![Venice firefighters and pickleball](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/af/2af952fe-1801-11ed-98d8-e7d655a08953/62f2ad0d3ec87.image.jpg?resize=150%2C61 150w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/af/2af952fe-1801-11ed-98d8-e7d655a08953/62f2ad0d3ec87.image.jpg?resize=200%2C81 200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/af/2af952fe-1801-11ed-98d8-e7d655a08953/62f2ad0d3ec87.image.jpg?resize=225%2C91 225w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/af/2af952fe-1801-11ed-98d8-e7d655a08953/62f2ad0d3ec87.image.jpg?resize=300%2C122 300w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/af/2af952fe-1801-11ed-98d8-e7d655a08953/62f2ad0d3ec87.image.jpg?resize=400%2C162 400w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/af/2af952fe-1801-11ed-98d8-e7d655a08953/62f2ad0d3ec87.image.jpg?resize=540%2C219 540w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/af/2af952fe-1801-11ed-98d8-e7d655a08953/62f2ad0d3ec87.image.jpg?resize=640%2C260 640w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/af/2af952fe-1801-11ed-98d8-e7d655a08953/62f2ad0d3ec87.image.jpg?resize=750%2C304 750w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/af/2af952fe-1801-11ed-98d8-e7d655a08953/62f2ad0d3ec87.image.jpg?resize=990%2C402 990w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/af/2af952fe-1801-11ed-98d8-e7d655a08953/62f2ad0d3ec87.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C420 1035w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/af/2af952fe-1801-11ed-98d8-e7d655a08953/62f2ad0d3ec87.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C487 1200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/af/2af952fe-1801-11ed-98d8-e7d655a08953/62f2ad0d3ec87.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C541 1333w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/af/2af952fe-1801-11ed-98d8-e7d655a08953/62f2ad0d3ec87.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C599 1476w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/af/2af952fe-1801-11ed-98d8-e7d655a08953/62f2ad0d3ec87.image.jpg?resize=2008%2C814 2008w)
Venice firefighters join a pickleball demonstration during National Pickleball Day on Monday.
VENICE — To help with both physical and mental fitness, including PTSD, the Venice Fire Rescue received a portable pickleball set from a pickleball group.
![Venice firefighters playing pickleball](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/0f/30f91aea-1801-11ed-9767-9fc78d47b79c/62f2ad65288f6.image.jpg?resize=150%2C140 150w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/0f/30f91aea-1801-11ed-9767-9fc78d47b79c/62f2ad65288f6.image.jpg?resize=200%2C187 200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/0f/30f91aea-1801-11ed-9767-9fc78d47b79c/62f2ad65288f6.image.jpg?resize=225%2C210 225w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/0f/30f91aea-1801-11ed-9767-9fc78d47b79c/62f2ad65288f6.image.jpg?resize=300%2C280 300w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/0f/30f91aea-1801-11ed-9767-9fc78d47b79c/62f2ad65288f6.image.jpg?resize=400%2C373 400w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/0f/30f91aea-1801-11ed-9767-9fc78d47b79c/62f2ad65288f6.image.jpg?resize=540%2C504 540w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/0f/30f91aea-1801-11ed-9767-9fc78d47b79c/62f2ad65288f6.image.jpg?resize=640%2C597 640w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/0f/30f91aea-1801-11ed-9767-9fc78d47b79c/62f2ad65288f6.image.jpg?resize=750%2C700 750w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/0f/30f91aea-1801-11ed-9767-9fc78d47b79c/62f2ad65288f6.image.jpg?resize=990%2C924 990w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/0f/30f91aea-1801-11ed-9767-9fc78d47b79c/62f2ad65288f6.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C966 1035w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/0f/30f91aea-1801-11ed-9767-9fc78d47b79c/62f2ad65288f6.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C1120 1200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/0f/30f91aea-1801-11ed-9767-9fc78d47b79c/62f2ad65288f6.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C1244 1333w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/0f/30f91aea-1801-11ed-9767-9fc78d47b79c/62f2ad65288f6.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C1377 1476w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/0f/30f91aea-1801-11ed-9767-9fc78d47b79c/62f2ad65288f6.image.jpg 2008w)
“This is a way for them to decompress,” said Venice Fire Chief Frank Giddens.
Play For Life Foundation, a nonprofit connected to The Pickleball Club, donated a portable pickleball set to the Venice Fire Rescue in honor of National Pickleball Day on Monday.
The Pickleball Club is an indoor facility and private membership club that will be opening in the Sarasota/Lakewood Ranch area in the winter.
“It’s the fastest growing sport in the country,” said Valerie McCarthy, the executive director of Play For Life and co-founder/chief operating officer of The Pickleball Club.
She mentioned the widening age demographic of those who play pickleball, including grandparents and grandchildren.
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Connected to the club is its nonprofit foundation. Play For Life has been donating portable pickleball sets to youth, veterans and first responders in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
The portable sets contain nets, paddles, balls and instructions on how to play.
Now, the Venice firefighters can stay fit while having a fun way to decompress from a sometimes stressful job.
“It’s a great way to get some of that (stress) out,” McCarthy said.
![Pickleball demonstration](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/ef/2ef9e580-1801-11ed-9f06-dfb20f4e2316/62f2ad53ddff3.image.jpg?resize=150%2C109 150w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/ef/2ef9e580-1801-11ed-9f06-dfb20f4e2316/62f2ad53ddff3.image.jpg?resize=200%2C146 200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/ef/2ef9e580-1801-11ed-9f06-dfb20f4e2316/62f2ad53ddff3.image.jpg?resize=225%2C164 225w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/ef/2ef9e580-1801-11ed-9f06-dfb20f4e2316/62f2ad53ddff3.image.jpg?resize=300%2C219 300w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/ef/2ef9e580-1801-11ed-9f06-dfb20f4e2316/62f2ad53ddff3.image.jpg?resize=400%2C292 400w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/ef/2ef9e580-1801-11ed-9f06-dfb20f4e2316/62f2ad53ddff3.image.jpg?resize=540%2C394 540w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/ef/2ef9e580-1801-11ed-9f06-dfb20f4e2316/62f2ad53ddff3.image.jpg?resize=640%2C467 640w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/ef/2ef9e580-1801-11ed-9f06-dfb20f4e2316/62f2ad53ddff3.image.jpg?resize=750%2C547 750w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/ef/2ef9e580-1801-11ed-9f06-dfb20f4e2316/62f2ad53ddff3.image.jpg?resize=990%2C722 990w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/ef/2ef9e580-1801-11ed-9f06-dfb20f4e2316/62f2ad53ddff3.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C754 1035w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/ef/2ef9e580-1801-11ed-9f06-dfb20f4e2316/62f2ad53ddff3.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C875 1200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/ef/2ef9e580-1801-11ed-9f06-dfb20f4e2316/62f2ad53ddff3.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C972 1333w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/ef/2ef9e580-1801-11ed-9f06-dfb20f4e2316/62f2ad53ddff3.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C1076 1476w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/yoursun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/ef/2ef9e580-1801-11ed-9f06-dfb20f4e2316/62f2ad53ddff3.image.jpg?resize=1686%2C1229 2008w)
Giddens mentioned physical fitness was a big part of the requirements of being a firefighter, so the pickleball set will help provide another way of staying in shape.
The fire department will use its new set during after hours and will always be ready to run calls, he said.
McCarthy and Giddens mentioned the team-building opportunities the sets will provide as well.
“This is going to be perfect,” Giddens said.
View full article here: https://www.yoursun.com/venice/news/portable-pickleball-set-given-to-venice-fire-rescue/article_e8643336-172a-11ed-ac64-a78ef28f41bd.html