PICKLEBALL NATION
with
Seymour Rifkind
Pickleball Hall of Fame Honoree
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
8PM Eastern / 5PM Pacific
Seymour “Rif” Rifkind is world-renowned as the Founder and President of the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association (IPTPA) in 2015; Founder and past President of the Pickleball Hall of Fame in 2017; and Founder and President of the World Pickleball Federation in 2018.
He rode his bicycle at the age of 70 more than 3,000 miles from San Diego, CA to St. Augustine, FL to raise funds for the Pickleball Hall of Fame in 2021. As President of WPF, he spearheaded efforts to showcase pickleball events at World Maccabi Games in Israel, an IOC Sanctioned event and at the Asian Games in China in 2023 another IOC Sanctioned event. Pickleball has been accepted as a full participating sport at this summer’s World Maccabi Games. As IPTPA’s president, Rif has visited more than 40 countries certifying teachers to teach pickleball. IPTPA has instructors in 94 countries worldwide and counting.
Rif grew up in the Chicago suburbs, the first-born son of four kids. His father was a Holocaust survivor who lost most of his family and was deeply affected by the deaths of his two brothers. The youngest one was named Seymour. Rif was named after that uncle he never knew. He started playing pickleball in 2013 while visiting friends in Florida, but has been involved in athletics his entire life. He is considered one of the world’s peak performance experts. Rif has provided workshops and seminars to major corporations and athletic teams throughout North America.
presents
Seymour “Rif” Rifkind is world-renowned as the Founder and President of the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association (IPTPA) in 2015; Founder and past President of the Pickleball Hall of Fame in 2017; and Founder and President of the World Pickleball Federation in 2018.