ABSTRACT
Racquetball began in the United States in 1949 when Joe Sobek, tennis pro from Bridgeport, Connecticut, decided to develop a racket game to play on a handball court. Sobek organized a set of rules adapted from handball to go along with his new rackets and balls, and the game of racquetball evolved from there. The names “paddle tennis” and “paddleball” were also used until 1969, when the International Racquetball Association was formed as the official governing body of the sport. At its first organizational meeting the association adopted the name “racquetball” and recognized it as a worldwide sport. Dr. Bud Meuhleisen also gave clinics across the nation to promote the spread of racquetball. These early players were followed by Marty Hogan who brought the term “power racquetball” to the game. Racquetball has experienced phenomenal growth and popularity and is enjoyed worldwide by millions of participants of all ages and both sexes.
