Libo Team: A Pickleball Family Competing Together on the PPA Tour
DINK AUTHORITY MAGAZINE | FUTURE OF PICKLEBALL
LIBO TEAM
By the Dink Authority Magazine Editorial Team
LOVE PICKLEBALL?
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Few days ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Polina Libo, an incredible woman who truly left me amazed. She shared her story, her passion for pickleball, and above all, her unconditional dedication to her family. Polina is 38 years old and plays on the PPA Tour, but what's most incredible is that her story began long before in the world of tennis. She started competing in the earliest years, becoming one of the top national juniors and later playing on the STA Tour, which earned her a full scholarship at Rutgers University in New Jersey.
After graduating, Polina became a USPTA national tennis coach and also worked as a special education teacher. Quite the journey that what truly amazed me was when she told me about her family. After the pandemic, her son Sam, 15 years old, who is one of the top juniors on the Junior PPA Tour, discovered pickleball, and that changed everything for the entire family. Today, even Polina's daughter Brooke, 11 years old, who is also excelling in the sport, competes together on the tour.
I never imagined meeting a family so united by sport, especially in the world of pickleball. It's truly fascinating to see how Polina has managed to combine her love for the sport with raising her children and how they're all growing together on this exciting journey. What an inspiration!
Q&A
What is a typical day like for the Libo family?
My day starts early — I'm definitely a morning person. The first order of the day is a long walk with my two dogs, a Labrador and a Golden Retriever, followed by a full breakfast for everyone. Then comes my own training session — I always try to get my individual practice and workout before the kids wake up. Then school day begins at 7 AM, and by 3 PM, we're on the court for practice. After practice, we usually come back home, have lunch and finish the assignments that are due that day. We try to fit in another fun game during the evening, which is two hours on the court. On weekends, we travel for tournaments. During the summer, to help kids did not lose tennis skills, training is family time — we enjoy playing cards and watching movies.
How much do you expect from your children?
Coming from a professional tennis background, I know what it takes to compete at the highest level, and I always teach my children to give 100%. More than anything, I want them to enjoy the sport and do their best — win or lose. It's important the kids today to learn how to handle both victory and defeat. Polina has two older children, and I can see how far having healthy competition has taken them. I'm not staying in touch anymore and I never want that to happen to my younger children. The sport builds all these values: the ones that they want and the constant traveling that we do.
What's your training routine like?
Our training sessions are structured, starting with drills, followed by point play, and finishing with footwork exercises and fitness. I have my own workout in the morning, and then we train as a family. My goal for this year is to incorporate daily stretching. Most of the days, Sam and Brooke will alternate their practices, this way they get to work with me one on one and I can give my full attention one at a time. Polina is lucky to have some of her close friends who are at our level, we all enjoy to come out and play with them. They truly love our family and support us big time.
How do you see the present and future of pickleball?
Beyond tennis, I've developed a deep appreciation for pickleball — not just as a sport but as a welcoming community where everyone supports each other's growth. My goal this year is to compete professionally while not staying in touch anymore and I never want that to happen to my younger children. I love the adrenaline that pickleball gives me and I love all the new people that I have met throughout this year.
What is it like to experience the tour as a family?
Last year, we began traveling together and the memories we've made are truly priceless. Being able to compete at a high level while watching my kids do the same is something I wouldn't trade for anything. I'm incredibly proud of them and their accomplishments. Traveling as a family strengthens our bond, though, of course, it sometimes comes with a few "mom headaches." There are also challenges with traveling with two kids. It definitely adds a huge expense and pickleball tournaments are not cheap — travel is very expensive. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that at almost 40 years old, I would be competing professionally and playing against kids 10-15 years younger than me. I love the adrenaline that pickleball gives me and I love all the new people I have met throughout this year.
DINK AUTHORITY MAGAZINE | FUTURE OF PICKLEBALL
LIBO TEAM
By the Dink Authority Magazine Editorial Team
LOVE PICKLEBALL?
Get Dink Authority Magazine updates, new editions, pro stories and event alerts.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.
Few days ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Polina Libo, an incredible woman who truly left me amazed. She shared her story, her passion for pickleball, and above all, her unconditional dedication to her family. Polina is 38 years old and plays on the PPA Tour, but what's most incredible is that her story began long before in the world of tennis. She started competing in the earliest years, becoming one of the top national juniors and later playing on the STA Tour, which earned her a full scholarship at Rutgers University in New Jersey.
After graduating, Polina became a USPTA national tennis coach and also worked as a special education teacher. Quite the journey that what truly amazed me was when she told me about her family. After the pandemic, her son Sam, 15 years old, who is one of the top juniors on the Junior PPA Tour, discovered pickleball, and that changed everything for the entire family. Today, even Polina's daughter Brooke, 11 years old, who is also excelling in the sport, competes together on the tour.
I never imagined meeting a family so united by sport, especially in the world of pickleball. It's truly fascinating to see how Polina has managed to combine her love for the sport with raising her children and how they're all growing together on this exciting journey. What an inspiration!
Q&A
What is a typical day like for the Libo family?
My day starts early — I'm definitely a morning person. The first order of the day is a long walk with my two dogs, a Labrador and a Golden Retriever, followed by a full breakfast for everyone. Then comes my own training session — I always try to get my individual practice and workout before the kids wake up. Then school day begins at 7 AM, and by 3 PM, we're on the court for practice. After practice, we usually come back home, have lunch and finish the assignments that are due that day. We try to fit in another fun game during the evening, which is two hours on the court. On weekends, we travel for tournaments. During the summer, to help kids did not lose tennis skills, training is family time — we enjoy playing cards and watching movies.
How much do you expect from your children?
Coming from a professional tennis background, I know what it takes to compete at the highest level, and I always teach my children to give 100%. More than anything, I want them to enjoy the sport and do their best — win or lose. It's important the kids today to learn how to handle both victory and defeat. Polina has two older children, and I can see how far having healthy competition has taken them. I'm not staying in touch anymore and I never want that to happen to my younger children. The sport builds all these values: the ones that they want and the constant traveling that we do.
What's your training routine like?
Our training sessions are structured, starting with drills, followed by point play, and finishing with footwork exercises and fitness. I have my own workout in the morning, and then we train as a family. My goal for this year is to incorporate daily stretching. Most of the days, Sam and Brooke will alternate their practices, this way they get to work with me one on one and I can give my full attention one at a time. Polina is lucky to have some of her close friends who are at our level, we all enjoy to come out and play with them. They truly love our family and support us big time.
How do you see the present and future of pickleball?
Beyond tennis, I've developed a deep appreciation for pickleball — not just as a sport but as a welcoming community where everyone supports each other's growth. My goal this year is to compete professionally while not staying in touch anymore and I never want that to happen to my younger children. I love the adrenaline that pickleball gives me and I love all the new people that I have met throughout this year.
What is it like to experience the tour as a family?
Last year, we began traveling together and the memories we've made are truly priceless. Being able to compete at a high level while watching my kids do the same is something I wouldn't trade for anything. I'm incredibly proud of them and their accomplishments. Traveling as a family strengthens our bond, though, of course, it sometimes comes with a few "mom headaches." There are also challenges with traveling with two kids. It definitely adds a huge expense and pickleball tournaments are not cheap — travel is very expensive. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that at almost 40 years old, I would be competing professionally and playing against kids 10-15 years younger than me. I love the adrenaline that pickleball gives me and I love all the new people I have met throughout this year.
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