New program introduces youngsters to pickleball

Young people can learn more about the popular sport of pickleball through a new program from the Vernon Pickleball Association.

The Junior Pickleball Academy will start July 4, and will be taught by certified instructors.

“The V.P.A. is extremely fortunate to be working with IPTPA certified instructors, Rebecca (Beck) Hackman and Mike (Botts) Botterill, to develop this new youth program. Their aim is to establish pickleball for youth in the Okanagan while focusing on the three ‘F’s of pickleball: fun, friendship and fitness,” said Anne Longley, publicity for the association.

The program is four weeks long with 1.5 hour lessons taking place once/week at the Okanagan Wealth Advisors Pickleball Complex in Vernon at Marshall Fields. Each session can accommodate 8 students – 4 per instructor. Each session will be divided into age categories depending on sign up.