Why UK Universities Should Add Pickleball to the BUCS Sports Programme

Pickleball at University: Is It Time for BUCS to Recognise the Sport?
At universities across England, students are rallying around a sport that most of them had never heard of five years ago. Pickleball, once dismissed as a pastime for pensioners, is now drawing increasing interest from undergraduates who see in it something new: a low-cost, social, easy-to-learn game that fills the gap between casual recreation and serious competition.

Yet despite its growing presence on campuses, pickleball remains unofficial in the eyes of university sport leadership. The British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) system, which governs over 50 sports in higher education, has yet to recognise pickleball on its official programme. For student organisers trying to grow the sport from the ground up, this lack of recognition is starting to show.

A Student-Led Rise
At institutions from Exeter to Durham, student pickleball clubs have sprung up with little more than borrowed badminton courts, a few paddles, and word-of-mouth enthusiasm. What started as a side activity at a few societies has now become a fixture on some university calendars. At the University of Nottingham, for example, the club now runs regular weekly sessions and attracts dozens of new players each term.

One reason for the sport’s appeal is its accessibility. Students can pick it up quickly, play in mixed groups, and enjoy competitive matches regardless of previous racket sport experience. With indoor courts available year-round and minimal equipment needed, the game fits easily into the busy schedules and tight budgets of university life.

According to several student sport officers, pickleball is also helping to engage those who have not traditionally joined competitive university teams. Its informal, inclusive nature brings in participants who might have felt shut out of more structured sports.

What BUCS Recognition Would Change
For a university sport to receive formal BUCS recognition, it must demonstrate strong participation, organised competition, and governance by a recognised national body. Pickleball England now provides that framework, with over 18,000 registered members and a rapidly expanding tournament scene. But despite this, the sport has yet to cross the threshold needed for inclusion in the BUCS structure.

Without BUCS recognition, student pickleball clubs lack access to official funding streams, facility priority, and opportunities to compete in inter-university leagues. They are also less visible to incoming students browsing society and sport offerings.

Recognition would not only provide more legitimacy. It would also open the door to regional student competitions, pathways to elite development, and support from university sport departments that often prioritise BUCS-linked activities.

A Missed Opportunity for Participation Goals
Many universities are actively seeking new ways to boost student sport participation, especially among underrepresented groups. Pickleball aligns perfectly with those goals. It is mixed-gender by default, beginner-friendly, and low-contact, making it accessible to a broad range of students, including international students and those with limited prior sport experience.

Its emergence in universities mirrors its broader growth across the UK. What began as a niche sport is now regularly featured at community centres, leisure clubs, and national tournaments. Yet at the university level, the lack of institutional backing is slowing momentum just as interest is peaking.

One student from the University of Leeds described how their club ran out of court space midway through term due to a lack of formal recognition. “We’ve got the players, but we can’t get the time,” he said. “The basketball team gets three nights a week. We can barely get one.”

The Case for Trial Inclusion
BUCS already has mechanisms for trialling new sports. Ultimate frisbee and climbing were both piloted before full inclusion. In recent years, emerging sports such as dodgeball and futsal have found their way onto the fixture list after building sufficient momentum. Pickleball, many argue, has now reached that threshold.

With dozens of universities already running sessions, and a clear national structure in place through Pickleball England, the infrastructure exists. Student-led tournaments have already been hosted informally, and interest in forming regional competitions is growing.

Trialling pickleball at the BUCS level would not require major investment. Existing badminton or sports halls could accommodate courts with minimal adjustment. Rules and scoring are straightforward, and equipment can be shared between clubs.

What is needed is a willingness to treat emerging sports not as novelties but as part of the solution to a wider issue—how to keep students active, connected, and engaged through sport.

Aligning with Student Mental Health Goals
Universities are under growing pressure to support student wellbeing, particularly after the disruptions of recent years. Sports that encourage regular social interaction, routine physical activity, and inclusive environments are seen as valuable tools in this effort.

Pickleball, with its combination of movement and sociability, has shown potential in this area. Several clubs have reported that students who rarely engaged in other sports now attend weekly sessions, using them as both stress relief and social grounding.

Recognising pickleball formally could support broader university wellbeing strategies, adding a flexible and low-barrier option to their sport portfolios. It would also give students more ownership over how they engage with sport at university, rather than forcing them into outdated categories of competitive team versus casual gym use.

A Chance to Lead, Not Follow
England has the opportunity to position itself as a leader in the integration of pickleball into higher education. In the United States, where the sport began, universities are only now starting to adopt it formally. The UK could move more quickly, tapping into its well-organised university sport network and its existing base of pickleball clubs.

For BUCS, trialling pickleball would reflect the organisation’s own commitment to adaptability and growth. For students, it would mean recognition of the time and energy they are already pouring into the sport. And for the sport itself, it would be a step towards long-term sustainability.

Conclusion
Pickleball’s presence in English universities is no longer a question of possibility. It is a question of recognition. The players are here. The demand is real. What remains is for the system to catch up.

By granting trial status to pickleball and supporting its continued expansion, BUCS and university sport leaders can affirm that they are willing to grow with their student communities—not just oversee them. In doing so, they could help transform a grassroots movement into a lasting part of university life.