Presentation Description

Pickleball, the official sport of the State of Washington, is the fastest-growing sport in America. Because of Roger BelAir’s efforts pickleball now is gaining a following in prisons. He has taught the game from New York to California.

Off the court, Roger is a financial expert who has been profiled in a cover story of Money magazine; an acclaimed author of financial books; and a keynoter at conventions. He’s been quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and many other publications.

Roger’s Pickleball Background

Years ago Roger BelAir was introduced to Barney McCallum, the only living founder of the game. They quickly became friends and many of the anecdotes and vignettes Roger shares about the game come directly from Barney. Next Roger came to know the management of Pickle-Ball, Inc., the company formed by the three founders to promote pickleball. He learned even more “behind the scenes” stories.

As a result, Roger’s clinics are uncopyable! With a style that mixes humor, insights, and proper technique, Roger has taught 3,000 people … from a former  Wimbledon tennis pro to Fortune 500 executives to grandmothers who want to stay active and have fun. He is frequently the Guest Teaching Pro at the renowned  Rancho La Puerta (one of the “Five Best Destination Spas in the World” according to Travel + Leisure magazine). He has also taught at the JW Marriott Palm
Desert, one of the top ten tennis resorts in the country.

Inspired by a CBS’s “60 Minutes” segment on crime, Roger envisioned pickleball as a means of teaching “life skills” in prisons. Since 95 per cent or all inmates are eventually released, perhaps pickleball could help make them better people, making it safer for all of us once they return to society.

His thinking was correct. Roger introduced the game to men charged with murder at Chicago’s Cook County Jail and his program was hugely successful. Gang members who wouldn’t even talk to each other were playing pickleball together. Soon they were even laughing together! Disciplinary problems at the jail were reduced.

The success of his program in Chicago led Roger to prisons coast-to-coast, from Rikers Island in New York to San Quentin in California. His life-changing efforts have been applauded by the Washington Post, NPR, a front-page story in USA TODAY, and others. A documentary is currently in production.

Off the court, Roger is a financial expert who has been profiled in a cover story of Money magazine; an acclaimed author of books on finance and investments; and a keynote at business conventions around the country. He’s been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and many other publications.

He knows finance, but pickleball is his passion.