As the pickleball club industry matures, operators are discovering that growth comes with a new layer of operational complexity — and insurance is quickly becoming one of the most important business decisions owners make.
That was one of the key themes shared by Cameron Linder, the CEO of the Pickleball Insurance Program (PIP), during a recent conversation about pickleball insurance trends, risk management and the value of peer-driven industry events like the Pickleball Innovators Summit.
The Biggest Pickleball Insurance Mistakes Are Often Hidden in the Fine Print
One of Linder’s strongest warnings centered around policy exclusions — particularly gaps that club owners may not discover until they experience a claim.
Even several years into the pickleball facility boom, he said many operators are still purchasing policies that exclude critical protections.
“I’m still finding bodily injury to sporting participants exclusions, which is the main thing people are concerned about,” said Linder. “And I will still commonly find assault and battery exclusions.”
According to Linder, those exclusions can create major exposure for operators, especially as incidents involving injuries or altercations continue to occur inside facilities.
He emphasized operators should focus less on what a policy says it covers and more on what it excludes. “What is covered is not important,” said Linder. “What’s not covered is way more important.”
The broader message: insurance should not be treated like a commodity purchase based solely on price.
Sewer Backup Claims Are Emerging as a Major Industry Issue
One of the more surprising trends discussed was the rise in sewer backup claims at pickleball facilities.
Linder explained that many clubs are opening inside older warehouses or vacant commercial buildings where plumbing systems may have sat unused for years.
As a result, sewer backups have become one of the most common property-related claims PIP is seeing.
“The No. 1 claim in a pickleball facility today is actually a sewer backup claim,” said Linder.
What makes these incidents particularly costly is that the damage often extends beyond bathroom repairs. In many cases, operators must tear up courts to access underground plumbing infrastructure.
“I’ve had to replace like four or five courts when they have to cut through the foundation to access the pipe and replace it,” explained Linder.
Linder noted many operators either lack sewer backup coverage entirely or carry limits far too low for real-world claims. While some policies may include only $5,000 in protection, he said average payouts can reach approximately $40,000 when courts need to be removed and rebuilt.
Staff Training Around Injuries Is Becoming Increasingly Important
Another emerging area of focus is how staff members respond when injuries occur inside a facility.
Drawing from decades of experience insuring bowling centers, Linder said the response process can significantly influence the outcome of future claims or lawsuits.
As a result, PIP is now building training content designed to help facilities properly document incidents and communicate with injured customers.
“There is absolutely a right way and a wrong way to handle a customer that’s injured,” said Linder.
The training focuses not only on customer service and empathy, but also on operational best practices like documentation and video retention policies.
According to Linder, video evidence is becoming increasingly critical in litigation defense, particularly in highly litigious states like Florida and New York.
“What we want to see is at least 30 days,” said Linder, regarding video retention. “In places like New York or Florida … you want to go even further, 60 days, even 90 days.”
For operators relying primarily on gameplay camera systems, he cautioned that those platforms often retain footage for only short periods of time, which may not be enough to protect the business during a legal dispute.
Intimate Industry Events Create Better Conversations
Linder also reflected on his experience sponsoring the 2025 Pickleball Innovators Summit and why smaller, relationship-driven events create more meaningful business conversations.
He contrasted the experience with larger trade shows, where interactions often feel rushed and transactional.
“In that environment you’re hardcore getting sold and nobody really enjoys that,” said Linder.
Instead, he praised the Summit’s intimate structure for creating opportunities to build authentic relationships and have deeper operational discussions.
“You actually get to know people,” said Linder. “And we get to interact as real human beings and build relationships and have open-ended conversations and really start to learn from each other as opposed to trying to sell to each other.”
Pickleball’s Long-Term Potential Extends Beyond Business
Beyond insurance and operations, Linder shared optimism about the broader future of pickleball and its cultural impact.
While acknowledging the industry is entering a more competitive and economically disciplined phase, he believes that’s ultimately healthy for long-term sustainability.
“We’re entering a phase in the business cycle of pickleball where you’re seeing some separation,” said Linder. “You’re also seeing some people not make it, but you’re seeing a lot of people make it really well.”
More importantly, Linder believes pickleball has the power to strengthen community connections in a post-COVID environment.
“Pickleball to me has the potential to really reknit that social fabric,” said Linder. “We’re bringing together all kinds of people, wrapping them around a really engaging social sport and forming relationships.”
Prefer to listen? The full interview can be found on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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With over a decade spent covering the business side of sports and fitness, Rachel Chonko brings a wealth of experience and a true passion for active communities to Peake Media. As Editor-in-Chief, she’s focused on helping pickleball clubs and fitness facilities thrive, from guiding growth strategies to showcasing the latest industry trends. Rachel also hosts the Club Solutions Magazine Podcast, where she interviews leaders in fitness and pickleball to share insights and success stories with the wider community to give her listeners a competitive edge.
After taking up pickleball herself, Rachel has come to appreciate the sport’s unique blend of social connection and active living — a mix that’s perfectly in line with her editorial philosophy. Connect with her on LinkedIn, or check out her articles below for a deep dive into the energy and culture driving pickleball’s rapid rise.
