From the Conference Room to the Court: Yunlin County Government Officials Explore the Emerging Sport of Pickleball

To keep pace with the global rise of emerging recreational sports and to deepen policy perspectives through hands-on experience, the Yunlin County Government held a “Pickleball Sport Executive Learning Camp” on February 5 at the 4th floor gymnasium of National Yunlin University of Science and Technology (NYUST). The event was led by Deputy Magistrate Hsieh Shu-Ya, who guided top officials from various county departments to personally step onto the court and experience pickleball, a sport that has rapidly gained popularity worldwide in recent years.

At the start of the event, Vice President Wu Ming-Chang of NYUST presented the event’s instructor, Professor Su Wei-Shan, with Taiwan’s first pickleball reference book, Pickleball Complete Guide, symbolizing concrete collaboration between academia and local government to promote emerging sports and strengthen industry-government-academia partnerships.

Quick to Pick Up: Officials Exclaim “More Fun Than Expected”

Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, featuring simple rules and a fast-paced rhythm, making it very beginner-friendly. Most county officials and NYUST administrators were playing pickleball for the first time but quickly got the hang of it. Many commented, “Easier than expected” and “Really fun to play,” with laughter and cheerful energy filling the venue. Following coaching and team practice, county officials and NYUST administrators, including deans and senior staff, participated in a friendly PK match, turning the court into a lively platform for interaction and engagement rather than just observation.

Hands-On Experience Opens Space for Future Collaboration and Policy Imagination

Several department heads expressed interest in jointly planning friendly matches with NYUST in the future, aiming to turn pickleball from a one-time experience into a platform for cross-unit interaction, intergenerational engagement, and community participation. Through this executive learning camp, county officials gained concrete understanding of pickleball’s advantages in terms of court requirements, participant suitability, social interaction, and health promotion. The experience also built practical knowledge and policy imagination for promoting emerging sports on campuses, in communities, and in public spaces.

Deputy Magistrate Hsieh Shu-Ya stated that the county government will continue to monitor the development potential of emerging sports such as pickleball and, by leveraging local school and community resources, gradually create an accessible, enjoyable, and sustainable environment for all citizens to participate in sports, fostering connections and promoting health.

Group Photo of Participants at the Pickleball Sport Executive Learning Camp

Director Su Wei-Shan Demonstrates Pickleball Training Techniques

Yunlin County Government Executive Team Takes the Court

Opening Ceremony / First Serve Ceremony