In August the Sequim Picklers Club (SPC), in collaboration with the YMCA of Sequim, held their first week-long pickleball camp for kids. SPC Director of Court Operations Lettie Flerchinger and member Libby Hartman consulted with Doug Hastings, a PE teacher at Grey Wolf Elementary and certified pickleball coach, who suggested games designed to get kids engaged in both cooperative and competitive activities right from the start.
There was a large volunteer response from Picklers members, and at least a three-to-one ratio of kids to coaches was maintained throughout the camp, allowing a lot of individual attention and practice.
Initial drills focused on serves, forehands, and volleys — skills that are fundamental to moving into play outside the camp. During the latter part of the week, the youngsters worked on softer lifting shots near the net and using their bodies to get some power from the back court as well as paddle and body positioning, swing paths, and footwork.
Sammy Nicholson, who at age 9 was one of the younger campers, said, “It was a great way to start off my pickleball career.” She said she is hoping there will be another pickleball camp next summer.
May Nicholson, Sammy’s mother and one of the volunteer coaches, said the camp was “amazing” and that she saw a lot of improvement in her daughter’s skills.
Another SPC volunteer coach, Bernie Sorenson, started off the first day’s session with a getting-to-know-each-other game that quickly got every camper engaged and laughing together, setting a positive tone for the week. Her grandson Gavin Walker, 12, also a camper, said that what impressed him most was how the instructors took time to support him individually and show him ways to improve.
“They helped me learn in ways that worked for me,” the boy shared, “and they even stayed after to play a game with me and my grandma.
That made me feel really special and made me want to get better at pickleball.”
All SPC volunteer coaches were pleased with kids’ progress and their willingness to learn. By the end of the camp they were getting to the ball faster, keeping the ball in the court, making better paddle face and swing decisions, and were involved in longer rallies.
The YMCA was also enthusiastic about the program.
“We were so excited to partner with the Sequim Picklers to bring this camp to the youth of our community,” said Joey Belanger, vice president of operations at the Olympic Peninsula YMCA. “The collaboration between the Y and the Sequim Picklers bridged a gap of players from all age groups to have fun together while learning and playing America’s fastest growing sport.”
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This article was written collaboratively by members of the Sequim Picklers Club.
