Video by The Tribune. Coach Teaches Pickleball To Inmates At SLO Prison. ‘It’s Addicting.’
🤝 Building Community Behind Bars
At facilities from San Quentin to the Worcester County House of Correction, pickleball is proving more than a pastime—it’s a tool for rehabilitation. In 2017, the sport was introduced inside prison walls, quickly winning over inmates with its accessibility and social appeal. Unlike basketball, which often favors the tall and athletic, pickleball is easy to learn and relies on finesse over power. It brings together players across age, skill, and even gang lines—sometimes alongside correctional staff—building bonds that extend beyond the court.
💡 A Game for Everyone
In Worcester County, MA, pickleball began when enthusiast Bill McConaghy approached Sheriff Lew Evangelidis with the idea of bringing the sport to the jail’s STOP unit, a program focused on addiction recovery and behavioral skills. Skeptical at first, the sheriff soon saw its benefits: players relaxed, worked as a team, and supported one another. “They’re different people on that court,” he said. The program’s popularity even inspired a behavior incentive—misconduct means losing pickleball privileges.
Video by Chronicle 5 WCVB. Promoting pickleball behind bars.
📈 Expanding a Movement
These efforts are part of PICL, the Pickleball for Incarcerated Communities League. Now in 10 states and 40 facilities nationwide, the program aims to reduce behavioral incidents during incarceration and lower recidivism after release. Inmates report better morale, less negativity, and a rare sense of camaraderie. Staff cooperation, from setting up cameras to joining games, has helped these programs thrive.
From breaking down barriers to preparing inmates for life after prison, pickleball’s simple paddle-and-ball formula is producing powerful results—proving that even in the toughest environments, a little teamwork can go a long way.
