Pickleball: The Latest Team Building Sport
Corporate Singapore has discovered a new favourite for team building, and it involves paddles, plastic balls, and a court smaller than a tennis court. Pickleball, once considered a retirement activity, is rapidly becoming the go to team building sport for companies across Our Lion City.
Source : Play!Pickle
The Explosive Growth in Singapore
The numbers tell a compelling story. According to Sport Singapore, there were fewer than 20 pickleball bookings each month at ActiveSG sport halls previously. In just the first six months of 2025 alone, ActiveSG facilities saw nearly 8,000 bookings per month. The People's Association reported a 40 per cent increase in pickleball participation at an annual championship this year as compared to 2024, while the Singapore Pickleball Association saw a fivefold increase in participants in the annual Pesta Sukan, from 424 in 2022 to 2,106 this year.
This surge has not gone unnoticed in corporate circles. Straits Pickle Club in Jurong reports that in 2025, pickleball has officially become the most requested corporate activity in Singapore. The facility hosts fully managed corporate events, with its "Fundamentals and Fun" format proving particularly popular with companies ranging from startups to multinational corporations.
Why Companies Are Choosing Pickleball
The appeal lies in pickleball's accessibility. Unlike football or basketball, pickleball has a low barrier to entry, with participants of all ages and fitness levels having genuine rallies within 15 minutes of an introductory clinic. This accessibility makes it the only sport where fresh graduates and senior management can compete on equal footing, instantly breaking down corporate hierarchies.
"We all had such a blast during our team building. We had done another pickleball corporate event and many other sports and activities but you guys seriously raised the standard," shared one corporate client with Performance Pickleball, Singapore's first indoor sheltered pickleball facility.
Blue Chip Endorsement
Major Singaporean corporations have embraced the sport. Here at Play! Pickle, we operate Singapore's largest pickleball venue with six dedicated indoor courts at Punggol, conducted lessons and team bonding sessions for government and international organisations, including the Ministry of Education, Sport Singapore, Nike, DBS Bank, OCBC Bank, Apple, and Skechers.
The endorsement from financial giants is particularly significant. In October 2025, OCBC Group partnered with the Singapore Sports Hub to host one of Southeast Asia's largest pickleball tournaments at the National Stadium in 2026, supported by OCBC Bank, Bank of Singapore, Great Eastern, and Kallang Alive Sport Management. The tournament will feature more than 20 pickleball courts specially set up at the National Stadium, with about 2,000 players expected to compete over three days. Bank of Singapore will also host an exclusive, invite only corporate challenge for the bank's clients and leading corporates.
Beyond Traditional Team Building
The benefits extend beyond simple recreation. Doubles play requires communication, strategy, and trust between partners. The quick game format, typically lasting 15 to 20 minutes, allows for frequent rotation and mixing of teams, ensuring employees interact with colleagues they might never encounter in their daily work.
Multiple providers across Singapore now offer corporate pickleball programmes. These workshops are designed to bring teams together in a fun, dynamic environment, promoting teamwork and strategic thinking. The nature of the game encourages open communication and strategic planning while boosting employee morale and job satisfaction.
The Infrastructure Boom
The corporate demand has spurred infrastructure development across the island. Eight new outdoor pickleball courts will open for public use at the Singapore Sports Hub from January 2026. Two junior tennis courts at Kallang Tennis Hub and three basketball courts at the National Stadium's Promenade will be converted into dual use courts for pickleball, tennis, or basketball.
Private facilities have also proliferated. Performance Pickleball operates two locations, including Singapore's first cushioned and first smart pickleball courts. Play! Pickle runs venues at Punggol, Chai Chee, and Bukit Merah. Kings Pickleball Arena and Straits Pickle Club in Jurong offer corporate event packages with professional coaching and full equipment provision.
Part of a Regional Movement
Singapore's pickleball boom reflects broader regional trends. An estimated 1.9 billion people across 12 Asian territories have heard about pickleball, and close to 812 million people have played the sport at least once, with 282 million playing at least once a month. The growth of pickleball in these territories has spiked at a 60 per cent rate year on year.
As companies continue seeking innovative ways to build culture and retain talent in competitive job markets, pickleball appears positioned to remain a fixture of corporate life in Singapore. What started as a backyard game in 1965 America has found unexpected relevance in the Lion City's corporate landscape, proving that sometimes the best team building tool is simply a reason for people to play together.