From Passion to Purpose: Trisha Shelley’s Journey to Building The Picklehood
When Trisha Shelley first picked up a pickleball paddle, she had no idea it would lead her to create The Picklehood - a brand rooted in connection, community and a love for the game. Her journey is one of rediscovery and resilience, turning life’s challenges into a powerful purpose.
Rekindling the Fire Within
As a child, Trisha was unstoppable - confident, determined, and ready to take on any challenge. But by the time she reached college, that spark began to fade. Trisha found herself in the shadow of societal expectations, prioritizing her husband’s career and settling for a degree that felt more like an obligation than a dream.
“Something broke in me,” Trisha reflects. For years, she focused on her family, raising her children while running a small photography business on the side. Through she loved the creative outlet, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.
Five years ago, Trisha experienced a shift. It wasn’t easy, but she started reexamining her choices, asking herself what she truly wanted. The answer was clear: it was time to put her passions back in focus and create a life that felt authentically hers.
A Surprising Introduction to Pickleball
Pickleball entered Trisha’s life through her husband, who quickly became obsessed with the game. Initially, Trisha teased him about it - and her own first attempt at playing left her frustrated. It wasn’t until her “mom friends” staged a Saturday morning pickleball outing that things changed.
“It turns out pickleball is a lot more fun when you’re playing with your girlfriends,” she says with a smile. Those games became a lifeline, providing moments of joy, camaraderie, and much-needed time for herself.
As her love for the game grew, Trisha realized pickleball wasn’t just an activity - it was a way to connect, unwind, and rediscover her own sense of play.
From T-Shirts to The Picklehood
When her kids started school, Trisha found herself with a rare opportunity to focus on her next chapter. She began designing matching team shirts for pickleball tournaments, using her photography background to create unique, playful designs. The response from her local pickleball community was overwhelmingly positive, sparking an idea: why not take these designs further.
From that spark, The Picklehood was born - a brand inspired by the tight-knit, welcoming culture of pickleball. The name reflects the sport’s sense of community: part brotherhood, part sisterhood, and part neighborhood, all rolled into one.
Challenges, Laughter, and Lessons Learned
Building a business from scratch is no easy task. Trisha’s journey included plenty of early morning, moments of doubt, and even a few laughable mistakes - like the time she accidentally bought the domain “positivepickleball.com” (missing an “i” in “positive”). “After a good cry… and then a good laugh,” Trisha recalls, she rebranded to The Picklehood and kept going.
She leaned on the lessons learned from both motherhood and pickleball: persistence, adaptability, and the importance of grace under pressure. One phrase in particular became her mantra: “You’re just shaking the rust off.”
Fostering Connection: Through fun, stylish designs and giftable items, she aims to bring people closer together both on and off the court.
Building Community: Trisha hopes The Picklehood will serve as a reminder that pickleball is for everyone - no matter their background or skill level.
Inspiring Others: By sharing her story, she wants to empower others - especially women - to rediscover their passions, embrace their potential, and pursue their dreams.
A Legacy of Love and Resilience
For Trisha, The Picklehood is as much about personal growth as it is about entrepreneurship. It’s her way of showing her children that it’s possible to dalance being a devoted parent with chasing dreams that set your soul on fire.
Her hope is that The Picklehood will inspire others to see pickleball as more than a game, but as a gateway to health, happiness, and lifelong connections.
“You can do anything you set your mind to,” Trisha says, channeling the freckled, fiery little girl she once was. With The Picklehood, she’s proving it - one serve, one connection, and one idea at a time.