Pickleball in Youth and Adult Prisons: Pickleball continues to reshape prison lives, fostering a sense of community and purpose among inmates. At MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution, the sport has become a source of camaraderie, rehabilitation, and hope.
A Lifeline Behind Bars
Mario Rivera, serving a 30-year sentence with 22 years remaining, credits prison programming with giving him purpose. After earning his GED, Rivera is pursuing an associate degree in business administration, making his family proud. He has also taken on various roles, including gym worker, which helped him find support from others during difficult times.
“We’re around each other every single day, and we really talk about everything,”. “We lean on each other. We’ve kind of created that family dynamic, and having that second family say, ‘We got you,’ means everything.”(Mario Rivera)
Pickleball has further strengthened these bonds. Rivera sees how the sport builds morale among inmates.
“It’s fun to hear these guys walking around on Monday still talking about what they did on Thursday,” (Mario Rivera).
Expanding the Program
Former deputy warden Lynnia Johnson, who introduced the pickleball initiative at MacDougall-Walker, now emphasizes programming at the Manson Youth Institution. PICL held its first clinic there, focusing on inmates under 21.
For Rossetti, the experience was transformative. At first, the young inmates were unruly, but his approach changed the atmosphere.
“I told them, ‘I coach professional athletes, and I’m coaching you like I would coach them,’” (Angelo Rossetti).
One 20-year-old responded, “You mean, you don’t see me as a criminal?” Rossetti’s reply, “No, I see you as a person,” shifted the mood entirely. The group became one of the most focused and enthusiastic he had ever worked with.
The Bigger Picture
The program at Manson Youth Institution has given Rossetti a renewed sense of purpose.
“I realized I’m right where I need to be,” (Angelo Rossetti).
Programs like PICL demonstrate how sports can bridge gaps, change mindsets, and create lasting impacts in correctional facilities. With its continued growth, the initiative offers hope and connection to those who need it most.
News in Brief: Pickleball in Youth and Adult Prisons
Pickleball at MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution fosters purpose, camaraderie, and hope among inmates. Mario Rivera highlights its role in building morale and family-like bonds. Expanding to youth prisons, the pickleball program, led by coach Angelo Rossetti, transforms perceptions and behaviors, proving how sports can inspire connection and positive change in correctional facilities.
