From zero to champion in days: The British Army is backing the pickleball boom

Pickleball, the padel sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping pong, is now available to troops.

The British Army staged a week of pickleball sessions welcoming newcomers and novice players for a few days of coaching at Aldershot Garrison before staging the inaugural Army Pickleball Championships at Hurlands Pickleball and Padel Club in Surrey.

Played on a small court, the aim of the game is to get a light plastic ball over the net using hard paddles a little bigger than a table tennis bat, preventing your opponent from hitting the ball back. It can be played by singles, pairs, inside or outdoors.

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The Army called in the big guns to help launch their pickleball programme. Rob Williams is Pickleball England's Director of Coaching and explains the pivotal role he played in the process.

"I've been working with the British Army. I designed the coach education system so that their PTIs (Physical Training Instructors) can bring pickleball to the forces and as a sport for the military," he said.

Staff Sergeant Colin McCabe (Royal Army Physical Training Corps) is the Officer in Charge of Army Pickleball and has been promoting the sport across the Army. 

"Pickleball is so adaptable," he told BFBS Sport. "It literally can be played anywhere. We've had tournaments on parade squares and the Navy have tried it on their ships as well. It's an easy-to-set-up sport."

Already a phenomenon, pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Staff Sergeant Martin Harwood won the Army men's competition at Hurlands. He was paired with Private Alex Jeffries. Harwood started playing a year ago but already has a passion for the sport and says that forces involvement will help to grow the sport further and faster.

He said: "I personally think that being in the military is the prime example of a person that can develop quickly at pickleball, make it stronger and competitive with other countries across the world."

Success in the sport can come quickly. Officer Cadet Maddie Marsh partnered Lieutenant Colonel Claire Curry to the Army women's crown. Marsh, who had not set foot on a pickleball court prior to her few days of coaching in Aldershot, was stunned with her accomplishment and encourages others to give the sport a try.

She said: "I'd never played pickleball before. It's crazy how much you can pick up in a couple of days, with the training that we've had and the practice we've had. I would urge soldiers to give it a go."