Kiama is serving up excitement with its first ever pickleball competition, set to take place on Saturday 11 January, from 2 PM to 4 PM at the Kiama Leisure Centre.

The family friendly event is run by Jones Co. Tennis, and encourages players to participate even if they are new to pickleball.

Pickleball is an engaging and dynamic sport, combining long rallies with a mix of soft and fast-paced shots. Success on the court isn’t solely determined by athleticism, power, or speed but also by strategic positioning, patience, tactical thinking, and finesse. It’s played on a smaller hard court surface with a modified net, making it accessible for players of all ages, abilities, and genders without requiring special adaptations.

The Jones Co. Tennis pickleball competition runs as a double round robin, with teams of two to four players, and if you don’t have a team, you will be set up with one. The winner will be chosen based on final point scores but there will be other prizes that aren’t just skill based. 

Director and coach at Jones Co. Tennis, Daniel Jones, says that it has been great to see the community interest in their weekly pickleball sessions, especially the families that come together for it.  

Daniel also remarked that the interest from adults is particularly noteworthy as it can be hard to get adults involved in organised activities due to life commitments. 

Jones Co. Tennis also runs weekly pickleball sessions at Kiama High School, with no experience needed, they will teach players everything they need to know. During the term these sessions run on Tuesday 5:30PM-7:00PM and Thursdays 6:00PM-7:30PM, and during the summer holidays they run only on Thursday 6:00PM-7:30PM. 

Participants can register via the Jones Co. Tennis website, every member of each team needs to register. The cost is $20 per person. 

To learn more head to their website or social media.