Riverview High School students have a new option when it comes to physical education games.
Volunteer pickleball instructors came to the school in Oakmont Jan. 15 and introduced the sport to the children.
It is a cross between ping pong, tennis and badminton. One to two players on each side of a net use rackets a little bigger than ping pong paddles to hit a wiffle-type ball back and forth. The ball can bounce once on either side before being returned over the net similar to tennis rules.
United States Pickleball Association split a $350 grant and equipment donations from companies Onix and Gamma Sports between Riverview and Fox Chapel Area High School earlier this month.
“The reason we’re targeting the younger generation is because we want this to be a life sport, so when they get older it’s already a game they know,” USPA ambassador Kathy Demitri said. “It’s such an easy game to learn.”
Demitri, a certified pickleball teacher under the Professional Pickleball Registry, said the donation to Fox Chapel will enhance its current pickleball program.
Michael DiVittorio is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Michael at 412-871-2367, mdivittorio@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MikeJdiVittorio.
