Pickleball in UK Youth Clubs: A Fun Alternative to Football and Gaming

Pickleball in UK Youth Clubs: Can It Compete with Football and Gaming?
On a damp Thursday evening in south Birmingham, a dozen teenagers crowd into the sports hall of a youth centre. Some had planned to shoot hoops or hang out in the common room. Instead, they are holding paddles, cautiously rallying a plastic ball across a low net. It is their first time playing pickleball — and by the end of the hour, several are already asking when the next session will be.

Pickleball, a sport blending elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis, is best known in England as a pastime for older adults. But in youth clubs and community centres across the country, a quiet experiment is underway. Youth workers, coaches, and volunteers are asking whether this low-barrier, high-fun sport might serve as a new tool to engage young people — particularly those left cold by traditional team sports or increasingly absorbed by screens.

The context is urgent. Sport England’s Active Lives Children and Young People Survey continues to report worrying trends in inactivity. Fewer than half of British children and teenagers meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. The pandemic exacerbated this, with school closures and cancelled sports provision hitting disadvantaged communities the hardest. While football remains the dominant sport in terms of visibility and participation, many young people now gravitate toward sedentary leisure — gaming, social media, and streaming services.

For youth clubs trying to reverse that tide, pickleball offers an unexpected opportunity. The game is quick to learn and doesn’t demand high-level fitness or coordination to enjoy. Because rallies can start immediately, young players are not faced with the steep learning curve of sports like cricket or hockey. “They don’t get bored,” says Andy Patel, a youth sports coordinator in Bradford who introduced pickleball to his centre last year. “They’re laughing, they’re moving, and they’re engaged from the first five minutes.”

Unlike football or basketball, pickleball does not rely on strong hierarchies of skill. Its smaller court and slower ball speed reduce intimidation for beginners. Mixed-age and mixed-ability games are not only possible, but enjoyable. That inclusivity is especially powerful for teenagers who have had negative experiences in PE or team sports.

The affordability of the sport also makes it suitable for community settings. A starter kit of paddles, balls and a portable net costs far less than football goals, table tennis tables, or even gaming consoles. Courts can be set up in any multi-use space — from school halls to empty car parks — with just some floor tape and creativity.

Early adopters are seeing promise. In Greater Manchester, a local charity partnered with a school exclusion unit to offer weekly pickleball sessions. Attendance has remained high, and staff report improved behaviour and mood among participants. In Lewisham, a youth club piloted pickleball during the winter holidays and saw a group of previously disengaged girls returning weekly. One of them now helps organise the sessions.

Despite these successes, there are still barriers to broader adoption. For many youth workers and young people alike, pickleball remains an unknown quantity. “Most of our teens think it’s an American retirement game,” says Julie Nixon, who manages a youth centre in Derbyshire. “But once they try it, they’re surprised. The challenge is just getting that first session going.”

There is also the immense gravitational pull of gaming. For many teens, Fortnite or FIFA is a nightly ritual. Pickleball, with its analogue setup and lack of digital integration, struggles to compete for attention — especially without music, lighting or social media tie-ins. Unlike esports, pickleball has no built-in online ecosystem where teens can track performance, share highlights or build status.

Then there is the issue of space. While leisure centres and schools are ideal venues, many youth clubs lack dedicated indoor courts. Pop-up nets help, but scheduling access and storage can become logistical headaches — especially for programmes already stretched thin.

Another challenge is perception. Because pickleball has gained traction among retirees and older adults in England, it is sometimes seen by young people as irrelevant or “uncool”. Overcoming this will require deliberate branding, peer influence, and smart role models. One suggestion gaining traction is to create local youth ambassadors — teens who play pickleball and promote it within their networks, whether through Instagram or TikTok.

Sport England and national charities like UK Youth could play a critical role in mainstreaming the sport. By developing toolkits specifically for youth settings — including modified rules, short match formats, and inclusive session plans — they can help embed pickleball in after-school provision and holiday schemes. Investment in community start-up packs, volunteer training, and small grants could turn curiosity into sustainability.

Partnerships with schools also offer a natural entry point. Some PE departments have begun trialling pickleball for Key Stage 3 pupils, with positive feedback. The doubles format promotes teamwork and communication. Its non-contact nature reduces injury risk. And its inherent pacing suits students with ADHD or those struggling with focus.

But perhaps the sport’s greatest asset lies in its ability to build bridges. “We’ve had teens play with staff members, or younger kids join in without feeling overwhelmed,” says Patel. “It creates a sense of shared space that’s rare in most sports.”

In this way, pickleball has potential not just as a recreational tool, but as a youth development platform. Regular play fosters self-regulation, cooperation, and resilience — soft skills that translate beyond the court. In neighbourhoods where anti-social behaviour is a concern, structured weekly leagues could offer a constructive outlet.

None of this suggests pickleball will rival football in terms of scale or cultural weight. The pitch remains king, and the lure of a professional football dream remains powerful for many British boys (and increasingly girls). Likewise, digital entertainment is unlikely to loosen its grip without systemic shifts.

Yet the goal need not be competition. If pickleball can claim even a small place in the landscape of youth engagement — especially for those disillusioned with mainstream sport — then it has a role worth cultivating. Not every teen wants to run five-a-side or stream for hours. Some want to move, laugh, and belong.

Back in Birmingham, the session ends. The teens fold up the net, wipe down the paddles, and grab their phones. One of them opens Snapchat and takes a picture of the scoreboard. “We smashed them,” he says.

If that becomes the new Thursday night routine, pickleball might just be onto something.