Steven A. Field MD, science teacher for the School District of Hillsborough County, Florida, donates much of his time to helping his students and participating in various local events and charities. When granted some spare time, Steven A. Field MD, enjoys playing pickleball, a lesser-known but accessible and fun game for players of all ages.
With humble beginnings dating back to 1965, pickleball was created as a game that the whole family could play together. Combining badminton, tennis and Ping-Pong, it can be played both on indoor and outdoor courts, it uses a short net and a paddle, along with a plastic ball. Played as doubles or singles, pickleball now holds tournaments nationwide, and places to play have doubled since 2010.
The sport is played on a court roughly the size of those used for badminton, and played similarly to tennis, though serves are only allowed to be made underhanded and only the currently serving team can score. The game is played until 11 points, with games lasting less than 25 minutes in most cases. Since it is a smaller court than those used in tennis, and there is less chance of injury with such a small ball, children can also participate in the sport.
