Free Pickleball Networking Night

SPORTSKIND and the University of Houston SHRM Chapter are teaming up for a Free Pickleball Networking Night at Pickleball Social on Wednesday, October 14, from 5:30 to 8:00 PM. It's aimed at Houston's HR and people-community professionals, and the whole point is to network through play rather than the usual business-card exchange. If you're in that world, it's a way to meet people without the stiff small talk.

No pickleball experience is required. The evening includes free pickleball with instruction for beginners and intermediate players, so you don't have to know your way around a court to jump in. From there, it's open play and organized games, with light bites and drinks on hand to keep things social. The networking happens naturally between matches, which is exactly what they're pitching: connecting with other people in your field while actually doing something.

SPORTSKIND runs adult sports leagues and corporate wellness programs across Texas, and the University of Houston SHRM Chapter is the local branch of the Society for Human Resource Management. Together they've put this together as a low-pressure way for the city's HR community to get together on a Wednesday evening. The focus is on the sport as the icebreaker, so you can spend as much or as little time on the court as you like.

It's free, but spots are limited and registration is required. The venue is Pickleball Social, located at 1055 Conrad Sauer Drive in the Energy Corridor, and the night runs from 5:30 to 8:00 PM on Wednesday, October 14.