By Alpha Barrie

Jeremiah Moshopeh Pratt siad Pickleball isn’t just a sport – it’s a movement that is gaining momentum in Africa and Sierra Leone is not an exemption.

According to the President of the Sierra Leone Pickleball Association (SLPA), Moshopeh Pratt stressed that Pickleball isn’t just a sport — it’s a movement. And across Africa, it’s finding fertile ground to grow.

He continued that what makes this fast-paced yet accessible game resonate so well with communities? Let’s break it down:

Inclusive by Design; Pickleball welcomes all ages, genders, and fitness levels. In a continent rich with diversity and inter-generational connection, this inclusivity mirrors African values of community and unity.

In Minimal Resources, Maximum Fun; The simplicity of Pickleball courts — often adapted from existing tennis or basketball courts — makes it perfect for regions where resources may be limited but creativity and passion are abundant.

Social by Nature; Played in doubles and often followed by laughter and conversation, Pickleball fits right into the African spirit of Ubuntu.” Pratt noted, pointing out it is not just a sport played to win, but to establish connections.

He described the sport as “low cost, and highly impactful with affordable equipment and easy-to-learn rules, which in essence means, more people can join in.” According to Pratt, this accessibility is pivotal in encouraging grassroots sports development across the continent.

As a sport that opens up opportunities for youth players, Pickleball, Moshopeh Pratt maintains, offers new pathways for empowerment and leadership, noting that with the right support, it can become a platform for education, mentorship, and gender equity.

He assured that the sport is perfect for both urban and rural environments, pointing out that whether it is in a city park or a village clearing, Pickleball can be played anywhere. “It is that flexibility that speaks directly to the dynamic landscapes and lifestyles across Africa,” he stated.

“Let’s not just bring Pickleball to Sierra Leone — let’s grow it with Africa. By embracing local cultures, traditions, and needs, we can build a version of the sport that’s uniquely African, sustainable, and inspiring,” Pratt called out, and with an encouragement to rally behind th opportunities the game will bring with it.

Pickleball is a racket or paddle sport in which two or four players use a smooth-faced paddle to hit a perforated, hollow plastic ball over a 34-inch-high (0.86 m) net until one side is unable to return the ball or commits a rule infraction.

Pickleball is played both indoors and outdoors. It was invented in 1965 as a children’s backyard game in the United States, on Bainbridge Island in Washington State. In 2021, Pickleball was named the official State Sport of Washington DC.

Aspects of the sport resemble tennis and table tennis played on a double badminton court, but Pickleball has specific scoring rules, paddles, balls and court lines. On each side of the net is a 7-foot area (2.1 m) known as the non-volley zone (or kitchen); a player standing there may not strike the ball before it has bounced. The hard plastic pickleball produces less bounce than a tennis ball. The limited bounce, non-volley zones, and underhanded stroke, with which all serves must be made, give the game a dynamic pace. The slow soft shots in the non-volley zone, is called dinks, used to limit the opponent’s ability to attack, while balls that are returned too high might be struck with a powerful drive or overhead smash shot.