Faith vs. Finals: The Petition Challenging College Pickleball’s Sunday Play

Thousands of players and fans have signed a petition asking the organizers behind collegiate pickleball events to stop scheduling play on Sundays due to religious conflicts.

College pickleball’s rapid rise is colliding with a long-standing tradition — Championship Sunday.

More than 1,600 players and fans have reportedly signed a petition asking tournament organizers to stop scheduling collegiate finals on Sundays, saying the current setup forces religious athletes — especially members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — to choose between faith and competition.

"Many of the signers are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which not only owns BYU but is based in Utah — a power center of college pickleball, home to two of the top five teams in the country," reports Ben Brasch of The Washington Post.

The petition was created in September by Livvy Phillips, a 20-year-old Utah State University player.

“Players have to make that decision between our values and beliefs or letting my team down,” she said.

“It puts us in a position I think athletes shouldn’t have to be in.”

The NCAA does accommodate players or teams from a couple-dozen schools "with written policies barring competition on Sundays or other days for religious reasons."

But pickleball is not an NCAA-recognized sport.

Churches are Using Pickleball to Grow Membership

From downtown megachurches to smalltown congregations, churches across the United States are embracing pickleball as a means to help tighten the bond among their congregations, and attract new interest from their neighbors.

The Dink PickleballAlex E. Weaver

Response from tour organizers

Noah Suemnick, founder of the National Collegiate Pickleball Association, told the Post that their decision to keep play on Sundays is justified by scripture.

“My personal calling is I wanted to spread the name of Jesus to as many people as God will allow me. And I am doing that through pickleball.”

The APP, so far, has not weighed in.

The UPA, however, is reportedly "considering changes — such as all-day Saturday competitions — to accommodate teams with religious conflicts on Sundays," said Brasch.

Love pickleball? Then you'll love our free newsletter. We send the latest news, tips, and highlights for free each week.

One pro's perspective

This conflict isn't just relegated to players at the college level.

Pro Callie Jo Smith, for example, discussed the topic several years ago in the context of weighing faith against her responsibility to provide for her family and keep professional commitments.

As she put it:

"Part of me trying to find the answer was to try it one time and see how I felt about it. And I actually felt at peace, and the most at peace I've felt in a long time."