Pickleball at the Pleasance

In July, the Pleasance played host to the University’s first ever Pickleball Just Play session.

Group of students and staff lined up in a row after playing pickleball

The session was led and arranged by the Sport & Exercise Active Lives Team and coached by former Chair of Physical Activity for Health at The University of Edinburgh's Moray House School of Education and Sport, and Pickleball Scotland’s Coaching and Education Officer,  Professor Nanette Mutrie.

We were delighted to host our first ever Just Play Pickleball session and introduce this fun and inclusive sport to our University community. We’re thrilled at how well our first year of Just Play sessions has gone and look forward to building on that success next year

Lucy Smith
Active Lives Coordinator

Pickleball

Pickleball combines elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis and can be played by two or four players both indoors and outdoors. Players use solid paddles to hit a perforated, hollow, plastic ball over a net until one player or team is unable to return the ball or commits a foul shot. The sport can be played on a badminton-sized court with a slightly modified tennis net. Invented in the United States of America, as a children's garden game, it has seen a growth in popularity over recent years, attributed to its short learning curve and appeal to a range of ages and fitness levels.

Having never played Pickleball before, I was really excited to attend this free session. The Pickleball coach was brilliant! The session included an overview of the sport, and the coach ensured everyone was engaged and having fun throughout, no matter their ability or physical activity level. I would love to attend another session

Student Pickleball participant 

Just Play Sessions

Sport & Exercise's  'Just Play" sessions, launched in 2022, give University of Edinburgh students and staff an opportunity to try a new sport, get active and make new friends. The free sessions allow students and staff to play various sports while being coached by one of our student coaching volunteers.

The 2023/24 Semester one series of Just Play sessions will be launched in the coming weeks.

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