On Friday October 10, Rye Pickleball Club is joining players around the globe in celebrating World Pickleball Day with a community bring-and-share social mixer from 5pm to 7pm in the café area of the Rye Leisure Centre followed by a lively pickleball game session from 7pm to 9pm in the sports hall.
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the world, and here in Rye it has become much more than just a game. The weekly sessions — now so popular they run two back-to-back slots on Sundays (10am to 12pm and 12pm to 2pm) plus Tuesdays from 6pm to 8pm — are filled with energy, laughter and camaraderie. Whether they’re dinking around the kitchen, trading volleys, or simply sharing a smile between points, pickleball has a knack for creating community.
This year marks a special milestone: pickleball is celebrating its 60th year. The sport began in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, when three families improvised a new game using a badminton court, table tennis paddles and a perforated plastic ball. What started as a backyard pastime has grown into a worldwide movement, uniting people of all ages and backgrounds through its simple rules and social spirit.
Coincidentally, World Pickleball Day shares the date with World Mental Health Day — which feels like a rather serendipitous pairing. While the two global observances were created independently, their overlap couldn’t be more fitting. Pickleball is as good for the spirit as it is for the body, offering a joyful outlet for stress relief, social connection and laughter. At a time when mental health and community well-being are more important than ever, the pickleball court reminds us that a little movement, play and shared humanity can go a very long way.
The Rye Pickleball Club was founded by Cllr Dena Smith Ellis, a board-certified health and wellness coach who champions the benefits of holistic health. In a fitting twist of fate, Dena is originally from Vashon Island, just across the water from Bainbridge Island, where pickleball was born. Having learned to play on the Big Island of Hawaii before settling on the bigger island of England, she’s brought the sport full circle in spirit — from one island community to another. From the start, her aim was not only to bring pickleball to Rye but to create a space where fun, fitness, and friendship thrive.
Earlier this year, thanks to a grant from Active Rother which was match-funded by Rye Recreation and Wellbeing CIO (the charity which operates the Leisure Centre), the club received four new nets, ten new paddles, and a big bag of balls — giving the community the tools to grow. Since stepping into his role in April, centre director Daniel Lynn has been instrumental in coordinating the equipment purchase, collaborating on scheduling, and showing continued support for the club’s development. Daniel said: “Pickleball is a fantastic way to keep healthy and active, and once you’ve tried it, you’ll see why its popularity is booming across the world. It is fun, social, inclusive, low impact and, unlike many other racquet sports, it can be played year-round. It’s lovely to see so many players enjoying this great game at the centre, and the friendships it has created amongst them.”
As the club approaches its one-year anniversary on November 17, the club invites players, friends and community members alike to join in celebrating the joy of pickleball — a sport that builds connection, uplifts the spirit, and proves that fun really is the best kind of fitness.
With heartfelt thanks to Active Rother and Rye Recreation and Wellbeing CIO for the equipment, and to Rye Leisure Centre for their ongoing support, we look forward to many more years of dinks, drinks, and good company in Rye.
Image Credits: Dena Smith Ellis , Pickleball Day .