7d (edited) • General discussion
2026: The Year of the Great Racquetball Return By JK’s Racquetball Academy
The courts were once the heartbeat of the community. In the 70s, 80s, and early 90s, racquetball didn’t just exist; it flooded the culture. In those days, the local gym was more than a place to sweat—it was a "grassroots country club."
Facilities boasted a dozen courts or more. On weekends, families arrived in droves. While mothers took the kids to the pool or crafts, fathers headed to the glass-walled arenas. Slowly, as the kids grew, the fathers would pass the racquet down, teaching the next generation the snap of the wrist and the speed of the game. It was a family sport, blossomed in an environment of connection.
Then, around 1990, the landscape changed forever.
The Corporate Takeover and the "Lost Generation"
The "Box Gym" era arrived. These corporate giants offered memberships at a fraction of the cost of the old-school clubs. At first, the die-hards scoffed, promising never to leave their pro shops and viewing galleries. But slowly, the migration began.
The Mom-and-Pop clubs—the soul of the sport—couldn't compete. Pro shops shuttered. Tournament directors vanished. Eventually, even the veterans moved to the corporate clubs.
On the surface, the new gyms were nice. The floors were perfect, and the fiberboard walls were modern. But there was a hidden cost. For insurance and "political" reasons, these corporate gyms banned children under 16.
This is where we lost the game. Racquetball shifted from a "family sport" to a "single guy sport." The pipeline of youth and junior players vanished into thin air. Without the kids, the roots of the game began to dry up. Corporate greed followed, calculating that the square footage of a racquetball court could "maximize profit" if turned into a yoga studio, a spin class, or a golf simulator.
Today, 70% of those original courts are gone. In some cities, the sport has been literally erased.
The Jedi Sport Refuses to Die
Despite the physical toll the game takes—the bad knees, the aching backs, and the joint issues—and despite the internal politics that have sometimes fractured our community, the spirit of the game remains.
In Canada, where I live now, the courts are few and far between. We recently lost a "salt of the earth" facility in Valley Field—a place with an old-school lounge and four perfect courts. It was a blow to our community. But even as the walls come down in some places, something else is rising.
Social Media has become our new "Viewing Gallery." The sharing of clips, stories, and live-streamed tournaments has reignited a fire. Racquetball is a "Jedi Sport"—an ultimate test of reflexes, strategy, and heart. And in 2026, we are finally watering our roots again.
The Path Forward: From One Wall to All Walls
The comeback isn't just happening indoors. Outdoor racquetball—one-wall and three-wall—is thriving in Florida, California, and New York. Outdoor play requires a precision and control that indoor players often lack; there is no ceiling to save a bad shot. Learning the outdoor game ten years ago improved my indoor game tenfold.
As indoor space becomes more expensive, these public parks and rec centers are becoming the new grassroots frontier.
The Call to Action
I have been in this game for 40 years. Despite physical disabilities and the "hiatus" many of us took, I am back on the court teaching beginners, intermediates, and old-timers alike.
We are the keepers of the flame. We must commit to:
1. Rebuilding the Junior Programs: We have to get racquets back into the hands of children.
2. Mentoring: Don't just play; teach. Help your friends and family level up.
3. Protecting our Space: Maximize the usage of the courts we have so the "square footage" talk never wins again.
2026 is our year. To the old-timers who have helped others prosper and to the new players stepping into the box for the first time: let’s keep the game alive.
If we do the work, the roots will take hold. See you on the court.
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2026: The Year of the Great Racquetball Return By JK’s Racquetball Academy
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