Official League Website

ONE
BALL

Sydney's Most Prestigious Pickleball Organisation

Four Players. One Ball. Zero Paddles of Our Own.

Est. October 2025 — Sydney, Australia

Enter the Arena
BREAKING: First fully BYO outdoor session played April 14 • LATEST: Jun joins roster as honorary fourth • UPDATE: Collis's knee survives a full doubles match • DEVELOPING: Josh watches via FaceTime, still loud • ALERT: Zero paddles rented for the first time in league history • REPORT: Justin's net deployed without incident • BREAKING: First fully BYO outdoor session played April 14 • LATEST: Jun joins roster as honorary fourth • UPDATE: Collis's knee survives a full doubles match • DEVELOPING: Josh watches via FaceTime, still loud • ALERT: Zero paddles rented for the first time in league history • REPORT: Justin's net deployed without incident •
The Genesis

A League
Born of
Impulse

On a fateful October afternoon in 2025, filmmaker Matt D'Avella created a WhatsApp group called "Sydney Pickleball." The initial roster: Matt, a YouTube filmmaker with questionable cardio. Collis Ta'eed, a tech entrepreneur who would spend more time injured than playing. Josh Janssen, a Melburnian who would have to fly interstate for every session. And Justin Narayan, a MasterChef champion who could cook a five-star meal but still couldn't return a backhand.

The vision was simple: play every week. The reality was far more complicated. Between babies being born, Japanese colds, physio rehab plans, Baha'i fasting, gastro outbreaks, lice infestations, broken arms (guests), and the fact that one player lives in a different city entirely, they have pulled off the impossible approximately once a month.

On February 3, 2026, the league acquired its first and only piece of equipment: one single pickleball. The group was promptly renamed. A dynasty was born.

The early days at The Jar
An early session at The Jar — where the ceiling was so low Josh could hit it with serves. The venue has since permanently closed. Coincidence? The league makes no comment.
1
Ball Owned
0
Paddles Owned (for 9 months)
7+
Collis Injuries / Illnesses
878km
Josh's Commute to Play
Active Roster

The Athletes

01
🎬
Matt D'Avella
Founding Member / Dad Duty Specialist
American filmmaker and YouTube creator who founded the league while waiting for baby #2 to arrive. Known for his ability to balance two screaming children and still show up with a clean 2-1 singles record. Once stood on one foot with eyes closed for 2 minutes during a VO2 max test. Has never bought a paddle. Contemplating retirement to go full-time competitive.
87%
Attendance (pre-baby)
12%
Attendance (post-baby)
5
Kid Illnesses
02
🧑‍🍳
Justin "Juzzy" Narayan
Court Booker / Catering Director
MasterChef champion, Tropfest actor, yo-yo enthusiast advocate, and the man who feeds the league. Once delivered a 4-course dinner to Matt's house when the D'Avellas couldn't make dinner. Discovered the free Eveleigh courts. Purchased a net and two paddles, singlehandedly tripling the league's equipment value. The backbone of operations.
95%
Attendance
3
Meals Cooked for Group
1
Net Owned
03
💻
Collis Ta'eed
Equipment Treasurer / Injury Report
Tech entrepreneur and the league's most enthusiastic participant, if not its most physically available one. His injury report reads like a medical textbook: overstretched side, sore knees, physio rehab plan, Japanese cold, another cold, fasting month. Purchased the league's founding ball. Still renting paddles on principle. Once confused a "Ball Machine" for a new sport.
60%
Attendance
7
Medical Events
1
Ball Purchased
04
✈️
Josh Janssen
Interstate Correspondent / Hype Man
The league's Melbourne-based member who treats every session like a Qantas-sponsored away game. Required to complete two sessions before being allowed to purchase equipment (league bylaw). Known for being audible from three courts away. Once played pickleball then went straight to the airport. Currently lobbying for teleporter technology. Had a team rule where every team with him won — which he called "Opposite Day."
30%
Attendance
122
Avg Heart Rate
494
Cal per Session
05
🎯
Jun Rung
Permanent Member / The Ringer
Collis's best mate since they were kids. Turned up for his first session visibly rusty and quietly became the most improved player on the court. Drafted initially as an honorary fourth; ratified as a permanent member on April 21, 2026. Scouting report: deceptively good hands, unshakeable composure, rally-ender. The league's average handicap halved the day he joined.
NEW
Ratified Apr 21, 2026
100%
Attendance Since
↑↑↑
Improvement Curve
Season One

The Chronicle

October 7, 2025
The Founding
Matt D'Avella creates "Sydney Pickleball" group. The league is born. Josh is told he must play two more times before buying equipment. A legend begins with a rule about shopping.
October 9, 2025
The Yo-Yo Recruitment
Matt recruits Brandon Vu — Australia's yo-yo champion — as a 4th player. The league briefly considers adding yo-yo demonstrations to the halftime show. Brandon is making a documentary about challenging the world champ.
October 17, 2025
First Blood
Collis overstretches something during "the first epic match." His injury journey begins. Justin declares: "First injury playing sport = athlete. Congratulations." Meanwhile Josh plays in Melbourne and counts it as his second session toward equipment clearance.
November 15, 2025
Baby Sonny Arrives
Matt announces baby Sonny's arrival at 6:33pm while Nat snores beside him. Josh declares: "Pickleball group should always find out first." Matt is cleared for pickleball within weeks. Dad mode: engaged.
February 3, 2026
The Ball
The league acquires its first piece of equipment at ProPickle Waterloo: one pickleball. Josh immediately suggests the league name "ONE BALL." Collis threatens to register the domain. Josh claims he already did. He hadn't. Justin changes the group name that night. History is made.
February 16, 2026
The Rental Reckoning
Matt calculates that paddle rental fees have exceeded the cost of actually buying paddles twenty times over. Josh points out Collis made his son rent crutches. Collis' financial philosophy of "rent, never buy" is now league policy, apparently.
March 27, 2026
The Equipment Revolution
Justin reveals he received a pickleball net and two paddles as a gift. Collis: "That's some next level equipment. Soon we're going to have sponsors!" He predicts his sponsor will be Nurofen. The league's total asset value has increased by approximately 4000%.
April 12, 2026
The Expansion Era
Collis volunteers to bring two additional paddles. The league now has a net, four paddles, and balls. Justin declares: "We're starting a league!" Matt's response a week earlier: "I feel like we're two steps away from starting a league." They have been a league the entire time. Nobody seems to have noticed.
April 14, 2026
The Outdoor Debut
The league plays its first fully self-contained outdoor doubles session. Justin's net, four paddles, BYO balls. No rental fees. Matt, Justin, Collis, and honorary fourth Jun take the court. Collis's knee cooperates. Nobody is sick. The league is, against all odds, operational.
Dispatch — April 14, 2026

The Outdoor Debut

The squad — frame 1 The squad — frame 2
LIVE
Setting up the net — pre-match
Juzzy's net deployed for the first time in the wild. A historic moment in league logistics.
Media Centre

Match Day Gallery

Josh with paddle at outdoor courts Free courts at South Eveleigh ProPickle Waterloo HQ Pickleball signage at Eveleigh Pre-match fuel
Armoury

Official Equipment Inventory

🏓
Paddles
Rented (Oct '25 – Mar '26)
NOW OWNED x4
For nine glorious months, the league rented paddles at every session. Matt estimates the total rental cost could have purchased twenty paddles. Collis maintained this was sound financial strategy. Two paddles gifted to Justin, two sourced by Collis. Josh has a paddle in Melbourne that has never touched a Sydney court.
🥒
The Ball
Owned (Founding Asset)
Purchased February 3, 2026 at ProPickle Waterloo. The league's first, most sacred, and for four months only piece of equipment. Collis proposed signing it. Its current custodian rotates based on who remembers to bring it. There have been close calls.
🥅
The Net
Acquired Mar '26
Justin received a full pickleball net as a gift. Collis' reaction: "Soon we're going to have sponsors!" This acquisition unlocked the ability to play at free outdoor courts, saving the league approximately $30 per session. The net is stored at Justin's residence in Balmain and is deployed via sedan.
Medical Staff Report

Injury Report

Recovered
Collis
Overstretched side during "first epic match"
Recovered
Collis
Core strength deficit — physio-mandated pickleball ban
Recovered
Collis
Post-documentary club flu symptoms
Recovered
Collis
Japanese cold (acquired final day of Japan trip)
Managing
Collis
Knee bothering him — requests doubles only
Completed
Collis
Baha'i fast — out of action for cardio
Recovered
Matt
Peloton-related soreness in undisclosed regions
Ongoing
Matt (kids)
Frankie: gastro, colds, bronchiolitis, teething, lice (concurrent)
Recovered
Josh
Back injury from playing singles
Out Indefinitely
Josh
Lives in Melbourne (chronic, untreatable)
Season Over
Ali Abdaal
Broken arm (guest player, never actually played)
Facilities

Home Courts

RETIRED / DEMOLISHED?
The Jar
The league's original home. Indoor courts with a ceiling so low that Josh's serves made structural contact. The venue's Google listing now reads "Temporarily Closed" and the phone is disconnected. Justin noted "the place was starting to look pretty rough." The league accepts no liability.
ACTIVE HQ
ProPickle Waterloo
Current primary venue. Site of the historic ball purchase. Features a booking system that baffled Collis. Offers a "Ball Machine" option that Collis initially believed was a new sport. Free parking out front. Nice courts. Still charges for paddle rental, which the league has historically accepted with open wallets.
EXPANSION SITE
Eveleigh Outdoor Courts
Discovered by Justin on a walk. Free public courts. Previously inaccessible due to the league owning zero nets. Now fully operational following the Great Net Acquisition of March 2026. Wind remains the primary opponent. The league's first al fresco era has begun.
Press Conference

From the Players

"I might just retire and go full time with competitive pickleball."
Matt D'Avella — October 2025, before having a second child
"That should be the name of our pickleball club: ONE BALL. Once it's gone it's gone. No more pickleball."
Josh Janssen — The Naming, February 2026
"I feel like my sponsor will be Nurofen."
Collis Ta'eed — On future league sponsorships
"Could have bought 20 paddles with the amount we've rented probably. But all we have is one ball."
Matt D'Avella — The Rental Reckoning, February 2026
"I'm going to start a YouTube channel so I can secure my place in this group ongoing."
Collis Ta'eed — On being the only non-YouTuber in the league
"At this rate we're going to be pro by the end of the year."
Justin Narayan — April 2026, upon acquiring a net
Constitution

Official League Bylaws

  1. New members must complete a minimum of two (2) sessions before receiving equipment purchasing clearance. Three (3) according to Collis, who raised it mid-conversation when it suited him.
  2. The league's founding ball must be signed by all members. This has been proposed but never executed. The ball remains unsigned. Its location is frequently unknown.
  3. Pre-match meals are mandatory. The league has never played pickleball without eating first. Vietnamese, empanadas, and banh mi are approved pre-match fuels.
  4. Renting paddles is always preferred over buying them. This was never formally agreed upon but happened for nine consecutive months through collective inertia.
  5. If your children are sick, you are excused from all league activities. This rule primarily benefits Matt, who has invoked it approximately every other session.
  6. Collis must provide a medical update at least 48 hours before any scheduled session. Acceptable conditions for absence include but are not limited to: overstretched sides, physio mandates, fasting, Japanese colds, generic colds, and knee complaints.
  7. Josh must provide at least 72 hours notice of Melbourne-to-Sydney travel. Failure to do so results in sad emoji reactions from all members.
  8. All members are welcome to bring guests. Past guests include: Australia's yo-yo champion, a MasterChef judge's in-laws, various partners, and a YouTuber who broke his arm before playing a single point.
  9. The league shall expand into adjacent activities including but not limited to: bouldering, documentary clubs, long walks, dinner parties, and eventually ocean swimming. Pickleball remains the spiritual core.
  10. Whoever asks "who has the ball?" is responsible for bringing it next time.
Match Report

Latest Result

Played — April 14, 2026
Juzzy's Outdoor Courts • Doubles • Matt / Justin / Collis / Jun
"The league's first fully BYO session. Justin's net deployed. Four paddles present. Jun conscripted. Collis's knee: stable. No children were ill. A miracle."
Season One Record
13
Sessions Played
~20
Sessions Cancelled
5
Players (Inc. Jun)
1
Venue Destroyed
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ONE BALL

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