Ever hear of pickleball? It’s Jeff Anthony’s job to ensure that you do.
Pickleball, a sport that combines aspects of tennis, ping pong, and badminton and is typically played on a tennis court using a smaller court and lower net, has grown in popularity in Williamsburg, especially with those in the 50 and above crowd.
Anthony, 70, is an ambassador for the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA). It is his role to help spread the word about pickleball in the Williamsburg area.
“It is my job to promote and grow support for the sport, to make sure everyone hears about it,” he said. “It’s the fastest growing sport in the country that most people have never heard about.”
Anthony didn’t know what pickleball was until he saw some people playing on the basketball court at the James City County Recreation Center five years ago. Intrigued, he agreed to give it a try when the players asked if he wanted to join them.
“I was very fortunate to start to play with some folks who set me on the right path in terms of strategy and technique,” he said. “You need to have both. The people who play the game are some of the most welcoming, fun-loving, kind people I’ve ever met.”
The sport was created in the 1960s in the state of Washington when some friends wanted to play badminton but didn’t have all the equipment, so they improvised with ping pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball.
Legend has it that the name of the game came from one of the co-creator’s dogs, whose name was Pickles.
To an outsider, the game looks a lot like tennis, just smaller. It’s played both indoors or outdoors on a badminton-sized court with a modified tennis net in the center. Instead of a racket, the game is played with a paddle and a plastic ball with holes. Just like tennis, matches can be played as doubles or singles.
As he began learning more about the game, Anthony launched the website pickleburg.com, an informational site that provides visitors with details on the ins and outs of pickleball, including the rules of the game, what types of paddles to use, and where to play in Williamsburg.
There are outdoor public courts at Jamestown High School and Veterans Park, and people can also play indoors at the James City County Recreation Center and the Quarterpath Recreation Center.
“Anyone can play at any age,” he said. “I like pickleball because it is a great way to stay active.”
Anthony has been heavily involved with the USA Pickleball Association since 2013.
“Becoming an ambassador for them was a perfect match,” Anthony said. “I get to represent something that I am so passionate about. I just love it, and want to tell everyone all about it.”
Anthony plays pickleball at least four times a week.
“I prefer playing outdoors,” he said. “It’s a plus because it is beautiful to play outside. I also like the challenges of being outdoors with the wind and the different surfaces. It is not uncommon during the winter months to see players out at Veterans Park with temperatures hovering around 30 degrees.”
Through USAPA, Anthony also offers free introductory pickleball clinics throughout Williamsburg and James City County.
“I like it because it keeps me busy,” said Anthony, an independent consultant with the company 360fyi. He settled in Williamsburg with his high school sweetheart, Sandy, in 2011.
Eventually, Anthony would like to see a partnership with both Williamsburg and James City County to bring in more pickleball tournaments to boost sports tourism for the area.
“I would love to see the city and the county take a look at sports tourism opportunities, and particularly what pickleball has to offer,” Anthony said. “People who travel here as tourists contact me regularly to ask me where to play and where to stay. My answer is always the same. Right here.”
For more information on pickleball in Williamsburg, visit www.pickleburg.com.
