Kitchen Violation Sparks Violent Pickleball Brawl in Florida, Paddle Used in Assault

A pickleball match at the Spruce Creek Country Club reportedly erupted into a violent, multi-person brawl, with two ultimately arrested

Yup, you guessed it.

It was a kitchen violation that sent one couple over the edge during a recent pickleball match, reports WKMG News.

The heated dispute continued off-court, where the couple confronted their kitchen violating opponents.

And it wasn't just words. It was fisticuffs. And it wasn't just fisticuffs, it was paddles.

What Sparked the Pickleball Brawl?

A pickleball game in Volusia County, Florida, escalated into a full-blown brawl Tuesday night, leaving multiple people injured and two players under arrest.

According to Port Orange police, officers responded to reports of a fight involving roughly 20 people. A 911 caller urged dispatchers to “come quickly,” warning that someone may have had a "weapon."

The caller goes on to say someone might have been struck in the head with a pickleball paddle.

The altercation reportedly began during a game when Anthony Sapienza accused an opponent of stepping into the “kitchen” — the non-volley zone near the net that players cannot enter while hitting a volley. It’s one of the most common rule disputes in recreational pickleball (when it is actually called, that is).

But this one didn’t end with an eye roll and a fault call.

According to the arrest report:

• A 70-year-old man was punched in the face
• A woman was pushed to the ground
• Another man was struck in the face with a pickleball paddle, suffering a cut above his eye

Anthony and Julianne Sapienza were later located and arrested at their home. Authorities say the couple assaulted members of the opposing team. Charges are pending as the investigation continues.

This Isn’t Just 'Florida Being Florida'

As pickleball explodes nationwide — now estimated at more than 36 million players in the U.S. — so have public court tensions.

Across the country, local governments have reported:

• Physical altercations over line calls and court rotation systems
• Fights breaking out over paddle stacking disputes
• Verbal harassment and intimidation between recreational players
• Lawsuits and city council battles over court access and noise complaints
• Police being called to parks over arguments about who’s next on the court

In Arizona, California, New York, Texas, and Florida, municipalities have documented rising conflicts tied to overcrowded public courts. Many cities have responded by adding signage, reservation systems, park ambassadors, or even police patrols during peak hours.

The pattern is clear: participation is growing faster than infrastructure.

And when competitive energy meets limited court space — especially among highly engaged adult players — things can escalate.

Pickleball isn’t violent.

But when the kitchen turns into a courtroom and nobody agrees on the rules, the results can get ugly.

And as participation continues climbing, these flashpoints may become less surprising — unless infrastructure, etiquette standards, and court management evolve just as quickly as the sport itself.