WEST POINT — A pickleball bounces back and forth on Thursday between Charlie May and Jason Timmons. After a quick volley, the ball bounces out on Timmons’ side of the court, and May’s partner starts to celebrate winning a point.

But May doesn’t let the game progress. Instead, teaching the men the rules of the game, he admits that his foot accidentally crossed the line into “the kitchen,” an area of the court where players are not allowed to hit the ball before it bounces. The point he just won is not valid.

“That’s integrity right there,” Timmons said in response to May’s admission.

Timmons is one of eight men currently going through faith-based rehabilitation at The Mission in West Point. The Mission is a yearlong program funded by private donations that helps men get back on their feet after facing addiction or other life controlling issues.

Timmons and the other participants in the residential program have been learning to play the popular sport since June 12, when members of the Starkville Pickleball group came out and set up a new temporary court for the men to use, along with providing new paddles, balls and lessons on the game to those interested in playing.

Program Director Jean Moore told The Dispatch the new court and lessons have been great for getting the men fresh air, exercise and connections to the community.

“Having a place for them to get out and exercise and have fun while they’re doing it, I think, is real important,” Moore said. “Plus it’s bringing in the pickleball community in with the men, which is super exciting for us.”

Moore said The Mission hopes to keep welcoming the pickleball players to its facilities, along with making connections with other groups in the community, helping to build the men’s network they can reach out to once they graduate from the program.

Liz Stringer was one of the initial four pickleball players who came to set up the court for the men on June 12. She has been playing pickleball since last April, and she said she plays nearly every day.

“I love the game. I love the activity. I love the people, I think, even more than the activity,” Stringer said. “It’s the community. Starkville has such a good community of pickleball players. We’re very welcoming. We enjoy each other’s company. We laugh with each other. We care about each other.”

Stringer is connected to The Mission through her friendship with Frances Smith, who works as the program’s volunteer coordinator. While Smith can’t remember who asked who to bring pickleball to the program’s facilities, she believes the game fits in well with helping the men transform their bodies, minds and spirits to break the cycle of addiction.

“They’re not around alcohol, and just meeting other people in the community and having something fun to do and something to look forward to,” Smith said. “And getting outside is just great for them. And it also provides exercise as well.”

Stringer said she believes it will help the men to build their confidence as they progress as players.

“The more they play, the better they’re going to get,” Stringer said. “Your confidence builds. And I think one thing that these guys need to know is that they have value. And they have worth. And I think playing just a game of pickleball can give them that sense of pride and value and worth. And have fun. You need to have fun in life.”

Playing pickleball

Lance Underwood has been in The Mission program for six months. Thursday was his first time playing the game, rotating in and out with the other players. While he initially struggled a bit to pick up the rules, his competitive spirit came out as he continued playing.

“Anything I can’t be good at real fast, it makes me frustrated,” he said.

Still, Underwood said he intends to keep practicing.

Besides pickleball, Underwood said, The Mission has helped him pick up a lot of new skills that have improved his life, including job skills, becoming OSHA 10 certified and graduating from East Mississippi Community College’s electrical class. But it goes beyond that, he said.

“It’s helped me a lot,” Underwood said. “I have a 3-year-old son as well, and I’ve been saved since I’ve been here. I’m a born again believer in Jesus Christ, which I was not before. And basically since I’ve been here, it has taught me how to live and taught me what I’ve been trying to learn my whole life.”

Timmons said The Mission has helped him with fighting drug addiction and brought him “closer to God.” He said he has enjoyed the fellowship with the other men in the program, and how they work through their issues together.

Playing pickleball with the other guys was fun, Timmons said, though he has only played twice before. Timmons said he was glad volunteers like May were there to help The Mission men learn the rules of the game.

“We need help with the score and where to be at because we sure didn’t know,” Timmons said.

May, who was one of two volunteers teaching the men the rules of the game on Thursday, said it was a “wonderful blessing” to introduce the new players to the game.

“Somebody asked me if I would come help, and I was thrilled to,” May said. “… It’s fun. Pickleball is always fun. And the wonderful thing about pickleball is, any age players can play with each other. Boys, girls, men, young, old. If you can walk, you can play pickleball.”

Smith said the group has plans to continue coming out once a month for pickleball lessons with the men. But as the men continued playing on Thursday, May had other ideas on how to continue improving their ability to play the game.

“We’re going to need some help from some outside people with some new nets, some back supports, some painted and maybe even a surface … here and there, but we’ll do some praying on that,” May said.

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