What better way to start the day than on the pickleball court at 6 a.m.?
A group of faculty members and others on Taylor’s campus get together and play pickleball before they head to work. They meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 a.m. and sometimes on Saturdays at 7:30 a.m.
One of the group’s regular players is Stephen Olson, Taylor University’s chief financial officer and vice president of business and finance. He joined the group when it was first created and has stayed ever since.
“It’s fun and competitive, but also really communal,” Olson said. “I’ve met people through pickleball that I never would’ve otherwise.”
This group was started by Robert Sisson in May 2023. Sisson is a Taylor graduate and husband of Carol Sisson, associate professor of education and director of orphans and vulnerable children at Taylor University.
Within the group, there are regular players as well as occasional players. The group started small but over time has grown through word of mouth. They coordinate their games via GroupMe.
Their scheduling is not strict or set in stone, so everyone has the freedom to decide if they want to play on a certain day or not. If someone is available, they will text the group chat, “Hey I’m playing.”
Sisson usually tries to get players in multiples of four, as pickleball is often played in doubles. The largest group that has gotten together so far is 16 people. The group starts their games with a word of prayer and then plays together for an hour.
“Everyone gets along well.” said Olson.
This pickleball group includes faculty members, children of faculty, students and community members.
The players range from teenagers to adults in their 70s. Age is not an important factor for this group.
“It's a fun form of exercise with friends that is also a fun game,” Chris Jones, Taylor University’s vice president, chief of staff and chief information officer, said.
Both Olson and Jones felt like playing pickleball has improved their relationships with the people in the group.
Not only have the games strengthened their friendships, but it has opened the door to new ones as well.
“It's a way of socialization, building friendships, getting exercise and having fun together and in a semi-structured, but not no commitment sort of way,” Jones said.
Not only have the games strengthened their friendships, but it has opened the door to new ones as well.
6 a.m. might seem like an early time to play pickleball, but for some in the group, it has replaced the exercise they would already be doing at that hour.
Playing pickleball in the morning with friends also impacts how some of the players feel throughout the day.
Jones said that since he sits all day due to his work, it’s nice to be active a few times a week.
“It’s life-giving to start your day moving, laughing, and being with others,” Olson said.
This group of early risers models what it looks like to commit to caring for yourself through exercise and community! With Taylor’s new pickleball courts, it’s the perfect time to pick up a new sport.
