Paul Caldarella, a BYU psychology professor, wipes his brow as he packs away his paddle, a big smile on his face. Across the net, his teenage son smiles back, buzzing on endorphins and shared connection.
Caldarella has come to expect the good vibes following pickleball matches with his son. In fact, after noticing an improvement in his son’s mood on the days the teen played, Caldarella was inspired to explore how pickleball affects youth mental health.
His study, published in Leisure/Loisir, surveyed kids ages 8 to 18 who participated in youth pickleball in Utah. “It didn’t matter what age they were, how long they’d been playing, . . . how long of a pickleball session they had. They reported the same benefits.”
To gauge their mental health, Caldarella had the kids take a simple survey with statements such as “Pickleball helps me feel better about myself. Pickleball helps me make friends. Pickleball helps me cope better with my feelings.” Ninety percent of participants agreed pickleball helps their mood, and 98 percent said it has a positive impact on their life.
Jeremy S. Horner (BS ’19), study coauthor and coordinator for the Utah Junior Pickleball Organization, says the close proximity of the players on the court makes pickleball very social. “Some of those key factors that always help [with mental health] is that social, human connection and exercise. . . . Pickleball is able to combine those in a pretty healthy dose.”
Pickleball is unique from other sports in that it can cross generational gaps, adds Horner. “Grand- children playing with grandparents is pretty rare to see happen out on a soccer field.”
“‘Men are that they might have joy (2 Ne. 2:25),’” says Caldarella. “Pickleball can be a joyous experience.”
