Pickleball

Learn to play pickleball, or hone your skills at the Y. We’ve got three courts taped off in the gym, and lots of opportunities for members to join a friendly game. Pickleball is an easy sport to learn. Just be careful… it may become your new obsession!

Pickleball is a fun, social sport, with simple rules that make it easy to learn.

It can also be fast-paced and competitive! All you need is a paddle and a pickleball. Penn 26 indoor pickleballs are suggested for our court. They can be purchased at the Welcome Center for $3.00 each. We have lots of Open Pickleball time, and often offer pop-up beginner classes as well.

Rules of Play

We’ve established a very basic set of rules of play for our courts. These include:

Teams on the blue curtain side of the court will serve first
The Paddle System and wait-to-play area will be on the right-hand side of the gymnasium
Players are expected to bring labeled paddles and balls for play
Paddles and balls will be available to sign out with staff during beginner sessions only

The Paddle System

The Paddle System comes into play when players are waiting to join in a game. Here’s how it works:

Each slot holds four paddles, one for each person waiting to play together
The “NEXT” sign indicates who will play on the next available court
The “NEXT” sign moves from left to right, cycling back to the first slot when its reached the end
Paddles may only be moved by the owner, or with the owner’s permission
Paddles should be labeled with the player’s name, ideally on both sides

Paddle Placement

Players who are waiting may choose to place their paddle in the first available slot, or in a later slot if they would like to play with different players
If four players wish to play together, they may stack their paddles together in the first available empty slot
When a court becomes available, the players in the “NEXT” slot will play. One player from this group distributes the paddles to the players and moves the “NEXT” label to the subsequent slot

Program Information

PICKLEBALL LEAGUES

Looking for a fun way to stay active and meet new people? Join a pickleball league at the Keene Family YMCA! Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, combining the best of tennis, badminton, and ping pong into a game that’s easy to learn and fun for all ages. Our leagues offer friendly competition, skill-building opportunities, and plenty of camaraderie both on and off the court. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just getting started, you’ll find a welcoming community ready to cheer you on.

Registration is now open for our winter pickleball league – the Snowball Smashers! Click here to learn more and register today.

Open Pickleball

Drop in for a game anytime we have the courts set up. For members, Open Pickleball times are by reservation through the Y app. Open Pickleball is free for members.

Intro to Pickleball

Never played before and want to see what the game is all about? Join on of our Intro to Pickleball sessions for a friendly introduction to the game. Though not a formal lesson, you’ll pick up lots of tips and tricks along the way. It’s a great way to start your pickleball journey!

Beginner Pickleball Clinics

Our Beginner Pickleball Clinics run for three sessions at three levels:

Beginner Level 1 (Learn to Play) – This clinic will introduce new players to the rules and basic skills needed to play pickleball.
Beginner Level 2 – This clinic is for players that have already taken the level 1 course and are looking to further develop their skills and knowledge of the game.
Beginner Level 3 – This third clinic will help advance your technique and strategy, while building upon the fundamentals learned in the first two clinics.

There is also a Coach & Play Class – casual play under the observation of a seasoned coach, this is not a lesson but an opportunity to develop your skills.

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