Get ready to grab your paddles and wiffle balls — four Pickleball courts are being implemented in front of the Student Services Building on campus later this semester.

According to Erik Hollins, Executive Director of Strategic Communications at Cal State LA, the school recognized the “growing popularity of pickleball across the country and saw an opportunity to bring this dynamic sport” to students. The courts are set to open during the spring semester, although a precise date is unclear.

Hollins said Cal State LA wants to provide students with an “engaging activity that enhances campus life and contributes to a vibrant community atmosphere.”

Cal State LA is not the first campus in the California State University system to build such facilities, as Hollins noted that Cal State Long Beach and Cal State Northridge also feature pickleball. 

Free paddle rentals will be available for students. The entire facility will be available to be rented out fully for $480 an hour and will also be available for staff and the community.

Pickleball is a racket sport on the rise that has quickly taken the nation by storm, reported to be the fastest-growing sport in America for the third year in a row by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association and Pickleheads. As of this month, USA Pickleball has reported that there are now around 15,910 courts nationwide. 

But what is Pickleball? 

The sport has players use ping-pong-like paddles to hit hollow plastic balls on courts similar to that of tennis or badminton. Pickleball can be played in either singles or doubles, with doubles being the most common variation of the sport. 

Pickleball differs from its contemporaries in that serves must be underhanded or drop shots, and the paddle cannot go over the waist during the serve. Overhand serves are not allowed and must go cross-court. Only one serve attempt is allowed. 

Games traditionally go to 11, and a team must win by two points. Pickleball also has a unique zone on the court in the center seven feet wide called the kitchen. 

The kitchen is a no volley zone; this is the only racket sport with such a rule. A volley is when a player hits the ball without letting it bounce, meaning players cannot volley in the kitchen. Serves are also not allowed to land in the kitchen.

Hollins said the university plans to hold promotional events “catering to the surrounding LA community to promote our new campus feature.”

This article was first published in the January 29 print edition of the University Times.