The University of the Third Age (u3a) is a volunteer-led network that keeps retired people active and learning. Under the guidance of David Pechey, the number of u3a pickleball groups has grown from 15 to at least 83, making it a key participation driver across the UK.
David tells Pickleball 52 the story of the sport’s growth under the u3a umbrella so far:
“I started playing pickleball in 2017 at Leigh Pickleball Club while recovering from a double fracture of the ankle – and I quickly fell in love with this new sport,” David tells Pickleball 52.
However, the commute across Manchester in Friday rush hour traffic led me to start a new club in 2018 within my local Bramhall u3a group. At that time there was a steady growth in playing numbers, mostly as a result of word-of-mouth recommendations.
Members of our Bramhall u3a pickleball group went on to found two more local groups and it was clear that almost everyone who tried it out wanted to continue playing.
In 2021 I contacted the Third Age Trust, the parent body for all 1,000 individual u3a organisations across the UK. I suggested that playing pickleball strongly aligned with the u3a objective of encouraging their cohort (with a median age probably in the upper 60s/early 70s) to become and to stay active.
I further suggested that the Third Age Trust/u3a should appoint a national Subject Advisor, as they had done for around 50 other subjects and activities, to support the growth of pickleball within u3a. Unfortunately at that time there was no recognition or understanding of pickleball within the management of the Third Age Trust. So they proposed that as I had raised the issue I should take on the role of Subject Advisor.
The first job I set myself was to find out how many and which u3a groups around the country offered pickleball as a supported activity. After some research I discovered 15 at that time with an active membership of approximately 400 players.
My second job was to prepare a package of information on how to set up a new u3a pickleball group and how to resolve the many issues that can occur around funding, venues, safety, equipment, coaching etc. This package came in the form of a web page offering support and helpful links on the Third Age Trust/ u3a website plus a comprehensive collection of documents, graphics and text that could be quickly emailed to anyone interested in getting started.
Alongside the desktop support I have had the pleasure to run start-up and taster sessions for many new groups in the surrounding area. Since then the email traffic has grown inexorably, requesting help starting up but in addition seeking assistance with ongoing challenges such as risk analysis, managing numbers at sessions, guidance on suitable kit etc. But satisfyingly, the number of active groups has also grown month by month.
Today, I am in direct contact with nearly 90 u3a groups and I estimate that their total playing membership is in the region of 2,750. Any review of the growth of pickleball within the u3a must reflect on two important factors.
The first is the hard work done by Pickleball England to build support structures for everyone interested in the sport in terms of information, coaching programmes and nationwide publicity.
Most importantly a huge debt of gratitude is owed to the local champions in every active u3a group: the group conveners, coordinators and leaders. These local heroes are the real champions.
They are the ones with the enthusiasm, the initiative, the perseverance and the patience to take on the organisational challenges that inevitably stand in the way of getting a new group under way. The debt to them is owed by me and by every u3a player that enjoys exercise, fun, gentle competition and social interaction as a result of their efforts.”
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Fun fact, the first U3A pickleball group was started by Frank Arico (PbE co-founder) in Sunningdale in 2017. So fantastic to see the growth of U3A groups across the country. David Pechey has been a real catalyst for that.
Thanks Karen. It’s great to see pickleball growing so strongly, not only inside u3a but also across the country, thanks to your hard work and the support of the Pickleball England Board members.