Finding good talent can be difficult, and it is even more difficult with a brand-new industry like pickleball. As pickleball clubs launch and then expand to match demand for the new sport, many owners quickly realize that there isn’t a blueprint for hiring experienced pickleball staff, especially management. With 78 pickleball courts within six clubs throughout New York and into New Jersey, SPORTIME Pickleball has a fair share of experience hiring staff members and can pass along tips for clubs of any size.
SPORTIME Clubs is one of the largest tennis and sports operators in the Northeast. In 2022, the company became the tenant of the iconic Port Washington Tennis Academy, which was famous for training many high-profile players, including John and Patrick McEnroe. The company embarked on an 8 Million-dollar renovation, resulting in a new, state-of-the-art tennis and pickleball facility that now includes 13 tennis courts and 12 pickleball courts. SPORTIME has opened five additional dedicated pickleball clubs in the last 12 months, with none more than an hour apart.
Joe Siegel, Senior Managing Director and part-owner of SPORTIME, says it’s been difficult to find good talent in a new industry, especially finding people who want to make pickleball a career.
One barrier to finding staff is that many candidates think that, since they love pickleball, working at a club will be all fun and games.
“Managing a pickleball club well means wearing many hats along with a lot of hands-on time,” Joe says. “Depending upon the size of the club, managers are typically in charge of operations, HR, programming, maintenance, member relations, coaching and more!”
Joe notes that while he has great key people, finding new pickleball staff members is not like hiring a lawyer from another firm. Joe says he has found success internally with tennis professionals transitioning to pickleball and realizes not everyone has that luxury. He advises seeking out passionate players, maybe even at your club, who are looking for a career shift.
Look for cross-industry hires in business or healthcare with a management background, as those skills can translate well. Word of mouth within the pickleball community is a great avenue, as well as posting open positions on LinkedIn and Indeed.
Finding coaches to fit the schedule you want to offer can be a challenge. While tennis coaches are often full-time, most pickleball coaches are part-time as the sport continues to grow. Many pickleball coaches are looking for a job to pay for their court time to improve their own game or as a side hustle to complement their primary career. The inconsistent availability can make scheduling and programming difficult.
To combat this and improve its overall pickleball offerings, SPORTIME hires full-time directors at every location, as they can take on tasks that part-time employees can’t. While it may seem to save money up front with part-time coaches, Joe said they have found that a full-time director can split time on the court with open play to help players and build connections, run clinics, private lessons and events when needed. When time is slower, their directors can help manage the club, market upcoming events and develop new ideas to strengthen membership.
“Investing in employees helps people see a clear pathway to a career vs. a side job,” Joe says. “For a club to survive, it has to offer new programs and events, be creative and flexible. Hiring someone dedicated to that every day is imperative.”
SPORTIME’S experience has been that it takes months of active recruiting and on-the-job training to bring a new employee fully on board. While it is hard to accept, not all new hires will succeed. As with any industry, turnover is a reality of hiring. Spending time on training quality hires to focus on program development, event creation and community engagement is the key to developing a successful and productive employee.
As more clubs open , the limited talent already available is spread thin. In a few years, there will be a talent pipeline. To continue to grow, clubs need good employees right now.
“When hiring new staff members, I look for leaders who are open to building and trying new things. Innovation and engagement are two of the most important qualities for directors at SPORTIME,” says Joe.
With over 1,000 employees at peak season, SPORTIME has proven that hiring employees with a growth mindset, investing in full-time leadership and building internal training systems are key to long-term and reliable employees. A club’s long-term success is just as reliant on your staff as the quality of your courts.
