The fastest growing sport in the United States has reached San Luis Obispo’s only prison.
One morning in mid-November in the Men’s Colony of California Inside the gymnasium, two courts were packed with 25 inmates holding paddles and waiting for instructions on how to play pickleball.
“This is not tennis. This is ping pong on steroids,” pickleball coach Roger BelAir shouted to the participants.
For a few hours, he was determined to teach the inmates of the Men’s Colony the key rules of the racket sport that has exploded across the country in recent years. He was accompanied by a film crew making a documentary about the rise of the sport behind bars. To date, BelAir has coached more than 4,000 inmates in nearly 20 prisons across the country.
“Guys love it so much and look forward to it that there’s a new rule: If you don’t behave, you can’t play pickleball,” he said.
He and other prison staff believe the sport could have rehabilitative power for those incarcerated. Not only is pickleball easy to learn and play at virtually any age, but it can also build community among different populations in prison and break down barriers between inmates and staff, according to BelAir.
That morning the pickleball coach had an eager crowd in front of him. Some men raised their hands to ask follow-up questions about the details of the game, while others were already well versed in the sport and were excited to show off their skills on the gym’s brand new courts.
The inmates went two by two and began gathering on the pop-up pickleball courts. In no time, the room was filled with sounds of ‘pops’, ‘chocks’ and ‘whacks’ as hollow plastic balls flew from one side to the other.
“I play this every day,” said inmate Alejandro Quiroz as he waited his turn on the sidelines. “I’m looking forward to going into the garden for this. It’s very addictive.”
Hollywood filmmaker Daniel Ostroff visited the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo on November 12 to film footage for his documentary ‘Pickleball in Prison’. (David Middlecamp/San Luis Obispo Tribune photo)
From amateur player to prison coach
In 2017, BelAir looked at a segment CBS’ “60 Minutes” about the Cook County Jail in Illinois.
He was shocked by what he saw in the story. The prisoners looked inactive, “they were sitting around doing nothing,” he said. He couldn’t get the images out of his head. Then he got an idea.
“They should play pickleball,” he said.
He was an avid amateur player who thought he could free up his time to teach lessons to people on the inside.
BelAir wrote a letter to the local sheriff and was soon coaching dozens of inmates on the history, rules and strategy of the game.
His work has since spread across the country, and he has taught classes everywhere from Rikers Island in the Bronx to San Quentin in the Bay Area. BelAir believes the sport will only grow in popularity among prison populations across the country.
“Pickleball is becoming the number one sport played in prison,” he said.
Documentary aims to show the power of Pickleball in prison
BelAir’s work has since caught the attention of Hollywood.
Producer Daniel Ostroff is working on a documentary entitled “Pickleball in Prison,” and he and his film crew follow BelAir’s journey to teach pickleball to incarcerated men. Over the past year, they filmed pickleball lessons in nine prisons across the United States.
Ostroff said he chose BelAir as a documentary subject because of the coach’s empathy for inmates and his love for the game. The documentary producer was also impressed by BelAir’s foresight that the sport could create a positive community in a place that often lacks healthy male relationships.
“Unique to pickleball is the sense of community it fosters,” Ostroff said. “The prisoners are aware of how big the sport is becoming outside of prison, so it helps them to be better informed about what is happening in society.”
Virgil Zwicker, an inmate from the California Men’s Colony, hands back a pickle. (David Middlecamp/San Luis Obispo Tribune photo)
New racket sport at California Men’s Colony
At maximum capacity, the Men’s Colony houses about 2,500 inmates within its walls, according to prison staff. Over the past year, pickleball courts have gradually appeared on prison grounds.
The facility has four gardens and a gymnasium where men can exercise or do other activities for up to nine hours a day. The prison offers inmates everything from tai chi, yoga and ping pong to miniature golf, basketball and dodgeball, said correctional officer Herschel Keel.
Pickleball has really taken off lately.
“It fills their time. It is constructive and keeps them out of trouble,” said Keel. “It’s a good incentive not to screw up.”
Inmate Virgil Zwicker said the prison’s newest sport gives him a reason to get outside. As a lifelong athlete, he called pickleball particularly “addictive” to play.
“It’s definitely one of the sports that people enjoy. You can see that the community is getting bigger and stronger, especially among us, the prisoners,” he said.
Heidi Wippel, the head coach of California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation which oversees physical activity in all of the state’s prisons, said BelAir’s pickleball training was intended to give inmates a sense of normalcy, where healthy behavior could be part of their success and rehabilitation.
Pickleball coach Roger BelAir visits the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo on Nov. 12 to teach the game to inmates. Hollywood filmmaker Daniel Ostroff produced the documentary ‘Pickleball in Prison’ and a film crew captured how the sport can break down barriers and create positive interactions. (David Middlecamp/San Luis Obispo Tribune photo)
Pickleball could be a catalyst for change among the men, she said.
“A majority of the population that is here will return to the community,” she said. “If we fulfill our role in assisting with their rehabilitation while they are here, they will be more productive community members and citizens when they return to our community.”
At CMC, pickleball is a voluntary, non-credit program. Inmates can choose whether to participate in the sport, which is expanding statewide as prisons launch pickleball leagues and tournaments.
The goal is to create a controlled, safe space for competition that gives inmates a chance to feel good about their skills, Wippel said. Inmate Michael Harris said he plays with a regular group of boys every Sunday. He enjoys the challenge and the strategy behind it.
“Anyone can do it, that’s the fun of it,” he said. “It brings people together – all ages, all races.”
According to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s website, Harris will be eligible for parole in July 2025. He is already looking forward to being reunited with his 5-year-old daughter. And when he gets out, he hopes pickleball will become a sport they can play together.