball left him cautious, he embraced the sport as a safer and more relaxed alternative.
“It just feels more relaxed than basketball, and you’re able to actually let your guard down,” Faison said. He noted the social nature of pickleball, where competition remains friendly and free of physical aggression.
“We ain’t got to worry about if somebody has a hidden agenda like playing basketball, or whether they might intentionally hit you playing a little rough. You don’t have to have a chip on your shoulder; everyone is just having fun. With pickleball, you can be competitive, you can talk smack, but it doesn’t get physical. You can just play.” – (Faison)
Faison estimates pickleball is now the second-most popular sport at the facility, and its growth has been remarkable.
“If someone had told me that two years ago, I wouldn’t have believed it. It’s hard to believe something when you’re not around it. But when you see it, and watching it gradually grow and [understanding] why, it makes a lot of sense.” – (Faison)
Expanding Beyond Connecticut
PICL’s success has grown beyond MacDougall-Walker. Gersten credits the support of former Deputy Warden Lynnia Johnson and Recreation Supervisor Rodolfo Alvarez for helping the program spread statewide.
“Being able to say, ‘Do you want to speak to the rec supervisor or the director of Connecticut’s DOC [Department of Correction]?’ to someone [in another state] makes a big difference.” – (Gersten)
“Now we’re able to supply letters from wardens and sheriffs in Connecticut, and all over the country, and have a packet that says, ‘Here is what we’ve done’ using this model at MacDougall-Walker as our example and proof that it works and can be done. We’re not hoping it will work. It does.” – (Gersten)
This has allowed her to scale PICL to other states, with programs already active as far as Alaska and the West Coast.
Looking Ahead: A Bigger Vision
Inmates have embraced the sport, with weekly tournaments and teaching sessions led by gym workers like Faison and Joseph Losgar. The program’s reach continues to grow, with its first Rhode Island facility set to launch soon.
Rossetti, a professional coach for PICL, hopes to see inter-prison tournaments in the future, where inmates from different facilities can compete.
PICL has proven that pickleball is more than just a sport. For many inmates, it’s a chance to find hope, build trust, and prepare for better futures.
News in Brief: Pickleball for Incarcerated Communities League
The Pickleball for Incarcerated Communities League (PICL) has brought teamwork, trust, and hope to inmates at MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution and beyond. Led by Sarah Gersten, the program teaches pickleball as a safe, low-impact sport, expanding to prisons nationwide and inspiring inmates to build community and prepare for brighter futures.
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