Recess for Adults: "Wanna Play with Us?"

5 things that make pickleball remarkably like a grown-up version of childhood recess

It was a Thursday mid-afternoon when four of us strangers met at the pickleball court to play pickleball. A website called Playtime Schedule is widely used in Colorado Springs where I’m spending the summer, and does a marvelous job of facilitating pickleball playtime. 

Going over the fence

At some point in our games, the ball went over the fence between our court and the neighboring court, hit by someone we won’t mention by name. It was not convenient to go to the far side of our fenced court, then down the sidewalk to the far entrance of the other court, retrieve the ball, then repeat in reverse.

One of our players, Ann, joked about going over the fence but worried about making a fool of herself. Then she actually did it, all of us laughing with delight at her spontaneity. When the same certain someone (me) hit another ball over the fence, Ann and I both went over, not even trying to look cool and laughing with the pure delight of doing something so…playful.

We forget who we are

Kids do it all the time, and they don’t care about being ridiculous. We grown-ups do. Years of experience have taught us to “fit in”, to filter our reactions/words, and “tone it down.” Not all of that is bad, but we really can forget who we are. We get really good at sitting quietly—literally and figuratively. This is why the improv company director from whom I took classes forced us professional, filtered adults to intentionally act ridiculous. It was awkward.…and liberating and amazing.

Pickleball is not remotely as wonderfully awkward as improv, but there’s a reason why we say “play pickleball.” There’s a lot of play in pickleball and we’re not just talking about the game. People of all ages and types are, by and large, more playful and open with strangers and new friends in pickleball than nearly any other setting I’ve seen. 

We forget for the moment to worry about finances, our jobs or business, relationship troubles. It’s a whole lot like we’re on a much-needed break. By very definition, that’s what recess is:

A suspension of business or procedure often for rest or relaxation.

Playing with strangers

A few weeks after the fence incident, games with a different group of people wrapped up, but three of us still wanted to play. So one woman went to a court with three college guys on it and asked if they could use a fourth. They were happy to have her. The remaining two of us asked if we could join the couple on the court next to us. They had never played doubles, told us they were super new and might need some instruction on the rules and scoring, and we played.

The threatening storm clouds eventually turned into light rain which turned into heavy rain. Still we played on, laughing over mistakes and slipping around the wet court. These supposed newbies ended up winning, but we didn’t care. We all had fun.

If it’s been a while since you laughed with strangers and made friends with those strangers, pickleball is for you. And if you’ve only played pickleball with the same small group of people, I dare you to find new people to play with. Chances are high you’ll find unexpected delight in playing with strangers. 

Five things that make pickleball like recess for grown-ups:

• While some really good players don’t like playing with newer players, it is a sport where people tend to mix well. There’s lots of “Do you want to play with us?” and “Do you guys need a fourth?”

• There’s a lot of spontaneity and opportunities for people to compliment and get a kick out of each other.

• No screens and no chairs means everyone is focused on the physical nature and fun of the moment over the stresses of adult life.

• Lots of it is free and outdoors—yes, there are pickleball facilities with memberships and pay-for-play models. But in many places, there are lots of opportunities to play outside for free at community courts. (More on court shortages in a future article.)

• You don’t have to orchestrate tons of people in order to play. You can play with two people, and even get creative for playing pickleball with three people.

Your turn!

What would you add? What’s one of your pickleball “recess” experiences?