Player Development
Player Development Committee
Mission Statement
Our goal is to provide as many opportunities as possible for the membership to enhance their playing experience within the VPA. Through access to top level coaches, many varied clinics and special pickleball events, numerous social events, community initiatives, tournaments, group play, and the new Titan Ace ball machine.
No matter what the players focus may be, we will have something for them and as we have an incredible facility to work with where we can play year round. Our goal is to meet that opportunity with purpose and build a network of events for all skill levels.
Building for the Future
The Player Development Committee is actively working on a number of innovative projects designed to improve the member experience. More information will be available as these programs are introduced to the VPA membership including;
New Policies & Procedures
A streamlined system ensures fairness and efficiency for all independent coaches and members.
Court Video System
We’re enhancing tournament play with live feeds to the committee room for better engagement and safety monitoring.
Player Rating System
We're adjusting to the new DUPR system to keep our competitive structure fair and effective.
Coaching & Clinics
James & Jenna Jonson, Kristina Lidster, and Beck Hackman continue to offer top-tier coaching, from fundamentals to masterclasses.
Titan Ball Machine
A game-changing training tool with pre-set and custom drills to elevate your skills. Coming soon!
ViaSPORT Kids Program
We’re actively introducing pickleball in local schools, with training, equipment, and a SLAMBOREE! for 170 students!
The Player Development Committee (PDC) has been working with the Kids ViaSport team to introduce pickleball into K-7 schools as a curriculum-based initiative called Activating Youth Pickleball in BC (AYPBC). Kids ViaSport has provided funding through a grant program to three geographic areas including Vancouver, Victoria and the Okanagan/Interior. The grant money is specifically intended to reach out to under resourced schools and offer equipment, teaching and support to the teachers and schools to help them implement pickleball into their activity programs.
The VPA was been selected to represent the Okanagan region and introduce this new and exciting initiative in our area. Over the past few months the PDC has made significant progress on the AYPBC program, lead by our Leadership Team of Pat Andrews and Derri-Ann Cooper. Pat and Derri-Ann both have extensive teaching backgrounds and have started the roll out of the program in the Vernon school district at Harwood, Alexis Park, and Mission Hill Elementary Schools.
Pickleball Canada and Franklin Sports have provided the equipment required including nets, paddles, balls, safety glasses, etc. that are available to the school participants at no charge. The PDC team reached out to the schools and they all enthusiastically accepted the offer to bring the AYPBC Program to their students. The program kicked off in November of 2024 with Learn and Play Pickleball sessions for the teachers of each school participating.
Our goal is to train, supply and implement this new initiative into the three schools in early 2025 and after approximately 6 weeks of the program we will finish up with a pickleball "SLAMBOREE" for about 180 grade 6 and 7 students at the VPA... WOW! It should be a lot of fun and excitement.
I am very proud of the work Pat, Derri-Ann and the PDC has completed with the AYPBC program and thank everyone for contributing the time and effort to make this work. This is a great example of how the VPA can reach out to the community and make a positive difference in kids lives - we should all be honored to be a part of it.
Rick Klein - Chair, VPA Player Development Committee
PDC Chair, Rick Klein, was recently interviewed by the Vernon Morning Star about the AYPBC Program.
