6/18/2026
When we protect our athletes, we protect Pickleball.
Pickleball welcomes all, bringing speed, strategy, and community together on a compact court with rallies that can turn in an instant. From staying out of the kitchen to mastering your serve, pickleball requires finesse and fast reflexes in doubles and singles play. Easy to learn but highly competitive, keep your feet light and eyes up for the next match point filled with focus and fun. When we protect pickleball players, we keep this sport safe and healthy for all.
Courage First Athlete Helpline
Use this resource if you are in need of confidential emotional support, crisis intervention, informational athlete-focused resources, and guidance related to concerns about any type of abuse.
The Courage First Athlete Helpline is a no-cost call and text service for anyone in need. +1 888-279-1026
Common Pickleball Safeguarding Concerns
Abuse and misconduct can happen in all sports, at every level of play. Pickleball has some specific vulnerabilities, such as:
- A large amount of organized pickleball involves volunteer work. This means that there can be a lack of consistency in staffing, courts, format, provisions, and standards between each organized pickleball event. This can increase the vulnerability of athletes and the potential for high-risk situations.
- Since pickleball has a large recreational population, athletes of different skill levels may be matched up in both casual and competitive play. More skilled athletes may overpower newer or lower-level athletes, or even take advantage of this imbalance. Depending on the situation, this could lead to bullying.
- Many pickleball players may not be properly educated on safe play and injury prevention, leaving them vulnerable. If pickleball organizations, clubs, and other groups do not offer injury prevention education, they are being negligent towards athletes.
What’s the difference between tough coaching & abuse?
The Coach Athlete Relationship Dynamics Diagrams below can be used as a gut check; consider the conduct you experience and observe in your sporting community, and discern whether what is occurring aligns with a caring and supportive coach-athlete relationship. For athletes who have unhealthy relationship dynamics with their coaches, inappropriate behavior can be subtle and difficult to discern. Awareness and prevention of these patterns of power and control help keep everyone safe.
Current Events
Unfortunately, news articles chronicling misconduct in sport and unhealthy coach-athlete dynamics are frequent and widespread. Abuse in sport has been occurring for decades, and the public is now becoming aware of these hidden situations as more and more survivors bravely disclose and report misconduct they have experienced. #WeRideTogether is committed to increasing awareness and continually updating this compiled list of current events on the topic of sexual abuse in sport. Sexual misconduct is happening across all sports, at all levels, internationally.
6/10/2026
Man arrested for assaulting woman over ‘revealing clothing’ during pickleball game at St. George park
6/4/2026
Pickleball Coach Mario Kaldas Found With Child Porn: Cops
2/13/2026
Florida pickleball brawl involving up to 20 people results in paddles to the face and felony charges
10/11/2026
As sports betting is normalized, college players have become targets of aggrieved bettors
10/6/2026
Gresham Man Accused Of Faking His Age To Participate In Youth Sports And Sexually Abusing Children, Faces More Charges
10/1/2026
Ohio State Could Owe Millions More to Prior Strauss Sex-Abuse Plaintiffs
9/30/2026
Burke County high school coach charged with felony sex act with a student
Pickleball Resources
Below are resources related to Physical Safety, Safeguarding, and Governing Bodies within Pickleball.
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Crash Course: Concussion Education
Physical Safety
Learn about the prevention and treatment of concussions.
Pickleball: Injury Considerations in an Increasingly Popular Sport
Safeguarding
Learn about pickleball injury prevention.
Sports Injury Prevention: Racquet Sports
Physical Safety
Learn about injury prevention in racket sports.
Survivor Stories
Survivors are increasingly stepping forward to bravely tell their stories. The following stories reflect the survivors’ personal experiences, as told by them, and may be triggering for individuals who have experienced sexual abuse or misconduct. All information has been anonymized.
If you are a survivor interested in sharing your story and learning more about this process, please reach out to us at info@weridetogether.today.
We want to hear from you!
You are not alone.
What resources or information do you want for your sport? Contact us and let us know.
If you or someone you know has experienced misconduct or abuse, please access these resources for help. For additional information on confidential helplines, sexual assault reporting procedures, and mental health resources, click the button below.
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