Kingborough Sports Centre opened new, purpose-built pickleball courts on Friday, February 26.

As part of its new year annual refurbishment, the Kingborough Sports Centre has added four purpose built pickleball courts to its indoor stadium activities. 

The four pickleball courts are the first in Tasmania. 

To celebrate a special launch was held on February 26.

The Kingborough Sports Centre and Pickleball Tasmania have worked together to grow the new sport in the community. 

Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the world and has seen significant growth in Tasmania over the past few years.

This growth, together with the four newly-marked pickleball courts, has led to Kingborough Sports Centre becoming the home of pickleball in Tasmania.

The sport is a unique mix of tennis, table tennis and badminton. 

Players hit a hard plastic ball using a paddle over a tennis-sized net on a badminton-sized court.

Mayor of Kingborough, Cr Dean Winter said, “The Kingborough Sports Precinct continues to lead the field when it comes to innovation and the continuing support of many sports in the Southern Region.

“To add Pickleball to its already long list of sports that are located in the facility is recognition to just how popular the precinct is to the broader community.

“The Kingborough Sports Precinct and, in particular, the Sports Centre is a perfect example of how multi-use sport facilities allow far greater use and better access for a large range of groups. 

“The Sports Centre is now home to over 15 different sporting organisations, all working together to maximise space and time.”

Contact Officer for Pickleball Tasmania, Peter Hodgman said, “Pickleball is unique in that it uses tennis skills, but you don’t need to run as far being a smaller court.  

“It also adds table tennis skills as the paddle is a similar size, but the best part is it is a lot of fun and the games can be as long or as short as you want.”