Kids from Long Beach Boys & Girls Club Discover Pickleball at Sports Basement
Long Beach Kids Discover the Joy of Pickleball at Sports Basement
With paddles in hand, a group of kids from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach recently had the opportunity to try their hand at pickleball, a sport that is quickly gaining popularity across the United States. The kids, who had never played pickleball before, were thrilled to have the chance to experience something new and exciting.
“I didn’t know I’d like this so much,” said a 10-year-old girl, while an 11-year-old boy exclaimed, “I had a blast playing!”
The Long Beach youth organization received a generous donation of 3,000 new yellow pickleballs from the Qranc company in San Clemente, allowing the kids to try their hand at the sport for the first time. The donation was a part of the Let’s Play Ball holiday drive, separate from the traditional sports equipment donated.
Don Rodriguez, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach, expressed his gratitude for the donation, stating, “We are so grateful to Qranc for their incredible generosity. It’s giving our kids the chance to try something completely new, which is invaluable.”
Parker Marquis, co-founder of Qranc, explained that the decision to donate to the Long Beach clubs was rooted in their founders’ familial ties to the greater Los Angeles area. He emphasized the inclusivity of pickleball as a sport for players of all ages and expressed the company’s commitment to increasing access to the game.
The kids from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach had the opportunity to play pickleball at the Sports Basement, which provided free access to its five pickleball courts for community use. The store’s marketing manager, Kristen Verdoia, highlighted the importance of providing resources for the community and hosting various events in the space.
Rodriguez shared his plans to introduce pickleball to more club members and potentially organize a tournament in the future. With the large donation of pickleballs from Qranc, the clubs are set to expand their pickleball program and provide opportunities for more kids to participate in the sport.
As the kids enjoyed their time playing pickleball at the Sports Basement, Rodriguez expressed his excitement for the future of the sport within the club. With the support of partners like Sports Basement and Qranc, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach are looking forward to growing their pickleball program and creating new opportunities for their members to engage in sports and recreation.
