An Exploration of the Community Pickleball Promotion Model and its Role in Facilitating Social Integration

Abstract

In the context of global sports localization and the reshaping of community relations, pickleball has emerged as a significant vehicle for community sports due to its low barrier to entry and strong collaborative nature. This study aims to systematically explore its promotion models and the intrinsic mechanisms through which it facilitates social integration. The research first analyzes the sport's attributes in fostering social interaction and its theoretical logic as a vehicle for integration. It then constructs a multidimensional promotion framework comprising a multi-stakeholder collaborative network, a tiered participation design, and the integration of cultural rituals. Finally, the study reveals three integration pathways: reshaping identity through the construction of autonomous fields, accumulating cross-group social capital through collaboration, and strengthening community cohesion via shared rules and collective efficacy. The findings indicate that community pickleball promotion is essentially a cultural process that cultivates social bonds and promotes the integration of heterogeneous groups through structured interactions, offering a new perspective for understanding sports and social integration.