Pickleball has taken the country by storm the last few years — with nearly everyone having played or knowing someone who is “obsessed” with the game.

Last year, two Tellico Village organizations helped bring the sport to a local elementary school; and, this year, the hope is to continue that outreach.

DONATING TIME, EQUIPMENT


During the 2023-2024 school year, the Tellico Village Pickleball Club and Adopt-A-Class both donated time and pickleball equipment, respectively, to Steekee Elementary School.

Last spring, TVPC’s now-Past President Gordon Young sent a newsletter to the Club’s nearly 1,000 members. Included among other hot topics was a request to teach the sport at SES as part of a pickleball support program.

Two of the members that answered the call to action were Bill Busch and his wife Sharon.

Since both Bill and Sharon had been to the school for a Square Dancing Class, Bill volunteered to look into the program and reach out to the teacher in charge — Tammy Webb, Health and Wellness teacher at Steekee Elementary School.

The spring session started with the fifth-grade class. There were a dozen TVPC members volunteering to help teach two times a week for four weeks.

During the fall semester, twenty-five TVPC members volunteered to teach third-, fourth- and fifth-graders to play. Busch said Pickleball Club members were teaching at the school four times a week for about a month.

Volunteers from the Club brought equipment for students to learn on. Paddles, nets, pickleballs — they brought it all with a happy, motivating attitude.

“The kids responded great,” said Busch. “They showed us respect. Being grandparents, (Sharon and I have) a lot more grandkids now.

“We only have four … so we had 30. It was a very rewarding experience for me and my wife, and I think for the other folks here, too.”

ADOPT-A-CLASS

In 2017, Karen Hamerslag started Adopt-A-Class as a way for Tellico Village residents to connect and volunteer with local schools. The nonprofit has raised thousands of dollars and donated hundreds of hours of time to the schools with their seven support programs.

Adopt-A-Class was involved with the pickleball program from the beginning, due to its long history of working with SES. Hamerslag said that one of Adopt-A-Class’ support programs allows teachers to request donated items.

Last December, Adopt-A-Class was able to donate pickleball equipment — two nets, court markers, paddles and pickleballs — to the physical education classes at SES.

“We love this program and consider physical education important,” Hamerslag said. ”We support ‘specials,’ such as PE and art, as well as academics and health needs.

“With the success of this instruction, the school needed its own equipment. Adopt-A-Class was very glad to be able to meet this need … and will continue to purchase additional supplies.”

SES TEACHERS, TOO!

With the success of this program, even the teachers started to take advantage.

Webb said that a group of faculty and staff started playing after school once they received the donated equipment, which is an excellent example for kids to see a priority of exercise, activity and fun.

“I absolutely enjoyed the collaboration with the (Tellico Village Pickleball Club) and Adopt-A-Class in introducing our students to pickleball,” Webb shared with the News-Herald via email. “We had such a great experience.

“I am constantly searching for new sports and activities to introduce to our students,” she said. “Finding a way for students to experience the feeling of success and gain confidence in themselves is what it is all about.

“Our school culture is embedded with respect and tenacity when facing new situations, so the students responded very well to being taught by the volunteers.”

As the partnership with SES somewhat comes to a close, Bill has contemplated how the TVPC can help local schools going forward.

“(Teaching) pickleball is kind of an outreach program … sort of like the Adopt-A-Class program, just for a different reason,” Bill said. “So we don’t know what we’re going to do this year (but) I’d like to see somehow the word spread to middle schools and high schools because this is the fastest-growing sport maybe in the world or in the country.”

Bill, representing the Tellico Village Pickleball Club, is hoping to talk with any local school that may be interested in partnering to teach pickleball to students.

For more information or to contact him, email him at bbusch0404@gmail.com.