The worlds of soccer and pickleball might seem miles apart, one a global sport with a history stretching back millennia, the other a relatively recent invention, but beneath the surface, a fascinating crossover is taking place. Soccer players, known for their footwork and field prowess, are increasingly finding themselves drawn to the strategic and fast-paced world of pickleball news. This isn’t just a casual hobby; it’s becoming a full-blown obsession for some, and here’s why.
One of the key reasons for this crossover lies in the surprising similarities between the two sports. Despite the obvious differences—a large field versus a small court, feet versus paddles—both soccer and pickleball share a foundation of accessibility. Just as kids around the world can play soccer with minimal equipment, pickleball requires very little to get started. This ease of entry makes it simple for athletes from other sports, like soccer, to try their hand at pickleball. Furthermore, both sports are known for their strong sense of community, creating a welcoming environment for newcomers, whether they’re seasoned athletes or casual players.
Beyond accessibility, the mental game in both sports shares some common ground. As one former soccer player turned pickleball pro, Ivan Jakovljevic, notes, handling pressure is crucial. In soccer, players have 90 minutes to win or lose, but in pickleball, it’s a true win-lose scenario, requiring a different kind of mental toughness. This mental fortitude is something that many soccer players have developed over their careers, and it’s a skill that translates well to the pickleball court. Jakovljevic also points out that being aware of one’s weaknesses and intentionally working on them is key in both sports.
The strategic depth of pickleball is another aspect that draws in soccer players. While soccer relies on field positioning and teamwork, pickleball involves precise shots and carefully planned strategies, such as dinking rallies, which require a different, but equally demanding kind of focus. For athletes like Danny Jensen, a former Ohio State soccer standout, the transition to pickleball involved honing hand-eye coordination, but the ability to “read the game” came naturally. He describes the early stages of learning pickleball as difficult, as he knew what he should be doing, but lacked the hand skills to do so.
The intensity and high-pressure environment of professional sports can be both exhilarating and draining, leading many athletes to seek new challenges. Pickleball offers a unique outlet. As Jensen explains, even though he’s had some setbacks, such as losing badly to top players, he uses that as motivation to improve and to learn. He has a positive mindset, believing that every day is a good day because he is learning and getting better. This positive mentality is essential in the high-stress environment of both sports.
Pickleball’s rise in popularity has also been driven by its unique culture. Fans are often participants, and understand how challenging the game can be, so they appreciate the skill of pro players. This “cult-like” culture of recreational play is similar to that of soccer, where fans often have experience playing the game themselves. The growing recognition of top pickleball players like Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters within the pickleball community mirrors the way soccer fans worship their favorite players like Lionel Messi.
As pickleball continues to grow, it also faces some of the same challenges that soccer did in its early days in the US. Bruce Bundrant, who has worked with both Major League Soccer and Major League Pickleball, notes that the pitch for both was similar: leveraging the popularity of the grassroots game to build support for the professional leagues. For example, in the early years of Major League Soccer, the pitch to sponsors was “‘Look how popular grassroots soccer is. It’s obvious this groundswell of popularity will result in a successful pro league, so come out and support MLS‘”. Bundrant used the same pitch with Major League Pickleball.
The success of soccer in the U.S., marked by major media deals, offers a roadmap for pickleball to follow. Investing in media is crucial to grow both viewership and revenue, which in turn, can be reinvested to improve the experience for fans at all levels.
The transition from soccer to pickleball isn’t always easy and requires athletes to be flexible, adapting their skills to this new sport. Samuel White, who transitioned to pickleball after a soccer injury, found that the love of sports is not confined to one discipline. Even when athletes are at the top of their game, there is always something new to learn. The journey for athletes like Danny Jensen, Ivan Jakovljevic and Samuel White illustrates how soccer skills such as agility, strategic thinking, and mental fortitude can be easily transferrable to pickleball. With the increasing popularity of pickleball, it is likely we will see more soccer players secretly, or not so secretly, making their way to the courts.
