Officiating Across Oceans: One Man’s Role in Global Pickleball Growth

Ron Ponder and the group of pickleball players in Madagascar.

If you’ve spent any time in the world of global pickleball, chances are you’ve heard the name Ron Ponder. Whether it’s through his work as a USA Pickleball Ambassador, a Certified Referee, or the Director of Officiating for DUPR, Ron is one of those behind-the-scenes champions helping the sport grow in places you probably didn’t even know pickleball existed.

Now, he’s taken on another incredible role: Chair of the Officiating Committee for the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF). And that title recently landed him in one of the most unexpected places imaginable — Madagascar.

So Who Is Ron Ponder?

Before we dive into the story, a little backstory. Ron isn’t some TikTok-famous pickleball influencer or flashy pro on the PPA tour. He’s a workhorse in the sport, the guy you call when you need someone to fly across the world and ref a tournament with 18 people, a tennis net, and four paddles. (Yes, seriously.)

He’s been helping build the global infrastructure of pickleball for years, supporting referees, governing bodies, and tournaments from the U.S. to Ghana and beyond. His heart is in growing the game where it’s most needed — in communities just getting started.

Which brings us to Madagascar — one of the most remote and remarkable places on the planet.

The small casita that was built for Ron Ponder in Madagascar.

“We Built You a House”

Let’s rewind. Ron was already planning to be in Egypt when he got a request from organizers in Madagascar. They wanted him to referee their national tournament. Ron, being Ron, said sure — but asked a few basic questions: How many players would there be? Where would he stay?

The answers? Well… weren’t exactly clear.

“They told me, ‘We built you a house,’” Ron recalls. “I assumed that was just Google Translate messing up.”

Turns out it wasn’t.

He landed in Madagascar after a long journey, which included flights, a rental car, and roads with no lights (and plenty of tuk-tuks and scooters with no reflectors either). And yes — they had actually built him a small casita just for his visit.

Four Paddles. One Court. And A Lot of Heart.

When Ron arrived at the venue — a multi-sport complex built by the local organizer — he found 18 eager players, one modified tennis court, and exactly four pickleball paddles for the entire country.

“They were playing pickleball like it was tennis,” Ron said, laughing. “So I spent the next three days teaching them the game.”

With the help of a local businessman’s 12-year-old daughter (who acted as translator) and a teenager named Nicholas who quickly became Madagascar’s first official referee, Ron turned a patchwork tournament into something meaningful.

Ron Ponder teaching pickleball players in Madagascar how to officiate pickleball matches.

Players shared paddles between games. Two participants even drove 12 hours from the capital just to play. The love for the game? Absolutely real.

A Small Tournament with Global Impact

“By the time we finished, they were hooked,” Ron shared. “They didn’t want to stop. If a paddle was left on the ground, someone would snatch it up and get back on the court.”

The event wasn’t just a one-off. It helped solidify the Pickleball Association Madagascar as the official national federation for the country. And thanks to this grassroots effort, Madagascar officially became the 65th member of the Global Pickleball Federation, in alignment with the Confederation of African Pickleball (CAP).

That also means pickleball has now landed in one of the most remote and remarkable places on the planet. Madagascar is an island off the southeastern coast of Africa known for its deep cultural roots and wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. 

Why It Matters

In a sport that’s becoming more focused on million-dollar sponsorships and televised pro matches, people like Ron remind us what pickleball is really about — community, connection, and creating opportunity in the most unexpected places.

At Empower Pickleball, we’re proud to tell stories like Ron’s because this is where the heart of the sport lives. Whether it’s a modified tennis court in Madagascar or a converted gym in your hometown, pickleball thrives when people show up, bring a paddle (or four), and make it happen. 

So here’s to you, Ron Ponder. Thank you for showing us what global pickleball really looks like.