Pickleball is a great sport for players of all ages. It can be a great way to make new friends, enjoy exercise, and strengthen your cognitive function. Pickleball is especially beneficial for seniors as it provides a combination of physical and mental health benefits. Even though the sport is popular with multiple generations, pickleball for seniors can be entertaining and life-altering. This blog will share some of the best benefits of playing pickleball as a senior. 

Enhance Balance

One thing we lose as we age is our balance. Coordination and balance can help prevent falls that are common in the elderly. Pickleball will help improve your reflexes, footwork, and hand-eye coordination. Any kind of moderate exercise will help improve circulation and lower the risk of many different diseases. 

Promotes Cognitive Function

Playing sports can help provide more than just physical benefits. In fact, playing pickleball can help stimulate the brain by forcing it to focus and strategize. As we age, exercising our brains becomes even more important. The challenges that sports pose will help improve your thinking skills and prevent the early onset of dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Physical activity is known to release endorphins, which are known as the “feel-good” hormone. Endorphins lower anxiety and depression in many individuals including seniors. Pickleball for seniors can also help provide stress relief. 

Boosts Social Interaction

Pickleball has become a popular sport because it is easy to play with family and friends. The social nature and inclusive community make it a great place for seniors who may be experiencing loneliness. Social isolation is common in widows or widowers or elderly people who lose friends they had throughout their lives. Playing with new friends or family members gets them out of the house and fosters a sense of camaraderie. 

Easy To Learn

The rules of pickleball are straightforward, making it an easy sport to pick up. No matter your age, pickleball is a great sport to play, even if you have never been athletic. It requires little movement to hit the ball, doesn’t require diving or sliding on your knees, and has basic rules that accompany a lot of other sports. Since the sport has grown in popularity, it is easy to find someone who is willing to teach you or help you improve your skills.

Pickleball for seniors can focus on basic movements or increase the intensity to create more of a challenge. The sport can be easily adapted to different skill levels. 

Maintain Independence

As aging starts to take over, elderly individuals may feel that they have lost their independence. Once we enter adulthood, we enjoy independence and freedom to live as we would like. The elderly may need help completing basic tasks which can make them feel useless. Playing a sport and improving physical fitness can help the elderly maintain independence in small areas of their life. Improve coordination and brain function may allow older people to complete grocery shopping, exercise, clean, or garden. 

Support Muscle Strength

Working our muscles will cause them to break down and build back up. The more a muscle group is used, the stronger it becomes. Pickleball helps engage multiple muscle groups including legs, core, and arms. Maintaining muscle mass is important for seniors to stay healthy into older age. Muscle mass reduces the risk of diabetes, obesity, and osteoporosis.

Lower The Risk Of Health Issues

We have mentioned many health issues that can be lowered by playing pickleball. Physical illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity can be lowered by finding a fun form of exercise. Whether you are young or old, playing a sport can provide multiple benefits for your physical health. One of the main benefits for seniors is providing them with more energy to make it through the day. 

Pickleball will also help improve your brain function, which limits the symptoms of mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and trauma. Finding a connective sport like pickleball will lower the risk of depression and the worries that come with this particular mental illness in the elderly (lack of appetite, suicidal thoughts, sleep deprivation, withdrawal from family, missing or over-consumption of medication, etc.). 

Pickleball Courts From Our Experts

Pickle Court Surfacing helps to maintain and resurface courts of all sizes. We are proud to help contribute to the growing pickleball trend in the United States. Maintaining a residential or commercial court should be done by a professional to ensure the longevity of the court. Whether you are new to the pickleball world or are a passionate athlete, having a durable pickleball court will change the way you play. Contact Pickle Court Surfacing to improve your sport play, today!

School playgrounds often include tennis courts, basketball courts, or other types of sports areas. Maintaining these areas is even more crucial than residential courts as they see more use than other courts. Keeping children safe and allowing more gameplay to occur is the goal of school court maintenance. Regular upkeep will extend the life of the court, reduce injury, and limit costly repairs. Here are ways to keep your school courts safe and fun. 

1- Regular Cleaning

External debris like leaves, dirt, and rocks can accumulate on courts, making them hard to play on. Debris creates hazards that can make gameplay more difficult and pose safety issues. Sweeping and washing help to remove grime and debris before it causes stains. Establish a routine cleaning schedule to stay on top of safety. 

For indoor courts, dust and sweat can build up and cause a slippery surface. Clean indoor courts with a mild and non-toxic cleaning solution to remove grime and keep the surface looking new. 

2- Inspect For Cracks, Peeling, Or Fading

School courts need to be inspected periodically to help you stay on top of repairs and resurfacing. Even the smallest cracks can worsen over time. When children are using the court multiple times a day, peeling and cracks can be worsened. By inspecting the courts frequently, you can ensure that resurfacing is done at the appropriate time. 

When a school court is uneven, it can make for unsafe gameplay. Repairing uneven courts will keep gameplay more fair as well. Uneven surfaces will affect the ball bounce, cause tripping, or make lines hard to see. 

3- Weatherproofing

Outdoor courts are exposed to all kinds of weather, which can weaken the surface, change the coloring, or cause further damage. One way to protect the surface from weather damage is to install a UV protective coating. Sun exposure is one of the leading causes of court damage, as it can degrade even the most durable materials. UV-resistant layers will help your school court maintain its color and durability. 

4- Safety Enhancements

For indoor and outdoor courts, a non-slip coating can be applied. These add texture to the surface to allow for safer gameplay by reducing falls, trips, slips, and injuries. As you play on a court, sweat or debris can build up and cause slippery spots. Non-slip surfaces can help reduce these spots and keep students safe. 

Shock absorption is also important for many sports. Certain resurfacing materials offer shock-absorbing properties, which help with joint pain, muscle strain, and risk of injury. For fast-paced sports like basketball, volleyball, or tennis, shock absorption is crucial. Gentler courts allow students to play their favorite sports into their adult years. 

5- Paint Refreshment

Having boundaries for different sports is best for accurate gameplay. Fading or peeling lines can lead to confusion while playing a sport. It can also be difficult for children to regulate their gameplay without effective lines or someone who knows the sport well. Repainting lines frequently will help the court look its best, while also limiting fights while playing on school courts. 

6- Schedule Reoccurring Maintenance

Thinking about playground or court maintenance may not be on the top of your mind, so scheduling reoccurring appointments can help. Scheduling court cleaning and a court inspection each year will help you stay on top of any small issues that may come up. Even if you don’t hire a professional service, creating a schedule for cleaning or inspections between other school duties will save you money in the future. 

Court Resurfacing From Pickle Court Surfacing

It is recommended that you resurface a court every 4-8 years to keep up with their efficiency. Depending on how much a court is used, this number could change. If you have a home court, you may need fewer resurfacing appointments than a community or school court. Exposure to the elements can quickly damage your court, so make sure to call Pickle Court Surfacing as soon as you notice damages.

Our team is passionate about providing fast response time and durable courts of all sizes. We only use the best-in-class materials to ensure that your court lasts through many years of play. Pickle Court Surfacing uses SportMaster products which are used by USA Pickleball and the United States Professional Tennis Association. These materials ensure the premium performance of any court type. 

Want to improve your gameplay or promote student athleticism? Reach out to our court experts today!

Monitoring your court for damage and wear will allow you to get a more usable life out of your court. No matter what sport the court is used for, making necessary court repairs is something that all court owners will have to navigate. Having knowledge of what signs to look for will allow you to make them in a timely manner. Making repairs and repainting quickly will help you use your court for years into the future. Here are clear signs that you need court repairs. 

1- Uneven Surface

Using your court for its intended purpose can still lead to small damages to the surface. Weather, heat, dropped racquets, and regular wear and tear can cause divots to form on the surface. Potholes, divots, or slight waves can create an uneven playing surface and cause injuries. 

While large holes are a pretty obvious repair, even slight warping needs to be remedied to limit it growing into a larger problem. Buckling and warping can be indicators of underlying problems (water damage, improper installation, tree roots, etc.). 

2- Discoloration

Any space or furniture that is placed outdoors is subject to sun damage. While there are sealants that can be applied to help limit fading, your court may start to discolor over time. When you notice major discoloration or patches of lighter colors, you should inspect the court for weakness. Discoloration often can be solved by applying new paint or sealer, but some courts will need to be completely redone. 

3- Peeling Paint

Being exposed to rain, wind, and sunlight will cause paint to peel off a surface. Even when you choose a sturdy exterior paint made for court surfacing, it can start to lift after a handful of years. Peeling paint indicates multiple court repairs will need to be made. When you notice peeling or chipping paint, you should take the time to resurface the court. 

While paint isn’t necessary to the structural integrity of a court, it does help make gameplay safer. Lines help you to know where the boundaries are, what spaces can be played in, and more importantly rules of the game. Proper lines help everyone enjoy the game without stress. 

4- Standing Water

After a storm, it is normal to have some water on your court, however, consistent puddles could indicate that you need a better drainage system. Repairing cracks, removing debris, and resurfacing the court when needed will limit the risk of standing water. 

One of the most common problems with residential courts is an improper slope. A 1-2% slope is often not enough to ensure that moisture is directed away from the playing space. If you suspect that your slope isn’t high enough, consult a professional to make the necessary adjustments. 

5- Growth Of Mold Or Mildew

Bacteria growth can eat away at materials, making them weak and unsafe to step on. Mold and mildew growth can also indicate a larger issue with your court such as improper drainage. The growth of mold and mildew will make your court look unsightly and discolored. Removing it promptly will help keep everyone healthy while improving the aesthetic appeal of the court space. 

6- Slippery Or Loss Of Grip

Having a grip is important when you are playing sports like pickleball, tennis, and basketball. When you start to lose traction on your court, it is time to resurface the court. Making sure there is traction on your court will lower the risk of injury and reduce the need for future court repairs. 

Court Repairs From Pickle Court Surfacing

Courts that are installed in Utah are particularly at risk for weather damage. Pickle Court Surfacing offers repairs and court resurfacing to help keep your space in usable condition. We want families, businesses, and cities to enjoy recreational sports without the stress of injury. Pickle Court Surfacing works with the materials used by USA Pickleball, so you will know you are getting the very best. 

Our company has 17 standard colors and 100 custom color options to help your court stand out from the rest. No matter what sport you are passionate about, we can make it part of your home landscape. With impeccable service and professionally trained installers, Pickle Court Surfacing is the top choice for court installation in Utah. Reach out to us to schedule your project today!