History of Pickleball and the IFP
The sport of pickleball was invented in the summer of 1965 by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum of Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA. In 2005, the United States Pickleball Association (USAPA) became a non-profit corporation with a mission to perpetuate the growth and advancement of pickleball on a national level. The first official rulebook of the USAPA was adopted by the USAPA shortly after its incorporation.
Since 1965, the sport has grown significantly each year in popularity. In the U.S., organized competitions at local, state and national levels have emerged. Additionally, several countries around the world have started their own clubs and are engaged in building their national associations.
The first National Open Pickleball Competition was conducted at Surprise, Arizona in 2009. In early 2010, a committee was formed to advance the concept of an International Federation of Pickleball (IFP).
The IFP is organized under this Constitution to perpetuate the international growth and development of pickleball. The IFP officially established its Constitution, Bylaws and Officers in 2015 with the following inaugural member countries: USA, Canada, Spain and India.
The IFP has since expanded its membership to include the following Associations: France, the United Kingdom and Great Britain. Membership is expected to grow each year as the sport continues expanding to new countries throughout the world.
The International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) embraces the Olympic Charter. The Olympic Charter serves as guidance for the IFP and defines the obligations of the three main constituents of the Olympic. Movement, namely, the International Federations, the National Olympic Committees, and the Organizing Committees for the Olympic Games. The Executive Officers and the Board of directors are committed to achieving and demonstrating high standards of corporate governance.
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