Building the Pickleball Community in Belgium with Kassandra Bourgeois 🇧🇪 | Future of Pickleball

Summary

The transcript details an interview with Cassandra Bis, the leader of Belgian pickleball, who shares her journey in introducing and developing the sport in Belgium from the ground up. The interview covers her initial discovery of pickleball in the United States, her efforts to promote the sport in Europe, and the growth of pickleball in Belgium and across Europe. Cassandra discusses the challenges faced in popularizing the sport, the increasing number of players and clubs, and the future prospects of pickleball in Belgium. She also talks about her role in coaching and the upcoming Belgian Open tournament, inviting international players to participate and highlighting the sport's growing international appeal.

Takeaways

• 🏆 Cassandra Bis is a leader in the sport of pickleball in Belgium, having introduced and developed the sport in the country from the ground up.
• 🌍 The growth of pickleball in Europe has been significant, with many countries starting around the same time and experiencing a surge in interest and participation.
• 🇧🇪 In Belgium, pickleball is played both indoors and outdoors, with a preference for outdoor play during the few months of suitable weather.
• 📈 Cassandra estimates there are around 50-60 clubs and approximately 10,000 players in Belgium, with the sport seeing continuous growth.
• 👥 The demographic of pickleball players in Belgium is diverse, ranging from young children to seniors, similar to the trend in America.
• 🚀 The quality of play has improved as former tennis and paddle players have taken up the sport, bringing their athletic skills to pickleball.
• 🏃‍♀️ Cassandra herself is a high-level player and actively involved in coaching and promoting the sport, even running a 24-hour class for aspiring coaches.
• 🏆 The Belgian Open, an international tournament, has seen participation from over 20 different countries and is expected to grow further.
• 🤝 There is a strong sense of community and family within the pickleball scene, which contributes to its growth and appeal.
• 🌟 Media coverage, including TV and radio, has helped to raise awareness and interest in pickleball in Belgium.
• ✈️ Cassandra frequently travels to play in tournaments across Europe and has also been involved in the European Championships and the Global Pickleball Federation.

Q & A

What is the name of the segment that Selkirk TV is introducing to discuss pickleball globally?

The new segment being introduced by Selkirk TV is called 'Selker World in Cerk World'.

Who is the guest in the first interview of the 'Selker World in Cerk World' segment?

The guest in the first interview is Cassandra Bis, who leads Belgian pickleball.

What is special about Selkirk's line of pickleball nets?

Selkirk's line of pickleball nets is the official net of the PPA tour, offering a range of nets that cater to every player's needs, from budget-friendly to premium options.

How did Cassandra Bis first encounter pickleball?

Cassandra Bis first encountered pickleball in Florida, where she was living for two years and playing the sport regularly.

What was the initial reaction to pickleball when Cassandra Bis introduced it to Belgium?

Initially, it was a struggle to introduce pickleball in Belgium due to competition with other sports and the public's unfamiliarity with the game.

How has the growth of pickleball in Belgium been in recent years?

The growth of pickleball in Belgium has been significant, with around 50-60 clubs and approximately 10,000 players as of the time of the interview.

What are the typical playing conditions for pickleball in Belgium?

In Belgium, pickleball is mostly played indoors due to the weather, with only three or four months a year suitable for outdoor play.

How does Cassandra Bis promote pickleball in Belgium?

Cassandra Bis promotes pickleball through social media, TV, and radio, inviting people to try the game and leveraging the support of the media to raise awareness.

What is the demographic of pickleball players in Belgium?

The demographic of pickleball players in Belgium is diverse, ranging from children to seniors, with a significant number of players coming from tennis and padel backgrounds.

How does Cassandra Bis view the future of pickleball in Belgium?

Cassandra Bis sees a bright future for pickleball in Belgium, with more courts being built, more players joining, and an increase in the number of tournaments.

What is the role of the European pickleball Federation (EPF) and the Global pickleball Federation (GPF) in promoting the sport?

The EPF and GPF play a significant role in promoting pickleball by providing support, infrastructure, and promotion for tournaments and the sport in general, helping to grow the game across Europe and globally.

Outlines

00:00

🏓 Introduction to the Future of Pickleball with Cassandra Bis

The video script introduces the future of pickleball with a focus on Cassandra Bis, a Belgian leader in the sport. Cassandra is highlighted for creating and developing pickleball in Belgium from the ground up. The host discusses a new segment called 'Selker World in Cerk World,' which will feature interviews with global leaders promoting pickleball. The host also promotes Selkirk's line of pickleball nets, emphasizing their quality and suitability for all players, from beginners to professionals.

05:00

🚀 Cassandra Bis's Journey and Growth of Pickleball in Belgium

Cassandra Bis shares her experience of discovering pickleball in the United States and subsequently introducing and growing the sport in Belgium. After living in Florida and falling in love with pickleball, she returned to Belgium and, with the help of her parents, launched pickleball in her home country. Despite initial challenges due to competition from other sports and weather constraints, Cassandra and her family successfully started clubs and garnered media attention, leading to the growth of pickleball across Belgium and eventually throughout Europe.

10:01

🤝 Engaging Ex-Athletes and Expanding the Game in Europe

The conversation delves into the recruitment of high-level athletes from tennis and padel into pickleball. Cassandra discusses her efforts to coach and train new players, including a 24-hour class for aspiring coaches. She emphasizes the importance of teaching these athletes the unique aspects of pickleball and leveraging their existing skills to elevate the game. Cassandra also talks about her travels across Europe to play in tournaments and her role in promoting the sport through media appearances.

15:02

🏆 Preparing for European Championships and Belgian Open

Cassandra outlines her role as the head coach of the Belgian pickleball team, discussing the upcoming European championships and the Belgian open tournament. She acknowledges the competitive nature of the sport while maintaining a focus on fun and sportsmanship. Cassandra also invites international players, including those from America, to participate in the Belgian open and shares contact information for those interested in playing pickleball in Belgium.

20:03

🌍 Global Expansion and Challenges in Growing Pickleball

The script addresses the global expansion of pickleball, with Cassandra discussing her involvement in both the European and Global Pickleball Federations. She highlights the benefits of being part of these organizations, such as receiving support for new courts and equipment. Cassandra also speaks to the challenges of growing the sport, including misconceptions about its intensity and the need to compete with other popular sports like padel for players and recognition.

25:04

📈 Future Prospects and Hotspots for Pickleball in Belgium

Cassandra provides her outlook on the future growth of pickleball in Belgium, predicting an increase in the number of courts and players, as well as more frequent tournaments. She identifies specific venues in Belgium that are becoming hotspots for pickleball, emphasizing their appeal for socializing and enjoying the sport. Cassandra concludes the interview by expressing excitement for the future of pickleball and the international exposure it is gaining.

Keywords

💡Pickleball

Pickleball is a sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It is played with a perforated polymer ball over a net and on a badminton-sized court with modified tennis rules. In the video, pickleball is the central theme, as Cassandra Bis is credited with introducing and developing the sport in Belgium from scratch, which has led to its growth across Europe.

💡Cassandra Bis

Cassandra Bis is a Belgian woman who is a leader in the sport of pickleball. She is highlighted in the video as the founder of pickleball in Belgium, having created and developed the sport in the country. Her efforts have inspired the growth of pickleball clubs and players in Belgium and throughout Europe.

💡PPA Tour

The PPA (Professional Pickleball Association) Tour is a series of professional pickleball tournaments. The video mentions Selkirk as the official net provider for the PPA Tour, indicating the high level of competition and professionalism in the sport. It also implies that Selkirk nets are used by top players, which adds to their prestige.

💡Selkirk

Selkirk is a company that manufactures pickleball nets and is featured in the video as a sponsor. The brand is associated with quality and professionalism in the sport, as it is the official net of the PPA Tour. Selkirk's nets cater to players of all levels, from casual enthusiasts to seasoned pros, and are advertised as enabling play anywhere.

💡European Championships

The European Championships is a significant pickleball tournament in Europe. Mentioned in the video, it signifies the growing international presence of the sport, with players from various countries participating. Cassandra Bis discusses the Belgian team's preparation for this event, indicating its importance in the European pickleball calendar.

💡Belgian Open

The Belgian Open is a pickleball tournament that Cassandra Bis organizes. It is highlighted in the video as a successful event that attracted players from 20 different countries in its first edition. The Belgian Open is an example of the growing popularity and international interest in pickleball.

💡Global Pickleball Federation (GPF)

The GPF is an organization that supports the development of pickleball worldwide. In the video, it is mentioned as a beneficial entity that helps countries, especially those new to the sport, by providing nets and sets for beginners. The GPF's involvement is seen as a positive factor for the growth of pickleball in Europe.

💡European Pickleball Federation (EPF)

The EPF is a regional organization that focuses on the development and promotion of pickleball in Europe. Cassandra Bis discusses the Belgian pickleball community's membership in the EPF, which is working to promote the sport through events like the European Championships.

💡Indoor vs. Outdoor Play

The video discusses the challenges of weather in Belgium and how it affects pickleball play. While outdoor play is preferred, the lack of sunshine for much of the year means that most games are played indoors on modified badminton or tennis courts. This flexibility is a key factor in the sport's adaptability and growth.

💡Media Coverage

Media coverage is essential for promoting the sport of pickleball. In the video, Cassandra Bis talks about how radio stations and TV shows have approached her to discuss pickleball, which has helped to raise awareness and interest in the sport across Belgium.

💡Social Media

Social media is highlighted as a key tool for promoting pickleball and engaging with the community. Cassandra Bis uses her Facebook page to connect with players and promote events like the Belgian Open. Social media's role is crucial in attracting new players and fostering a sense of community among pickleball enthusiasts.

Highlights

Cassandra Bis is the leader of Belgian pickleball, having created and developed the sport from scratch in Belgium.

She was introduced to pickleball while living in Florida and fell in love with the sport.

After returning to Belgium in 2015, she and her parents launched pickleball there, starting from scratch with no existing program.

They began in a small village and after 2 months had clubs in multiple locations, with media coverage helping to generate interest.

Other European countries like Holland, France and Germany also started developing pickleball around the same time in 2015.

Most play is indoors in Belgium due to the weather, using modified badminton courts.

They overcame initial skepticism by inviting people to try it and word of mouth led to rapid growth.

There are now 50-60 clubs and around 10,000 players in Belgium.

The demographic is diverse, with players ranging from 7 years old to seniors.

Cassandra has recruited high-level athletes from tennis and padel to play pickleball.

She runs a 24-hour coaching course to train new pickleball coaches to start clubs.

Belgium is a member of both the European Pickleball Federation and Global Pickleball Federation to support growth.

Cassandra sees continued growth in facilities and players in the next 2-3 years, with more courts being built.

The Belgian Open tournament attracted players from 20 countries in its first year and is expanding.

American players are welcome and encouraged to come play in the Belgian Open.

Challenges remain in overcoming skepticism from padel players and others, but they are being addressed.

The growth of pickleball in Europe and Asia follows the successful model established in America.

Transcripts

hi welcome to the future of pickle ball

on Selkirk TV this is the show where we

talk to the leaders of pickle ball from

around the world we're adding a new

segment that's going to be called selker

World in cerk World I'll be interviewing

leaders from around the globe who are

promoting and developing pickle ball

today we're going to begin with our

first interview is with a woman named

Cassandra bis who leads Belgian pickle

ball she created and developed the sport

from scratch we're going to find out her

story and hear what's happening in

Europe with pickle

[Music]

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this link in the description of this

show all right let's jump into

it my guest is a lovely woman from

Belgium she began she launched and

founded pickle ball in Belgium she

teaches she coaches she inspires people

not only in Belgium but throughout

Europe Cassandra bis welcome to the

future of pickle ball thank you PA for

this lovely

introduction well I I I've gotta say for

for my audience I have uh I I had a

wonderful opportunity to meet Cassandra

in America in January I had gotten a a

call from a mutual friend of ours and

she said Gee there's this gal that wants

to come in to see the American

scene could you help her meet people get

into the best facilities and that sort

of thing so that Cassandra was here we

had an opportunity to play a lot of

pickleball together and she met a lot of

people Cassandra how was your visit to

America I mean it was just amazing I

told everybody when I came back from

from the the US it's you have to go

there and just see it just believe what

I I'm telling because I mean it's

incredible so many pickle ball courts so

many players and it's just like a big

big family that's what I I was used to

uh when I was in Florida 10 years ago

and it's just I mean the same the same

amazing experience that I got so yeah I

was really amazing that is that is so

great you know one of the things that I

always like to do with my guests is I

like to have them kind of give us a

little bit of a description how did a

Belgian woman find pickle ball and how

did this whole thing develop with you

yeah I mean uh my dad he was actually I

mean it's funny um he had a he was

working for for a company and then he

said yeah I mean I'm a little bit tired

to to work for for a boss so I just want

to launch my my my company um and I want

some sun and in Belgium of course we

don't have a lot of sun there is a a lot

of rain a lot of winters so I said you

know what the Belgian waffles are very

very um wellknown very famous here uh

around the world so I said maybe we can

launch this in Florida then we have sun

we have the beach and we can work a

little bit too but then I said yeah Dad

you can do this but what am I doing so

of course I I wanted to study to get my

degree but besides that I'm I was always

like a sportive woman I I I did a lot of

sports when I when I was a kid and yeah

and I was just looking at the local

newspaper where I used to live in in

Boon Beach and there I saw this pickle

ball and I was like what the heck is

pickle ball I mean I couldn't figure out

what kind of sport it looked like so I

just said you know what I grab the car

and I will just go to this facility in

in downtown and I mean this was just

like wow is this pickle ball I'm really

I fell in love with it how fun so then

so then when did you go back to Belgium

and did you did you start from scratch

or was there a program already going

there no actually we started from

scratch so um I've lived in in Florida

for two years and I was really playing

like seven days uh a week four hours a

day so I was really I mean I was in love

with the sport and then when I came back

uh to Belgium in 2015 I was missing the

sport there was no pick ball so um I was

still young at that age so I had the

help of my parents and we were the three

people the only people in Belgium that

that launched pickle ball belg wow yeah

that is just remarkable so you've got an

awful lot going on take us through that

a little bit so when you got started how

where did you find your first players

how did you go about beginning the

program that's now pretty vibrant yeah

exactly I mean it was first of all it

was a little complicated because we have

so many sports around the world and also

in Belgium and I mean another record

sport it's like I mean we have this this

huge hype padel uh which which we all

know and this was really a hype back

then and to launch picle ball it was

like okay how will we go with this uh

what are the struggles but I mean we are

really like a family that is always

motivated to do new things and I have a

character like I If I have a goal I just

go for it and my parents were motivated

too so we started in a little village

and then after two months we got another

club and another club and local

newspaper also National newspapers or TV

shows were starting to to talk about

picall and see this hype coming and yeah

sooner or later there were other clubs

popping up now while you were doing this

in Belgium was there anything else going

on in other countries in Europe yeah

there were um the neighbor countries

like Holland and France and Germany they

were also starting around 2015 so it was

actually all the European countries

started around that period and yeah also

this these small tournaments I remember

when I was playing in in these small

tournaments there were like maybe

maximum 100 per people and now we have

the D open in two weeks and they have

more than 300 so you see really the

growth in Belgium uh in in Europe all

over the the place yeah now you

mentioned when we were talking here

about your weather in Belgium so are are

you playing mostly indoors or Outdoors

or a combination of both yeah I mean we

are happy if we can play Outdoors um but

it's only like three or four months a

year so most of the time we just play

indoors and in all this the venues here

in Belgium we have the bedminton courts

the lines so it's easy to just take our

Nets uh four pedals ball and then we can

just play so this is how we sell the

sport actually in the indoor facilities

yeah well that that's interesting

because that course is where everything

started in America um I was from the

Northern Tier in cold weather climate in

Minnesota we had to be indoors and it

was always where do we find a facility

that that really is interesting now when

you talk about this and getting the

interest going was there an interest

because of what people were hearing

going on in America or where was the

interest how did you get anybody to even

pay attention to you I guess people are

pretty curious um especially belgians I

guess or Europeans and and when there is

new sport popping up they are like a

little scared or maybe not scared but

curious like yeah ju just check it and

maybe we can grab a pedal and do some

balls and then see if we like it and we

always like ask people come just come

and see it check it out and then they

are like even in in jeans or in costume

they are coming grabbing the pedal and

they play and actually they say after 15

minutes they say yeah I really love the

game so they come back so that's how we

treat Trier people to come and yeah also

I mean social media uh TV radio I mean

they are really um talking a lot about

pickle ball nowadays so that's how

people also are interested in in coming

and watch so now we're gonna jet forward

from 2015 to today how many facilities

do you have currently in Belgium in

Belgium I would say we are around 50 60

clubs so oh my goodness how cool is that

and so um so now that you've got this

thing in momentum stage do you have any

sense of how many players you've got

throughout the country approximately we

would be around 10,000 players so I mean

I get like every week I get some

suggestions uh from padel or tennis

clubs like hey uh we have another space

free can we maybe put a court in there

because weal hype is really um going on

in Belgium so I mean I can say 1,000

maybe next month it will be even more so

I'm so happy about this and so then are

you you've been to America now are is

your the ages and genders of people in

pickle ball in in Belgium and in Europe

are they similar to the way it is in

America yeah this is a difficult

question because I mean like in Florida

you know it's like the senior State a

little bit so I mean where I used to

live there were more seniors when we

compare it to to Belgium um um yeah we

have some kids I mean I was teaching a

lot in schools um I also have these

University programs with students so

it's it's really um I think the area

based um we have also seniors we so we

have really like a large population that

is it's playing I I have in in h my club

a seven-year-old boy who is playing with

us so I mean it's it's it's really going

from very young to

older and and so now we're you have this

history of of I didn't realize that you

had actually been in America that that's

where you discovered the game and then

took it to Belgium um are you seeing a

lot of the growth patterns and expansion

that you understood went on in America

and I want to come back to your to your

trip but uh did you find that the the

pattern of growth seems similar to what

our history had

been yeah I mean when when I was in

Florida of course bobal was already big

so I I don't realize or I don't know how

it was when it started in in America but

yeah how I see it it's that we are like

five years behind the states and I mean

also with the tournaments that are going

on we see that there are a lot a lot of

players new players coming um like with

the Belgian open I see new new players

um registering so it's it's I think we

we need to wait a little bit more and

and we will have much more facilities

also uh really pickall courts are

building now in indoors and Outdoors uh

from tennis clubs so we really see that

people are getting interested to really

invest in

courts you know i' I've followed your

Facebook page since I met you and and

things that you're doing and you're so

involved in things I I noticed that you

have gotten quite a bit of media

coverage and and in terms of those

whether they're TV shows or radio

interviews that you've done have they

found you or did you find them how did

those interviews come about no actually

they they found me um I mean first when

we wanted to start PCO ball of course I

was contacting the the media but after

um they they just came and and called me

and say hey uh we want to talk about

pickle ball we see that that there is a

lot of lot of players coming and and are

interested in the game um so let talk

about it let's make just a nice

commercial about it um so yeah a lot of

radio stations actually are calling me

and just make a two minute three minutes

interview but it really helps to to Pro

the sport in Belgium oh that is that is

so cool because that that it's fun to

watch what you've got going on there

because that really is I've been around

the game for a long time and seen it

from its

infancy um a long ways away from Florida

and uh and uh so that's that's really

fun to hear you know one of the things

that I know you personally you're a high

level player yourself you're one of the

Premier women players in Belgium or in

Europe how have you seen the quality of

the Game grow and

expand yeah I mean you see that a lot of

tennis players that are coming and play

uh pickle ball or even pel players I

mean they have such an advantage that I

mean compared to people that never had a

pedal or recet Sports um they really

have big benefits to to start and play

pickle ball I mean you you can just um I

mean I was playing last week I was I had

the training in Holland and there was a

a woman um she started playing in

January so a few months and she is

coming from tennis and wow she's like a

4 five already so I'm like I mean it's

just amazing how people can just pick up

the game but they need to learn of

course we have a lot of tennis players

that's think that pockle ball here in

Belgium or in Europe is is like a small

tennis you know tennis extra small but

we try to let them know and to teach

them like pickleball is not like tennis

we are don't play on the Baseline we

play on the kitchen line there you go

there you go and so have you have you

been able to um to do recruiting

specific recruiting I know you

personally love the high performance

game and you play it at a high level are

you able to find um a way to draw other

ex athletes into the

game yeah I mean we we are trying now

for example we have this European

championships uh going on in Southampton

so there we really need to recruit the

best players in in in Belgium so um we

have next week we have a selection day

and I mean it's funny to see new players

that I never met and they are coming

from tennis or padel so I'm excited to

to see what their level is I mean they

the requirement was being a 40 player so

I hope they know what it is and so we

will see if they meet the requirements

and be a good player and pickall

player you know it's really interesting

as as I as I see what you're doing I

know from conversations that I've had

with you that you actually run a program

that's kind of broad across Belgium

where teaching pros from the tennis

world and from the pedel world who want

to know about pickleball they're

actually coming to you in classes or

coaching tell us about how that works

yeah exactly um what I'm doing is like a

24hour class uh specifically for for

coaches or beginner coaches who want to

start their own club because of course

in Belgium you don't have this um I mean

the specified coachings you have to go

to the states or maybe go outside of of

of Europe um to have these iptpa courses

for example um so I was like okay I know

with my experience I can I can coach my

my players or the new players that want

to start a club so um that's why I'm

offering these these classes for people

and I mean I'm not only coaching uh

players from Belgium but also from

Holland that were coming to my class so

it's really I mean it's a good program

and people are happy and I mean it's a

future program for to to get new clubs

in and outside of

Belgium you know it is it's really

interesting for Americans you know we we

have such a different perspective on

space and time to the Europeans and you

talk about oh well I jumped up for

training in Holland and I go over to

Germany for tournaments how much travel

have you done how many places have you

played in Europe yeah I guess you don't

want to know I mean I'm traveling all

the time I mean especially also in in

Belgium uh I have a full-time job but

besides that I'm playing like four times

a week so it's always going going for

going um I mean driving for one one hour

playing two hours going back and um yeah

like I told you last week I was uh I was

in Holland playing uh four hours and

having a trip of four hours too so I

mean when you're are really excited

about the game and you want to to learn

and and be better then you really do

these things um tournaments I'm having

them like every month so I'm going to

France um I'm going to Germany I'm going

to Holland we have some tournaments

coming up in Belgium uh so it's really

all over Europe in Spain too I'm going

to the English open so I'm really

traveling a lot for for Cal that is that

is so exciting you know I I want to come

back to your travel with how other

people might do travel there but before

we do that I want to I want to drill a

little deeper I know you're the head

coach of the Belgian champ uh team

that's being put together when when you

do that um with the players that you've

gotten what your experiences in

tournaments all around Europe how how

good do you think the Belgian team can

be in the European championships no this

is a tricky question because I know that

the English players uh and the Spanish

players they are really they have a

really good level so I mean I would not

bet anything on having a medal there we

will do our best I mean we are very

competitive and I mean we also want to

have fun so this is actually our motto

like be competitive but also have fun

but yeah we will just make a good

selection and yeah we are all thrilled

uh to be there I mean it's it's an

amazing first European Championship um

so everybody just wants wants to go

there but we have to make a selection

unfortunately for the people that have

to stay in

Belgium so now in Belgium you have you

have a big event coming up in July in

terms of the Belgian open this is your

second year is that correct exactly yeah

tell tell us about what you're going to

what's going to be there and what

players we'll see that participate in

that yeah I mean last year was just a

blast I mean um I didn't expect so many

players we were around 300 players

already for the first edition so this

was really really nice um there were 20

different countries coming to the to to

the Belgian open and I mean it they were

just so amazed they were happy and they

immediately asked me is there a second

edition next year so of course I had to

work on that and um yeah so at the end

of July we will have the second edition

and um I was just checking uh before uh

we came on the call uh we have already

15 different countries uh registered for

so yeah oh

wow I think it will be even better than

last year now it's been really fun I

just saw a report uh we've just had the

uh US Open played here and that we had a

number of countries that brought players

in are you beginning to see any

international non-european players

coming in to play in tournaments that

you're at yeah I mean when I'm going to

tournaments um that are outside of of

Europe I mean we see new faces from

different continents so we really see

that picco ball is is growing all over

the world um I mean most of them I know

them um from just watching them on TV or

I mean on the PPA tour or just um

because we are at a pro level um but we

always see new faces and this is nice

this is really nice about the sports so

yeah so there's there's a a couple of

other key things that I want to cover

because of your background in in terms

of the um the globalization of pickle

ball now there is you're in involved in

the European Federation am I correct in

that yeah tell me about that what's

going on with that yeah so first when we

uh launched Pall Belgium there was the

ipf the

WPF um I mean the ifp sorry and I mean

these were two Federation that we didn't

really know about um and then last year

uh they launched the EPF so the European

pickleball Federation um to only help

actually the Europe the Europeans and

then after that they launched a gpf so

it was kind of a little U confused for

everybody like okay we have now four

different federations I mean Belgium is

on the EPF but then you saw all the

benefits that the gpf uh the global

Federation was offering so I said yeah

why not jump on that one too so um we

are also member of the gpf I mean they

are offering a lot of things um like

helping um countries with like Nets or

sets to to give to beginners um

beginning countries that to develop the

sports so I mean it's it's only

beneficial so that's why I said okay

let's be part of the two federations and

see how they can help us and and are you

are you beginning to see some value in

that either on the European Federation

side or the global pickle ball

Federation yeah I see that things are

really moving on I mean the the last

months I mean they are doing a lot of

promotion especially for the the

European championships that are coming

in Southampton uh in November and also

the GP is also doing a lot of uh

promotion I mean They are promoting my

my Belgian open or other tournaments so

I really like it we need this this kind

of uh media support uh because we know

that it's reaching out I mean they are

reaching out to a lot of a lot of

players you know when when uh one of the

things that was really interesting after

your visit to America and you had met so

many people that I know and there was a

tremendous amount of interest you talk

about the conversations that you had

when you went back to Europe well let me

tell you here in America there were so

many people going God I would love to

travel to Europe and play pickle ball

how do you see the possibilities of that

can can could an American play in the

Belgian open as an example if they

wanted to of course they should they

should come I mean it's in Brussels and

Brussels is just a beautiful city I mean

and we are known for the waffles for

chocolate and beer so that's why I mean

um Americans can can come everybody can

come I'm I'm just I mean it would be

nice and a lot of Americans are actually

contacting me and say hey I'm there for

the weekend of all week in Brussels or

there or there where can I play so I

mean we have a lot of connections with

Americans and I mean they always love it

when they are here in Belgium cool so on

that note would you please tell our

audience how to reach Belgian pickle

ball what's the best contact way

direction for you guys I mean the best

way is just on our Facebook page pickle

ball Belgium and then they are reaching

out to me so that's the best way and

don't forget pickle ball Global there

they can register on the Belgian open oh

very nice very nice you know one of the

things that's sort of interesting when

when we talk about how fast things are

developing I I like to ask and and and

I'm really trying to find answers for

the growth of pickle ball what are your

major challenges that keep the growth or

are there any major challenges that

you're trying to

overcome I mean I think there are always

challenges otherwise we had maybe more

than 1,000 players it's just that um

people are a little bit like they're

waiting and and see if it's really

getting a hype or um I mean like padel

here we have a lot of uh players that I

mean that they are also laughing about

pickleball because they they think that

it's maybe a sport where you don't move

that much because I mean they think it's

it's ten is for for older people you

know so that's uh that was really a

struggle when I started to promote it

but now I mean then I'm always

challenging them and say like

hey you know with a good player and then

they are like no I guess I have to

change my mindset you know so I mean

this was a struggle that we had I mean

we still have but now that padel clubs

are really seeing the the growth of

pickle ball and the big interest and the

benefit I mean they are really turning

um and and seeing only the the

beneficials yeah one of the things that

I think is very exciting both to what's

happening in Europe but also in

Asia is the fact that we now have a

template that has been proven in America

as to how big this thing can be and all

of those descriptions that you're making

are all things that those of us that

were involved in the early days of

pickle ball faced early on I'm I'm

really looking forward to what's

happening with the international

tournaments the number of events um I

know there's been an announcement of a

new world series of pickle ball that's

intended to have uh big money pro events

on every continent that visibility I

would imagine should be great for you as

much as anywhere else in the in the

world shouldn't it oh yeah I mean we are

jumping on these kind of things so um

yeah if we can be part of it of course

Belgium is I mean we know that the

players they want to travel a lot for

for pickle ball so we are the first one

country to jump on oh well very very

nice you know it is one of the things

that I do um in the future of pickle

ball show is I always ask my guests

where do you see pickle ball in Belgium

in the next two to three years I think

in the two I mean in the future um there

will be much more courts uh being built

uh inside outside I mean we are seeing

this now that from last year to now um

there were much more um cords being

built um much more people that are

interested in facilities where they can

just put one or two cours just to start

with and then they just put two or more

I mean two or four extra after this test

of one year so I guess in two three

years we will have much more players

maybe more tournaments even though we

have already five six tournaments a year

in Belgium which is really a lot uh

already for our small country but um

yeah I guess the future is just being

bright for us yeah oh I think that's so

cool you know as as I think of how

Sports have grown around the

world in Europe where you're so

interconnected and your countries are so

close together are there any are there

any particular hot spots that that you

or in Belgium maybe one of them that

you're seeing are the model that could

be the example or sort of the bright

star of where things are going in Europe

in terms of courts or venues you mean

quarts and venues I think primarily um I

mean we have nice very nice venues I

mean with with like eight outdoor courts

um just pickleball courts only dedicated

for pickleball so this these are really

the the hotpots where people need to go

and I mean it's like the chicken fle not

that that extra large but uh we are

starting small um but they can just play

pickle ball um and eat something have

fun have a drink with the friends so

this these are really the hotpots in

Belgium so you uh you you had the

chicken and pickle experience when you

were in America didn't you isn't that a

hoot I think that is so fun well

Cassandra I want to thank you so much

I'm your interview will be the first of

the international ERS that I'm looking

to talk to to hear their stories from

around the world thank you so much for

joining us today have fun thank you for

having me oh my pleasure

[Applause]