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Sept. 5, 2024 Editor, The News-Gazette: Over two years ago, we approached Chad Coffey, executive director of the Rockbridge Area Recreation Organization (RARO), about starting an adult pickleball program.
If he found the gym time, we would be wiling to provide introductory lessons to those interested in learning the sport. The only local place back then to play was with the Rockbridge Pickleball Club, a mostly group of retired people that played during the day.
Over the last two years, we provided several training classes on the rules and basic strategy of the game. Pickleball continues to be one of the fastest growing recreational sports and has expanded well beyond the senior demographic. The RARO program has successfully “infected” many locals with the love of this sport.
As the numbers of new pickleball players in the area grew, Chad Coffey found additional gym time for recreational play. He had court lines painted on the basketball court at Brewbaker Park and provided portable nets for use there.
From the very beginning of this effort to grow adult pickleball, Chad Coffey wanted to start a pickleball “league.” Tonight (Sept. 5) after getting permission to add pickleball court lines to the high school tennis courts, the RARO Ladder League began.
Four two hours-plus, simultaneously six doubles pickleball games were going almost continuously. More than 25 people competing, enjoying the exercise, and making new friends. Needless to say, we believe that tonight was a huge success. We can’t express enough our appreciation to Chad Coffey, Christine Clancy who organized tonight’s league, and the volunteers who helped paint lines, built the net storage shed at Brewbaker, and manage weekly open play at two school locations. This was a milestone in RARO history but hopefully not the end of investment in organized recreation, both in programs and facilities, for our area.
PATTI and TONY SUBRIZI Rockbridge County
