Pickleball Comes to Speas Global Elementary

Pickleball is a game resembling tennis in which players use paddles to hit a perforated plastic ball over a net.

In recent days, students at Speas Global Elementary School have been playing it under the guidance of Ryan Lindquist, who teaches physical education.
    
Jack Smith, who teaches academically gifted students at Speas, invited four top Pickleball players to join students on the last day of Pickleball on Feb. 7.  

Here’s what Smith wrote:

1.  Jack Smith and Ryan Lindquist, both teachers as well as pickleball and tennis players at Speas Global Elementary School, decided one day to start an introductory program for the third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students with pickleball.  Pickleball has become one of the fastest growing international sports soon to become an Olympic sport and both teachers felt it would be a perfect fit for our globally focused students at Speas.

2.  Jack Smith started playing about three years ago at the Gateway YWCA in Winston-Salem and started participating in tournaments.  Ryan and Jack teamed up as partners at nearby Polo Recreation Center.

3.  We bought Pickleball paddles and balls.  We received a donation from Ryan's brother Brett to help pay for the equipment. We still need some official Pickleball nets, upgraded equipment and volunteers to do it right for next year.

4.  The student's loved it.  We had volunteer instruction help from three Pickleball partners of Mr. Smith's; Michele Todd Davis, Albert Noda and Greg Dunn.  Mr. Dunn, an avid Pickleball player, is the grandfather of a second grader at Speas Global, Oliver Dunn, a future pickleballer.

5.  Pickleball is a fun international sport which is excellent for teaching students about the value of teamwork. strategy and exercise.  It is a life-long international sport that can be played from ages 5 to 95 and is a good way to meet and socialize with people of all nationalities and backgrounds.