Young pickleball players learn the basics at a summer camp

The Amherstburg Pickleball Association (APA) held a camp for youth to train them in how to play pickleball. 

Local youth had a chance to learn the basics of pickleball last week.

The Amherstburg Pickleball Association (APA) hosted a youth pickleball clinic from Aug. 10-14 at the outdoor courts at the Libro Centre. 

According to APA president Linda DiPasquale, they had 19 youth ages 10-16 at the weeklong camp.

“Some of them didn’t pick up a paddle before Monday,” she said.

DiPasquale added they worked with the Town of Amherstburg’s recreation department to present the youth pickleball camp. She said they had a similar camp in July and had 12 participants, eight of which returned last week.

“We tried to offer an advanced program for them so they were not getting the same information from the first camp,” said DiPasquale. 

It was not the first time the APA offered a youth pickleball camp, though it was the first time they did so on the outdoor courts.

“Prior to us having outdoor courts, we had a youth pickleball camp inside the Libro Centre,” said DiPasquale. 

There were at least ten volunteers from the APA every day, DiPasquale added.

“This is part of what we are as an association,” she said, stating they hope to start a youth pickleball league in the fall.

This past week’s camp saw players divided into two teams with DiPasquale adding that meant both teams received prizes, one as the winner and the other as the runner-up.

Parents were very supportive, she added, stating the week was “incredibly successful.”

“We’re so impressed with how far their skills have progressed,” said DiPasquale.

Young pickleball players learn the basics at a summer camp

By Ron Giofu