Pickleball is a rapidly growing sport that has witnessed a massive surge in popularity. However, while the number of female players has grown, there is still a lack of female representation in leadership positions within the sport. This disparity highlights the broader trend across sports and business, where women are often underrepresented in top roles, claimed Kaitlyn Kerr, known as 'The Pickleball Chick'.
So, what is the reason behind it? A recent finding revealed that one reason for this imbalance has been the systemic barriers that women face in achieving leadership positions—including discrimination, lack of opportunities, and societal expectations. Not only that, but many women also tend to lack the support necessary to pursue leadership roles.
But all is not lost, and there have been signs of progress. Top female players like Anna Leigh Waters, Simone Jardim and Catherine Parenteau have become renowned names within the pickleball community. Not only have they made a name for themselves on the court, but they are also inspiring the next generation of female players.
An increase in women's participation also adds another dimension to the game that can eventually help build sportsmanship and a supportive atmosphere. A diverse playing field will only benefit and help sustain pickleball, thereby ensuring that the sport remains accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
This lack of female representation in pickleball can be resolved by creating more opportunities for women to develop their skills and take leadership roles.
Kaitlyn Kerr, known as "The Pickleball Chick," is one of the brightest examples of how a woman can take up a leadership role in pickleball. Even after beginning her pickleball journey relatively recently, Kaitlyn quickly managed to become a prominent figure in the sport. She has also founded a successful brand, joined a Major League Pickleball ownership group, and is actively working to promote the growth of women's pickleball. Her story shows how passion and dedication can go a long way to help achieve success.
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Recently, former tennis legend Maria Sharapova had a pickleball day out, and the legendary player spoke about her experience on Forbes and said, “I was initially quite surprised by how different everything felt about pickleball. I thought there would be more similarities,” Sharapova said. “But I guess there's no such thing as ‘enough’ power.”
“Will definitely use a lot of that strength that I had in my tennis career. But there’s a new skill set around hitting the short balls in the kitchen,”—or the non-volley zone, right in front of the net.
“All these new terms that I'm becoming familiar with have been a very entertaining journey,” she added. “But overall, yeah, I think there are a few elements of tennis that you can bring in, but I'd say I was surprised at how different it felt.”
“On the business side, it’s definitely growing, and how could it not? The engagement across the country is extremely high. You can see why people are really having fun with it.”
“We’re seeing so much more consistency in the women's game and that has been really refreshing,” she concluded.
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