Selkirk Sport will donate 1,000 paddles to schools, youth organizations, first responders and charitable organizations to support the growth of pickleball at the grassroots level. The company has also doubled the player-incentive pool to $300,000 for the upcoming US Open Pickleball Championships.
To celebrate National Pickleball Month in April, Selkirk Sport has announced that it will donate 1,000 paddles to schools, youth organizations, first responders and charitable organizations, to support the growth of pickleball at the grassroots level.
To kick off the “Selkirk Growth Program,” Selkirk Sport donated 300 paddles to the USA Pickleball Association’s Junior Program and equipped the Los Angeles Bell Fire Station with a collection of paddles for its new on-site pickleball court at the station.
As part of the program, Tyson McGuffin, the No. 1-ranked professional pickleball player in the world, alongside Selkirk Sport Co-Founders Rob and Mike Barnes, will distribute paddles to philanthropic organizations in conjunction with select professional tournaments throughout the season.
“Donating 1,000 paddles is a strong statement that reinforces our commitment to helping to drive the surging growth and popularity of pickleball nationwide,” said Rob Barnes. “In addition to supporting the growth of the professional game, it’s important to give back, and through this program individuals from all backgrounds will have an opportunity to experience the game of pickleball in communities across the country.”
Selkirk Sport also announced that $300,000 will be available as part of the 2019 player-incentive pool—a 50 percent increase from 2018. As part of the incentive program, $77,400 will be up for grabs to Team Selkirk members at the upcoming US Open Pickleball Championships, which will be held April 27 through May 4 at East Naples Community Park in Naples, Fla., and where McGuffin will look to defend his title.
The player-incentive pool is for the top finishers in each respective professional pickleball division, including singles, doubles and mixed doubles (Open & Senior Open Divisions), with a Triple Crown Bonus if a Team Selkirk Athlete captures first place in all three divisions. Players must enroll in the Selkirk incentive-pool program to be eligible for prize money, and must compete with a Selkirk Paddle.
“Increasing our incentive pool by 50 percent to $300,000 reinforces our overall commitment to support our brand ambassadors while continuing to invest in the growth of pickleball,” said Rob Barnes.
Pickleball, a sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis, has more than 3.3 million players and is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States, according to the USA Pickleball Association. In fact, world-renowned golf instructor Hank Haney has said that pickleball will be bigger than golf in the coming years.
In January, PGA Village Verano announced plans for a five-acre outdoor pickleball facility that will include a total of 27 courts including a championship court for tournaments, multiple viewing areas, covered seating and an event lawn with pavilion area.
C+RB recently highlighted the rapid rise of pickleball in its March 2019 issue (Keeping the Courts in Session).
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