What Does Pickleball Have to Do With Finding a Job?

Maya Ruffin · 2026-10-20T22:18:43.263Z

At first glance, not much. One involves paddles, a net, and trying not to hit the ball out of bounds. The other involves applications, interviews, and finding the right place to work. So why is a team of Sarasota high school students building an employment platform hosting a pickleball tournament? Because sometimes, the best way to start a conversation about employment is to get people together somewhere other than an office. Getting Sarasota Businesses in the Same Room At ConnectAble, we're working to connect people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who are looking for jobs with employers who are looking for talent. A big part of that work involves reaching out to local businesses. We want employers to understand what ConnectAble is, how the platform works, and why looking at someone's individual abilities matters when hiring. But we also know that business owners and managers are busy. An email introducing a new platform is easy to miss, especially when it comes from a team they've never met. A conversation at a community event can be different. That's part of the thinking behind the ConnectAble Classic Pickleball Tournament , happening this Sunday, October 25, at The Pickleball Club at Lakewood Ranch. We're bringing people together for a morning of pickleball, but we're also creating an opportunity for local businesses to get to know the students behind ConnectAble and the work we're doing. There's More to a Job Than a Job Title Imagine a business owner tells us they're hiring. That's a great starting point, but it doesn't tell us much about what the job actually involves. What tasks need to get done? Which skills matter most? What kind of work environment would someone be joining? Those details are important for any applicant, including people with I/DD. Two people with the same disability diagnosis might have completely different strengths, interests, and preferences. One might enjoy organizing inventory. Another might prefer working directly with customers. Someone else might be interested in a task neither of them enjoys. The goal isn't to assume what someone can do based on a label. It's to understand the individual and look for a good match. That's why ConnectAble is developing a platform where job seekers can describe their abilities, interests, work preferences, and support needs through an Ability Passport. We want employers to have a better starting point for understanding the people who might join their teams. And before any of that can happen, employers need to know the opportunity exists. Why Pickleball? We could have organized a traditional presentation about ConnectAble. But we wanted to try something that would bring different people from the Sarasota community together. Pickleball gives people a reason to show up, whether they're experienced players, complete beginners, or just coming to watch. The ConnectAble Classic will feature eight indoor courts, doubles matches, and a double-elimination format that guarantees every player at least two games. Since Halloween is right around the corner, costumes are encouraged, too. We're hoping people come for the tournament, enjoy themselves, and leave knowing a little more about ConnectAble than they did when they arrived. That might mean a business owner asking how the platform works. It might mean someone sharing our website with a friend who's looking for employment. Or it might simply mean someone remembering our name the next time a conversation about hiring comes up. We don't know exactly which conversations will happen on Sunday. That's part of why we're looking forward to it. How Local Businesses Can Get Involved For businesses interested in supporting the event, sponsorship opportunities start at $1,000 . Available sponsorship benefits include court signage, tournament jersey branding, digital media recognition, and other opportunities depending on the package. Businesses can also participate by registering a doubles team for $50 , or an individual player for $25 . Individual players will be matched with a partner. And if playing isn't your thing, spectators are welcome. Here are the details: The ConnectAble Classic: Rally for Connection Sunday, October 25, 2026 9 AM to 1 PM , with check-in at 8:45 AM The Pickleball Club at Lakewood Ranch 1300 Sarasota Center Blvd, Sarasota, FL Register to play: https://pickleball.connectable.work To ask about sponsorship opportunities, reach out to the ConnectAble team. See You on the Court We're still a team of high school students learning, building, and introducing ConnectAble to the Sarasota community. The tournament is one more way for us to do that. Finding the right job and finding the right employee are serious things. But getting people interested in that work doesn't always have to start with a serious meeting. Sometimes it can start with a pickleball paddle. We hope to see you Sunday. Learn more about ConnectAble: https://connectable.work/

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