Believe it or not, Pickleball has more to do with tennis than it does with pickles!
Pickleball is a paddle sport created over 50 years ago by three dads trying to keep their kids occupied during the dog days of summer. Today Pickleball is played by more than 2.5 million people in the United States according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, said to be the fastest growing sport in America.
Pickleball, was created for all skill levels, combining the elements of tennis, ping pong and badminton. The rules are simple, the game is easy to learn, it's tons of fun and a decent workout.
While Pickleball can be a competitive workout, it’s easy to learn and play! Pickleball is played on a court smaller than a tennis court with a net, a paddle and a ball similar to that of a wiffle ball. You can play inside or outside or even create your own makeshift court. You can play singles or doubles and the scoring and rules are easy to follow. To learn the rules of Pickleball and more about the sport, visit: www.usapa.org.
Equipment will be provided. We also host open gym at least twice a day, where you can enjoy hours of soccer, basketball, volleyball and more - everyday!
GYM SCHEDULES
The Summit Area YMCA offers both instructional pickleball sessions and open-play pickleball pick-up game options for beginners, intermediate, and advanced players! Join us for Pickleball instructional clinics to improve your pickleball game! Enjoy fun drills and games as we work on shot selection, dinking, lobs, overheads, net play, working with your partner and court positioning.
The new schedule for late Fall will begin 11/1. Please see the gym schedules to reserve your spot for open-play pick-up games.
Mondays, 1:15 PM - 3:00 PM
Wednesdays, 1:15 PM - 3:00 PM
Fridays, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Free to members. Open to guests as per the Summit Area YMCA Guest Pass Policy of $20 per day pass.
Tuesdays, 1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Thursdays, 1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Sundays, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Free to members. Open to guests as per the Summit Area YMCA Guest Pass Policy of $20 per day pass.
Ages 8-11
Wednesdays, 3:45 PM - 4:30 PM
Ages 8-11
Thursdays, 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM
For questions about participation policies and/or registration, please contact Allison Zeimann at (908) 273-3330 Ext. 1196 or Allison.Zeimann@thesay.org.
Gather up your best Pickleball team and enter in our Pickleball Ladder League!
A pickleball ladder is a system for ranking teams (singles or doubles) based on the matches they win or lose. As teams play each other, they receive points. The more points a team has, the higher up on the ladder they will climb. The goal of a pickleball ladder, is to be at the top!
Summit YMCA
Wednesday from 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Equipment will be provided.
FIVE FUN FACTS ABOUT PICKLEBALL
Courtesy of https://sundialresort.com/blog/10-facts-didnt-know-pickleball/
1. Pickleball was invented more than 50 years ago in the summer of 1965 by three dads from Washington State to keep their bored kids busy.
2. It has nothing to do with pickles! It got its name from one of its founder’s dogs – a cocker spaniel named Pickles who chased the ball while its owner played the game. However, there has been some debate on how the name was originated.
3. It’s a sport that everybody can play -- for all levels, ages and abilities. In fact, there’s even rules for wheelchair adaptability.
4. To be “pickled” means you scored no points in the whole game. For example, if you lose 11-0, you’ve been pickled!
5. The "kitchen" is not a place for eating pickles! It’s a slang term for the non-volley zone.
If you’re an avid Pickleball player or recently hooked on this fun paddle sport, come on over to the Summit YMCA & Berkeley Heights YMCA to enjoy a competitive game in a social atmosphere while learning new strategies to better your play. Never played Pickleball before? You may be surprised by how quickly you catch on! It’s a great sport for all ages and abilities that provides not only healthy exercise and activity, but also allows for positive social interaction.
The Summit Area YMCA builds stronger communities with programs and services that help all individuals learn, grow, and thrive in a welcoming, inclusive environment. In fact, the Y offers activities and programs for everyone -- every day! Find the program that’s right for you.
Ping Pong
2021 Fall Program Guide
Adult Programs & Sports
Group Exercise Schedules