Badminton Competition Fast, Friendly

Lucile Lill was trying to keep her spirits up.

“There are a lot of other things going on today,” she said.

Still, it’s no fun to throw a party and not have anyone show up.

Lill, a retired phys-ed teacher with a delightful smile, is coordinator for the Spokane Badminton and Pickleball Club. And Sunday afternoon the club held an open-house at the gym in the West Central Community Center.

The idea was to attract new members. But after an hour, the only people there were familiar faces.

“Maybe some people will come late,” said Lill, a Spokane citywide badminton champion back in 1947 and 1948.

If you had checked out the open house, you would have encountered a friendly group playing a fast, entertaining game with just the right blend of competitive spirit and smiles.

Though the club is down to about 15 members, it is remarkably diverse in terms of age, gender, ethnic background and experience playing badminton.

It costs next to nothing to belong. And though you don’t have to be in perfect shape to whack a shuttlecock, sustained-volley badminton does provide a modest amount of exercise.

The club, which meets twice a week, has hardly any rules. And the competition format is recreational, not cutthroat. Nobody is in last place because there aren’t standings.

But those aren’t the only attractions.

“The game itself is fun,” said Usha Raman, 26, who started playing in February.

And learning is not all that difficult, she added.

Played on the wood floor of a basketball court, the game is not the lethargic diversion of backyard cookouts. Judging from a pick-up doubles match Sunday, there’s a fair amount of speed, strategy and laughter-inducing luck.

Pickleball, a game played with a low net, paddles and a ball something like a Wiffle ball, has taken a backseat to badminton in recent years. But some club members still play.

“If I could just get people to see,” said Lill. “But there’s a lot of apathy these days. There are a lot of people watching TV.”

The club will hold another free open house tonight from 7 until 9 — again at the community center, 1603 N. Belt. That’s on the North Side, near Cannon Park.

Wear sneakers and comfortable clothes. Equipment will be furnished. For more information, call Lill at 328-3818.

“I’ve tried hard to make this successful,” she said. “I’m not giving up now.”