Dive into America's fastest-growing sport, Pickleball, at the Summit YMCA & Berkeley Heights YMCA. From beginners to advanced players, our community offers a blend of competitive gameplay, learning, and social interactions.
Why Choose Pickleball at the Y?
All Skill Levels: Whether you're a seasoned player or a newbie, our courts are welcoming for everyone.
Instructional Sessions: Sharpen your skills with our USA Pickleball Ambassador.
Open-Play & Leagues: Enjoy daily pickleball pick-up games or join our leagues tailored for all expertise levels.
Berkeley Heights YMCA First: Proudly the first indoor location in New Jersey with specialized pickleball court linings!
Convenient Schedule: We offer Pickleball almost every day. Check out our daily schedules online.
Equipment Provided: Feel free to use ours or bring your own gear.
Originating 50 years ago, Pickleball is a delightful combination of tennis, ping pong, and badminton. Designed for every age and skill level, it ensures fun, fitness, and easy-to-follow rules in a social setting.
Interested in diving deeper into rules or the sport's history? Explore more at www.usapa.org. Join the movement and be part of the 2.5 million Pickleball players in the US right here at Summit Area YMCA!
Lessons provide a foundation and introduction to Pickleball that is rooted in fun, fitness, and fundamentals. Participants will learn the basic rules of the game, how to serve, net play, teamwork, and court positioning.
Instructional Advanced Beginners(BH)
Program Description: Join us for an Advanced Beginner Level clinic to improve your pickleball game. Clinic limited to 8 players. Please register early. .....show more
Enjoy fun drills and games as we work on shot selection, dinking, lobs, overheads, net play, working with your partner and court positioning. Our instructor has his PPR certification which is the Official Education & Certification Partner of USA Pickleball.
Program Description: Join us for a Beginner Level clinic to improve your pickleball game. Clinic limited to 8 players. Please register early. .....show more
Enjoy fun drills and games as we work on shot selection, dinking, lobs, overheads, net play, working with your partner and court positioning. Our instructor has his PPR certification which is the Official Education & Certification Partner of USA Pickleball.
BEGINNER • Brand new to the game. ADVANCED BEGINNER • Moves around the court in a balanced and safe manner. • Gets some serves “in”. • Understands aspects of scorekeeping, rules, and where to stand on the court during serve, receive of serve, and general play. • Has some basic stroke skills, backhand, forehand, volley but has obvious weaknesses. • Familiar with where to stand in doubles play.
INTERMEDIATE • Demonstrates a broad knowledge of the rules of the game. • Gets high majority of serves “in”. • Able to serve and return serve deep. • Hits to the weak side of opponent often. • Demonstrates more strategic playing during games. • Works better with partners in communicating, covering court, and moving to net. • With varying consistency executes lobs, forehand/backhand ground strokes, overheads, net volleys, and sustained dinking. • Starting to use drop shots to get to the net. • Knows when to make some specific placed shots in the game. • Working on mixing up soft shots with power shots to create an advantage. • Hits fewer balls out of bounds or in the net. • Dinks mostly in opponents' kitchen and dinks lower over the net. • Able to sustain dinking in the game. • Has a moderate number of unforced errors.
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.
QUESTIONS?
For questions about participation policies and/or registration, please contact Allison Zeimann at (908) 273-3330 Ext. 1196 or Allison.Zeimann@thesay.org.
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.
Adult Programs & Sports
Turn a New Leaf - Fall Progams at the Y...
Group Exercise Schedules