Pickleball is reaffirmed as the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., triumphing for the fourth year in a row with over 19 million Americans participating.1 As this sport is rapidly gaining popularity nationwide, it’s becoming increasingly important to safeguard both pickleball organizations and players.
What is general liability insurance?
General liability insurance covers lawsuits that arise due to negligence — as pickleball organizers, the protection of your assets is an important foundation. General liability insurance can help cover lawsuits that arise because of:
- Injury due to unsafe playing conditions
- A spectator getting hit by an errant ball
- Property damage to neighboring facilities
General liability insurance is a helpful starting point for pickleball facilitators, owners, and tournament directors, as it helps cover prevalent legal risks.
What is participant accident insurance (PAI)?
Participant accident insurance (PAI) is an important addition to any pickleball facility or tournament, providing coverage for those injured during the sport.
PAI can help provide medical expense benefits for accidents such as:
- Injuries from player collisions
- Sprains and strains
- Falls and fractures
PAI can also help cover the expenses of other medical support, such as:
- Ambulance services
- Inpatient and outpatient services
- CT-scans, x-rays, MRIs, and other testing
- Prescription drugs
With PAI, your players are provided with financial support, from the hospital visit to post-injury physical therapy.
Why should you get a participant accident insurance plan?
Although general liability insurance is an important foundation, it provides coverage for the company, and not for the participants. It is important to consider the benefits of having an accidental injury plan to protect your players.
Pickleball player age demographics
Over 65,000 injuries occurred within a 10-year span as a result of pickleball participation3. With the 25–34-year-old age group now representing the most pickleball players in the U.S.4, it is important to account for common injuries in this range. Twists and inversions (25%), falls (21.4%), and strains/overuse (14.5%) are most common among this age group, with strains/sprains (46.2%) the most common diagnosis.2
Additionally, since seniors are prone to injury due to anatomic and physiological factors3, most injuries occurred in those between ages 65 and 802. Fractures (32%), sprains/strains (30.77%), have been the most common injury amongst this age group, with falls being the most common cause of injury (71.5%)2.
Further, there are now over 1 million children who have become involved in pickleball4, and nearly 2 million teens are participating.5 Amongst this age group, being hit with a paddle is the most common mechanism of injury (37.8%), often resulting in lacerations (22.1%), contusions, and abrasions (18%).2 Players of all age demographics are susceptible to injury in pickleball, and appropriate medical coverage is crucial to account for the high risk.
Primary insurance is not enough
Even though primary health insurance and Medicare can cover some of the medical costs due to accidental pickleball injuries, co-pays and high deductibles can still end up costing your players thousands in out-of-pocket expenses. Participant accident insurance typically covers the excess expenses that are not covered by primary insurance, providing an extra layer of financial support.
Pickleball accident: Ruth’s ankle injury
Ruth has been a member of her local senior pickleball club for several months now. At her last practice, she fell and injured her ankle. She was transported to a local emergency room and assessed, which included the initial intake assessment, x-ray imaging, and pain medication. Soon after, Ruth had to start attending physical therapy to restore the proper function of her ankle.
Even though Ruth was covered by Medicare and Medicare Supplements, she still had hundreds of dollars of out-of-pocket costs and co-pays. Luckily, her pickleball club was enrolled in a participant accident insurance plan, which helped offset her medical bills, resulting in a much lower financial burden—including coverage for her physical therapy.
Ruth’s participant accident insurance plan paid 100% of her out-of-pocket costs:
- Total out-of-pocket costs: $680
- Total benefits paid: $680
Player satisfaction and peace of mind
Participant accident insurance acts as a shield for you and your players – accidents happen, regardless of fault. With PAI, your players can feel at ease knowing they will be financially covered if they get injured on your court. Plus, participant accident insurance lowers the likelihood that an injured player will seek legal action against the pickleball franchise in efforts to recover financially. PAI helps protect your players, but adds value to your company, too.
Learn more about participant accident insurance.
To learn more about Wellfleet’s pickleball accident insurance offerings, view more resources, or connect with our team today.
Resources
1) Pickleball.com Staff. (2025, February 28). Retrieved from Pickleball was fastest-growing sport in U.S. for fourth consecutive year, according to SFIA
2) Yu, J., Yendluri, A., Linden, G., et al. (2025, January 23). Retrieved from Increasing Incidence of Pickleball Injuries Presenting to US Emergency Departments: A 10-year Epidemiologic Analysis of Mechanisms and Trends – PMC
3) Touhey, D., Bozorgmehr C., Tartibi D., et al. (2024, September 22). Retrieved from Pickleball Injuries in the Aging Athlete: A Critical Analysis Review – PMC
4) Mackie, B. (2025, February 19). Retrieved from Pickleball Statistics – The Numbers Behind America’s Fastest-Growing Sport in 2025 | Pickleheads
5) Saini, K. (2025, July 24). Retrieved from Why Pickleball Is Taking Over College Campuses—And Changing Student Life Forever
WFSR-251030
