New pickleball academy for kids is coming to Vernon this week

Photo: Vernon Pickleball Association

There is a new pickleball academy coming to Vernon this week for kids who are interested in trying out the sport.

The program will be four weeks long with lessons that run for an hour and a half once a week, and will take place at the Okanagan Wealth Advisors Pickleball Complex. Each session will allow for eight students to take part, and they will be divided in to age groups.

"The Vernon Pickleball Association is extremely fortunate to be working with IPTPA certified instructors, Rebecca (Beck) Hackman and Mike (Botts) Botterill, to develop this new youth program," says Anne Longley, spokesperson for the VPA. "Their aim is to establish pickleball for youth in the Okanagan while focusing on the three F’s of pickleball: fun, friendship and fitness."

The first junior academy date begins July 3 from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., and runs until July 25. The cost for the four weeks of lessons is $63, and the deadline to register is July 3.

To sign up for the junior pickleball academy, you can email [email protected].