USA Pickleball Trademarks

USA Pickleball (USAP), previously known as USA Pickleball Association (USAPA), is the de facto governing body of pickleball in the United States. It made history as the first national pickleball organization globally when it was formed in 1984.

At the time of its formation, it was known as the United States Amateur Pickleball Association before reorganizing into USA Pickleball Association in 2005. Finally, the organization adopted the name USA Pickleball in 2020.

While operating as USAPA, the organization published its first official rule book for pickleball in 1984. In 2008, it published the USA Pickleball Association Official Tournament Rulebook. The organization re-registered as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization in 2005.

Let’s look into the organization’s history, the history of the sport it governs, the tournaments it hosts, and its trademarks.

The History of USA Pickleball

Bryon Olson, Sid Williams, and several other pickleball enthusiasts in Washington state founded the United States Amateur Pickleball Association in 1984 in Tacoma, Washington. Williams changed the organization’s name a few years later to the United States of American Pickleball Association.

The founders’ objective was to perpetuate the advancement and growth of pickleball within the U.S. President Ronald Reagan became the first honorary member of the organization, getting member number 00001.

In gratitude, the organization sent a complimentary pickleball set to the White House, however, it is not clear whether President Reagan ever played the game.

The organization’s first sponsor was the Nalley Fine Foods Company, which was also based in Tacoma. The sponsorship helped cover the costs of clinics, exhibitions, and the rulebook.

Frank Candelario took over as USAPA’s president in 1999. He was the owner of Ultra-Lite Paddle Company, which also became a sponsor of the organization.

The History of Pickleball

Pickleball’s history can be traced to 1965 when Washington State congressman, Joel Pritchard, and successful businessman, Bill Bell returned to Pritchard’s home after playing golf one Saturday to find their family members with nothing exciting to do.
Pritchard’s property had an old badminton court. The duo unsuccessfully managed to find a full set of badminton equipment to play. Therefore, they improvised and started playing with ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball.

In their first game, they had the net at the standard height for badminton, 60 inches. However, as the weekend and games progressed, they discovered that the ball bounced well on the asphalt surface and lowered it to 36 inches instead of volleying it at 60 inches.

The following weekend, they introduced Barney McCallum, a mutual friend, to the game. The three men created rules for the game, taking a lot of insights from badminton. They maintained their original purpose for creating the game, which was to create fun for the whole family.

Bob O’Brien, Joel Pritchard’s friend and neighbor, constructed the first permanent pickleball court in his backyard in 1967. In 1972, they formed a corporation to protect the creation of the sport.

Pickleball made its maiden appearance in a media outlet in 1975 after the National Observer published an article about the sport. In 1976, Tennis magazine wrote about it, dubbing it “America’s newest racquet sport.”

The first global pickleball tournament was held during the spring of 1976 at South Center Athletic Club in Tukwila, Washington. David Lester won the men’s singles, with Steve Paranto placing second.

Most participants were college tennis players with little knowledge of pickleball. They even participated using large wooden paddles and a softball-sized plastic ball.
The book The Other Racquet Sports was published to increase awareness of the sport and contained essential information about pickleball.

In 1982, Sid Williams, a pickleball pioneer, started playing and organizing tournaments around Washington state. Two years later, USAPA was formed to manage the advancement and growth of pickleball at a national level.

The Tournaments Hosted by USA Pickleball

USAP holds four pickleball events. They include the following:

1. USA Pickleball National Championships – This championship is held in November at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. Participants win Golden Tickets to the tournament by winning an event in any of the following events.
   
2. National Championship Series – This series consists of six regional championships held in various U.S. locations.
   
3. Diamond Amateur Championship – This championship consists of amateur competitions titled the USA Pickleball Diamond Regionals. Through this series, regional winners compete in the USA Diamond Amateur Championship held in December at Picton in Holy Hill, Florida. Gold medal winners automatically enter the national championships.
   
4. National Indoor Championships – This championship is held in Hoover, Alabama.

USA Pickleball Trademarks

USA Pickleball has sought or obtained federal trademark registration for three trademarks. They include “USA PICKLEBALL” and “PICKLEBALL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION.”

On March 30, 2021, USA Pickleball obtained federal trademark registration for” USA PICKLEBALL,” and uses the trademark for its association services.

USAP also obtained federal trademark registration for “PICKLEBALL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION” on July 9, 2019. The organization also uses this trademark for its association services.