Global Pickleball Federation Launches World’s First Crowdfunding Campaign to Address Pickleball Equipment Deficit
It’s no secret many people around the world are playing pickleball—with more who want to try it out. So, imagine how big the sport could be if there’s greater access to equipment, and if those who want to play it are given paddles and balls and other related gear.
To that end, it’s also no secret that there’s a bit of an imbalance in terms of pickleball equipment worldwide, and this is limiting access to the sport in countries like Oman here in Asia.
Thus, in a game-changing effort to improve access to pickleball equipment globally, the Global Pickleball Federation Community Development Committee has partnered with Pickleball for Good to solve shipping, customs and duties costs, and other related challenges that hinder the delivery of essential pickleball equipment to remote regions across the globe. To jumpstart this initiative, the generous team at Pickleheads has donated 100 new pickleball paddles that will be allocated to Global Pickleball Federation members eagerly awaiting equipment in Argentina, Oman, Ukraine and Malawi.
A Shared Vision for Global Pickleball Growth
Despite the growing popularity of pickleball, there remains areas in the world that have little access to equipment. In underserved parts of the world, for instance, desks function as makeshift nets and a set of four paddles are shared among an entire village.
Now, to address this equipment imbalance, the Global Pickleball Federation has partnered with Pickleball for Good to launch OPERATION PaddleLift to raise critical funds to defray the high costs associated with shipping, import duties, and customs charges for pickleball equipment to remote, under-championed regions of the world. Every tax-deductible donation will go toward each OPERATION PaddleLift kit containing:
- 20 Pickleball Paddles
- Four Pickleball Nets
- 40 Pickleballs
OPERATION PaddleLift’s goal is to inspire tomorrow’s athletes and help level the playing field by delivering equipment starter kits to each GPF member applicant, free of charge. To date, the Global Pickleball Federation has delivered Member Kits to the Ghana Pickleball Association, with additional paddles distributed to Africa through the joint efforts of the Good Sport Foundation and GPF.
“Our push for grassroots development of pickleball in Ghana has been limited due to equipment. When the Ghana Pickleball Association received GPF member kits, we were enabled to expand to more regions in Ghana that will help us in our drive toward formal recognition by the Ministry of Sports.”
– Dr Kwabena Akufo, Founder of Ghana Pickleball Association and Global Pickleball Federation Board Member.
Delivering equipment is only part of the solution. The Global Pickleball Federation will interface with a Champion in each Member Country to (1) manage and safeguard all equipment, (2) Conduct training and clinics, and (3) promote grassroots growth of recreational and high-performance athletes through infrastructure.
Global Pickleball Federation at the Forefront of Pickleball Movement
The Global Pickleball Federation serves as the international federation for the Continental Federation of Africa (CAP). Pickleball Federation of the Americas (PFA), Oceania Pickleball Federation (OPF), Asia Pickleball Association (APA), as well as 12 European member countries. These affiliations collectively form a massive global framework for fair and consistent competition among its 72 member nations.
DONATE TO OPERATION PaddleLift at this link: https://apps.pickleballforgood.org/crowdfunding-projects?PFR=76.
