IDAHO PICKLEBALL IN PRISON PROGRAM

Program Initiation

Mark Fisher and Kathy Getto, two local pickleball players, formed Idaho Pickleball in Prison (ID-PIP) in early 2025 and began working with the Idaho Department of Corrections (IDOC) to launch pickleball into many of their facilities. 

Mark is being mentored by Pickleball Hall of Fame nominee Roger BelAir--the founder of Pickleball for Incarcerated Communities League. 

Initially our focus was to distribute equipment to those facilities that wanted to offer pickleball to their residents. 

Mark and Kathy worked through the lengthy process to become approved volunteers so that they could then offer in-person pickleball mentoring opportunities to local facilities.  

Equipment Donation Drives

With the help of local indoor pickleball facilities, we collected equipment donations. We also received very generous donations from Boise Area Pickleball Association and Boise Pickleball Club. 

The generosity of many pickleball players in the Treasure Valley has made a truly meaningful impact! Local picklers and clubs have donated their gently used equipment to ID-PIP: 15 nets, 100+ paddles, and 400+ pickleballs! Most of this equipment has been delivered to nine IDOC facilities across the state, and the rest will be in use at other facilities soon.

Launching Pickleball Mentoring into Facilities

Mark and Kathy launched in-person pickleball instruction at three Community Reentry Centers over the spring and summer months. After getting those programs established, they recruited nine volunteers to help with the weekly play at those facilities. 

Mark then launched a program at a minimum security facility in late summer. 

2025 ID-PIP Recap

ID-PIP program had over 200 volunteer hours throughout 2025. 

We grew from two volunteers to nine. 

Equipment donations continued throughout the year, so we now have more equipment for more facilities. 

PLANS FOR 2026

ID-PIP sent out an email to many local pickleball players to thank them for their generosity to the program. 

From that email we gained nine new volunteers and gathered more equipment donations!

Our plans for 2026 include the following: 

• Continuing play at all three CRCs where we are established.

• Continuing play at our current minimum security facility and launching at more minimum security facilities in both the Treasure Valley and across the state. 

• Holding special events like structured round robins at established facilities. 

• Holding clinics to launch pickleball at other facilities with monthly follow-up.

• Holding competitions between facilities. 

• Getting staff to play in special events with and against residents.