NAPERVILLE, Ill. (WBBM Newsradio) – A Naperville nonprofit is officially in the record books after organizing what Guinness World Records confirmed as the largest simultaneous pickleball lesson.
KidsMatter brought together hundreds of students from schools across DuPage, Will and Kane counties on Thursday for a coordinated 30-minute lesson. The event nearly doubled the previous record.
“The record was 250 and so we were shooting for at least 251,” said Nina Menis, CEO and executive director of KidsMatter. “We were excited that we were able to get that accomplished.”
The lesson was taught by a coach at Sure Shot Pickleball and streamed live to multiple school gyms and community sites, allowing students from Naperville North, West Aurora, Lisle, Lockport and homeschool groups to participate at the same time.
“Individuals at Sure Shot supported it and ran the lesson,” Menis said. “Coach Joe did a wonderful job running the lesson, and we were zooming all over to different schools and areas in the community.”
Students practiced basic pickleball techniques during the half-hour session, part of a yearlong effort to organize the record attempt. Menis said physical education programs across the region played a key role in making the event possible.
Beyond breaking a record, Menis said the event aligned with KidsMatter’s broader mission to support youth mental health and wellness.
“We are just so proud of everybody that participated, and we hope everybody just had a great time being part of it and learning something new,” she said. “We’re just leaning in with gratitude and enjoying the moment.”