Programs
The Calgary Pickleball Club offers several programs throughout the year.
Programs
Lessons and Clinics
The Calgary Pickleball Club offers a variety of instructional clinics, lessons, and camps for members of all skill levels – from beginner to advanced. CPC members will receive emails when the registrations open along with directions on how to sign-up using PicklePlay. CPC members can also arrange their own lessons with certified instructors on our club list.
Novice Mentored Play
If you are new to pickleball and still learning the game, CPC offers from time to time, an opportunity to improve your skills with help from experienced players. The Calgary Pickleball Club sponsors a series of “mentored” pickleball sessions for novice players. The mentored novice sessions are for players who completed a CPC Introductory Clinic and want to play with other new players, with the support of a higher skilled mentor.
Beginner and Novice Lessons
If you are new to the game of pickleball, here is your chance to improve your skills. The lessons are designed to help CPC members who are new to the game and will be led by CPC certified instructors. This is for players who have taken a CPC introductory clinic and have played a minimum of 10 games. Sessions will cover the basics of the ready position, dinking, serves and serve returns, forehand and backhand groundstrokes, volleys, lobs and smashes, and basic playing strategies.
Junior Program
Calgary Pickleball Club hosted 75 minute long clinics last summer (2024) that introduced your child to the basics of pickleball. Open to both members and non-members. Read more here. Come try out the fastest growing sport in North America!
Intermediate Lessons
These are for CPC members who are intermediate players who have been playing at a 2.5 to 3.0 level and will be led by CPC certified instructors. Players must have the following skills/abilities: 1. can consistently serve and return serves to the back third of the court. 2. dink forehand and backhand at least 5 out of 10 in a row. 3. control forehand and backhand groundstrokes. 4. attempt 3rd shot drops from the back-3rd court and/or transition zone. 5. sustain short rallies. Sessions will cover: the ready position, dinking with purpose, effective serves and serve returns, forehand and backhand groundstrokes, volleys, lobs, and smashes, playing strategies for good team play.
Referee Programs
There are four levels of referees:
Trainee: this is someone who has completed a referee training class or clinic. They can then practice refereeing and start gaining experience until they feel confident to be assessed to the next level.
Level 1: This is the first level of accreditation. Level 1 referees should be able to keep accurate score, watch for incorrect servers and out-of-position players, and call foot faults on the baseline during the serve and at the NVZ when balls have been volleyed.
Level 2: This is the second level of accreditation. Level 2 referees should possess the basic skills and knowledge to competently referee most matches at any skill level and will be capable of handling typical on-court situations that arise during tournament matches, including medal matches.
Certification: This is the highest level of referees. They can officiate all levels of play at sanctioned tournaments, including professional matches.
If you are interested in becoming a referee, please wait for the next available clinic. They are usually scheduled about twice a year.
If you have completed a referee clinic in the past and you feel confident in your skills, please contact Mariah Atkinson to set up a Level 1 assessment.
For more resources and information about the Officiating Program in Canada, please refer to the Pickleball Canada website:
All Calgary Pickleball Club-approved Coaches are fully certified IPTPA* Teaching Professionals and accomplished pickleball players.
*The International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association (IPTPA) is the world leader in developing teaching standards in the sport of pickleball. When an instructor meets those standards they are awarded a certification.
A number of Calgary Pickleball Club-approved Coaches are also certified NCCP* coaches.
*The National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) provides standardized, inclusive, and safe sport education to coaches and coach developers across 65 sports in Canada including pickleball and is endorsed by Pickleball Canada. More information can be found on Pickleball Canada.
