Today we’d like to introduce you to Callie Smith.
Hi Callie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started pickleball by hating pickleball, and thought that “these people” were taking over and ruining my tennis courts. Then, my 86-yr old grandfather-in-law asked if I would play a pickleball tournament with him (George Snell is his name). Obviously, I couldn’t say no! So we played a little round robin together and we had a great time!!! That’s where pickleball all started for me, but what really got me into competing for more was when my super athletic husband, Kyle, and I lost horribly to an elderly couple with elbow and knee braces. After that, we never wanted to lose again!!!! So we started learning more about the game, the strategies, and how to actually play pickleball. That’s when the real desire for learning kicked in.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been a long and difficult road, but also very rewarding. I feel that anything that is truly of worth in our lives takes effort and hard work, and pickleball definitely falls into that category for us. Lots of hard work and effort, lots of time away from home and family, and a lot of trying to balance our religion/faith in God and Jesus Christ, family, school, work, practice, coaching, traveling, and everyday life! But I think the most important part of it all is that we’ve done it together as a family. My husband, Kyle, is extremely supportive, and whatever tournaments we decide to do, or work, clinics, training, traveling, decisions, etc., we always talk about them and make those decisions together. So, is the road smooth?? Not always, haha. But it definitely makes the journey easier when you have an amazing support system behind you.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a professional pickleball player, and currently ranked number 2 in the world in women’s doubles (number 1 ranked women’s doubles team), and 4th in women’s singles. My women’s doubles partner’s name is Lucy Kovalova, my mixed doubles partner’s name is AJ Koller, and then I also play singles. I began playing pickleball at the end of 2018, and decided to try and play professionally after playing the Tournament of Champions Tournament (TOC) in Brigham City, in August 2019. Since then, I’ve spent lots of hours drilling, practicing, playing, and studying the game, and am now playing with and against the best players in the world. I love pickleball, and am so blessed to have been introduced to such an amazing sport.
On tour, you can always spot me on the court due to my long braid, which usually has colorful ribbons intertwined in it. I’ve always loved having my hair long, and couldn’t imagine life without it that way. I’m also described as a power player, which means that I LOVE to hit the ball HARD, and I like to be aggressive on the court, and enjoy initiating fast-paced shots.
Not only am I one of the best players in the world, but aside from playing, I also thoroughly enjoy coaching! I teach clinics, private/individual lessons, and group lessons, and absolutely LOVE being able to see others enjoy the game, and progress through learning and coaching. It’s rewarding to see how the people I’ve taught (and teach) develop and improve their skills and knowledge of the game. So, not only is playing gratifying, but so is coaching and seeing how much others love and enjoy the game, too.
One thing that sets me apart from the rest is my work ethic. I spend lots of time both on and off the court training, stretching, drilling, lifting/strengthening, and repeating the process over and over and over again. I even have and post a consistent “Workout Wednesday” on my Instagram page where I share what workouts I’m implementing into my own training regimen, in addition to training tips, strategies, and other pickleball-related information, with other aspiring athletes and players. My goal is to not only help inspire others to achieve overall health and well-being but to also help them grow and develop their own games with strategies, techniques, trainings, and other aspects of the game that have helped me become the athlete and player that I am, and strive to be. As a player, I’m always looking for ways to improve and grow, and I look forward to sharing the knowledge and growth I gain with others who are seeking to do the same.
What does success mean to you?
If you would have asked me when I was younger to define success, I would have told you that success is winning, and being accomplished, whether that’s in life, with sports, in an occupation or career, in school, with family, with money/assets, etc. However, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned that even though the thrill of winning is wonderful, success doesn’t always mean winning; that success DOES NOT equate winning, wealth, perfection, happiness. True success is striving to do your best despite the many failures. It’s about the journey. It’s about getting back up when you fall. It’s experiencing and learning defeat, because that’s when you’re driven and motivated to improve. It’s the drive and motivation to become–to learn, grow, change, and strive to BECOME a better version of ourselves. Success is what we choose to make it, and without failure, we cannot succeed, because we’d never have to learn change. . . we’d never learn to grow. So, true success, to me, is choosing to become. It’s learning to accept setbacks and defeat in order to propel us forward. It’s never giving up. It’s being willing to learn, change, and become a better version of ourselves.
There is an inscription taken from Rudyard Kipling’s poem, ‘If’, that is written above Centre Court at Wimbledon that reads: “If you can meet with triumph and disaster. . . and treat those two impostors just the same,” which has become one of my favorite quotes of all time because it’s not about winning or losing. . . it’s about the journey and the growth we experience through both the ups and the downs. They’re imposters because those two things should not be the focus. It’s not about triumph or disaster. . . it’s about the journey and progression. It’s about the work we put in. It’s about the knowledge and learning we acquire throughout. It is a success because we’ve learned to celebrate and learn from both the failed (and un-failed) ventures.
Contact Info:
- Website: calliesmithpb.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calliejosmith_pickleball/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calliejo.smith.58/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOfdF-1wSvA1mQJ07NAr2LA
Image Credits
PPA Tour
Jody Murphy Photography
