Celebrating Veterans Day with Purpose: How Pickleball is Helping Veterans Heal, Connect and Thrive
As we observe Veterans Day, it’s more important than ever to recognize how the power of sport—specifically the rise of pickleball—is providing veterans a meaningful pathway to heal, connect, and thrive.
Pickleball’s physical, social, and mental benefits are undeniable. For many veterans, it’s more than a pastime—it’s a community, a recovery tool, and a fresh start.
Why Pickleball Matters for Veterans
Pickleball combines accessible rules, social connection, and full-body movement in a way few sports can. For veterans, that combination delivers a unique set of benefits:
Physical rehabilitation & health: The sport promotes mobility, coordination, cardiovascular activity in a friendly, low-impact way.
Mental health & resilience: Pickleball provides camaraderie, rhythm and focus—a positive outlet for veterans facing visible or invisible wounds such as PTSD, TBI, or anxiety.
Social connection & community: The shift from military to civilian life can be isolating. Pickleball fosters team play, peer bonding and a sense of belonging that can be a vital lifeline to veterans.
Purpose & reinvention: The enjoyment and shared laughter, and the mutual support create space to step into new identities—as athletes, teammates, and advocates for community.
Veteran-Focused Organizations
Pickleball’s mix of accessibility, empowerment, and connection has inspired numerous organizations across the U.S. that use the sport to help veterans recover, rebuild, and reconnect.
Veterans Pickleball Association (VPA)
Dedicated to “enriching the physical and mental lives of all veterans and their families through competition in the fastest-growing sport in the world,” the Veterans Pickleball Association (VPA) has served thousands of veterans, engaged hundreds of volunteers, and hosted dozens of events nationwide.
It’s more than just play—their structured tournaments and gatherings help veterans rebuild confidence and stay active through friendly competition.
Members of Veterans Play Pickleball during an event—uniting veterans and families through the sport.
Veterans Play Pickleball
Based in South Carolina, Veterans Play Pickleball serves retired, reserve, and active members of the military pickleball. Their motto says it all: Compete. Connect. Heal.
They regularly host “Free Play” days for service members and families, ensuring that cost never becomes a barrier. For Veterans Play Pickleball, pickleball isn’t about trophies—it’s about community, healing, and belonging.
Military Adaptive Court Sports (MACS)
MACS specializes in adaptive sports programs for veterans and active-duty service members with visible and invisible injuries—including TBI, PTSD, spinal cord injuries, amputations and more.
Their traveling clinics provide equipment, expert coaching, and a safe space for veterans to re-engage physically and socially. MACS proves pickleball truly meets players where they are.
“This program gave me back a sense of purpose, community, and confidence I hadn’t felt in years.” — Veteran participant
Veterans In Pickleball (VIP)
Based in Northern Virginia, Veterans In Pickleball (VIP) focuses on teaching the game and building community among veterans and their families. Programs include indoor and outdoor play, Pickleball 101 lessons, and community events.
The VIP team—composed entirely of veterans from all branches—channels their service mindset into creating strong, inclusive pickleball communities.
Healing, Connecting, Thriving: Real Impact
When veterans pick up a paddle, the transformation is tangible:
Healing through movement: Regular play improves strength and endurance. It also reduces stress and improves mental health.
Connection through community: Veterans find peers who “get it”. The shared experience fosters authenticity and trust.
Thriving through purpose and fun: The rally becomes a metaphor: you serve, you respond, you recover. Veterans become athletes, coaches and role-models. They build lives beyond service.
Honoring Veterans Day: How Facilities and Clubs are Giving Back
Across the U.S., pickleball facilities and clubs are celebrating Veterans Day with purpose—hosting fundraisers, offering free play to service members and families, and partnering with veteran-focused nonprofits.
These efforts go beyond recognition. They represent a collective thank-you—and a commitment to building inclusive courts where every veteran belongs.
Looking Ahead
As pickleball continues to grow nationwide, the veteran community stands to benefit more than ever. Organizations like the Veterans Pickleball Association, Veterans Play Pickleball, Military Adaptive Court Sports and Veterans In Pickleball are leading the way—but the opportunity is far from over.
This Veterans Day, let’s celebrate those who served and continue to serve by ensuring they have access to vibrant, welcoming pickleball communities. Healing doesn’t just happen in quiet rooms—it happens on the court, through movement, laughter and connection.
Empower Pickleball stands with all veterans, active-duty members, reservists and their families. Let this Veterans Day be more than a day of rememberance—let it spark new rallies, friendships and beginnings beyond the service.
Thank you to all who have served and continue to serve.
Want to learn more? Explore organization helping veterans heal through pickleball—including the VPA, Veterans Play Pickleball, MACS, and VIP.
