Springfield

Pickleball

REGISTER FOR CLINICS
REGISTER FOR LESSONS
OPEN PLAY RESERVATIONS
COURT RESERVATIONS
PICKLEBALL GUIDELINES

Clinics

Beginner Pickleball Clinic

Embark on your pickleball journey with confidence! Our Beginner Pickleball Clinic is the perfect starting point for individuals new to the sport. This clinic focuses on the foundational skills necessary to enjoy and succeed in pickleball. Under the expert guidance of our seasoned coaches, you’ll learn:

  • Basic Pickleball Rules: Understand the layout of the court, scoring, and the essential rules of the game.
  • Fundamental Skills: Develop proper grip, stance, and swing techniques to ensure you are starting on the right foot.
  • Dinks and NVZ play: Gain an appreciation for the nuance, technique and strategies behind dinking and play at the NVZ
  • Serve and Return: Learn the basics of serving, returning, and getting into the correct position on the court.
  • Footwork and Positioning: Gain insights into how to move effectively on the court and position yourself strategically.

Advanced Beginner Pickleball Clinic

Build on your foundation and refine your skills! Our Advanced Beginner Pickleball Clinic is ideal for those who have recently completed our Beginner Clinic or have some experience playing pickleball. This clinic focuses on enhancing fundamental skills while introducing more advanced concepts and techniques. In this session, you will:

  • Improve Stroke Mechanics: Refine your forehand, backhand, and volley techniques to increase consistency and accuracy.
  • Shot Selection and Strategy: Learn to identify and execute different types of shots, such as dinks, drives, and lobs, and when to use them effectively.
  • NVZ Presence and Defense: Develop skills for controlling the net, defending against hard shots, and positioning yourself to cover the court.
  • Serve Variations: Experiment with different serve types and placement strategies to challenge your opponents.

Intermediate Pickleball Clinic

Elevate your game to new heights with advanced training! Our Intermediate Pickleball Clinic is designed for players who have a solid grasp of the basics and are ready to delve deeper into the game’s intricacies. This clinic aims to help you master the skills and strategies needed to compete at a higher level. Key areas of focus include:

  • Advanced Shot Techniques: Start to understand spin, effective drop shots, and quick volleys to gain a tactical edge in your rallies.
  • Court Awareness and Anticipation: Learn to read your opponent’s moves and anticipate their shots, allowing you to position yourself strategically.
  • Doubles Strategy: Develop effective communication and teamwork skills to enhance your doubles play.
  • Mental Game and Strategy: Learn to embrace the mental aspects of the game, including continued focus, mindful decision-making, and adapting to different players and styles.

Dinks/Drops/Drives Clinic

Improve your dink, the shot that is a soft shot hit on a bounce or out of the air. Drops, a shot that is usually hit from deep within the court and drive the powerful, low trajectory shot aimed at an opponent’s feet.

  • Focused Practice and Drilling: Dinks, third-shot drops, and controlled drives.
  • High-repetition practice: to build muscle memory and consistency.
  • Coaching and feedback: Focusing on technique, shot selection, and footwork fundamentals.
  • Partner and group drills: Reinforces placement, control, and patience in rallies.
  • Balance of instruction and play: Bridges practice and real-game situations.

Advanced 4.0+ Clinic – Level 5

This clinic is designed for experienced players who want more than just pickup games. It’s for athletes who know that real improvement comes from intentional reps, smart footwork, and disciplined skill work—not just playing more games. Each session will target specific skills through high-intensity drills, focused repetition, and pro-level feedback. If you’re serious about improving and love the grind of focused practice, this clinic is for you.
Clinic Highlights:

  • Refine advanced skills: Resets, rolls, counters, and third-shot strategy.
  • Fast-paced, drill-heavy sessions: No wasted time, no fluff.
  • Personalized coaching: Corrections to elevate your game.
  • Perfect for competitive players: Tournament or league competitors ready to train with intention.

Private Pickleball Lessons

Private pickleball lessons offer a personalized and focused way to learn and improve your pickleball skills, whether you are a beginner or an experienced player looking to refine your game. Here is a detailed description of what you can expect from private pickleball lessons:

  • Private lessons: Private lessons can be booked with one-on-one coaching, allowing the instructor to focus entirely on your specific needs and skill level. You can also book semi private lessons with 2 people or small group private instruction with 3 or 4 people.
  • Fundamental Techniques: Learn and perfect the basics of pickleball, including proper grip, stance, and swing techniques.
  • Scheduling: Private lessons offer flexible scheduling to fit your busy lifestyle, allowing you to book sessions at times that are convenient for you.
Register for Private Pickleball Lessons

Pickleball Court Reservations

  • Courts are $10/hour, $15/1.5 hours, $20/2 hours.
  • Courts can be reserved up to seven days in advance. Courts can be reserved for no less than one hour and no more than two hours.
  • Fees are due at time of booking.
  • A 24-hour notice is required to cancel a reservation and receive a refund in the form of a service credit. If a 24-hour notice not given, a refund will not be issued.
  • Court usage and reservations are for CYEDC members only.
  • SY members can book online or call the Front Desk. RY /LY members must call the SY Front Desk to book.
  • Courts cannot be reserved 6-8pm on Mondays through Fridays. These reservations guidelines are subject to change.
Reserve a Court

Open-Play Times and Guidelines

Open Play Times


Monday – Thursday 6pm – 9:30pm
Friday 6pm – 8:30pm

  • Respect for fellow players and YMCA employees is paramount
  • A court monitor will be present during Open Play to ensure efficient movement through games
  • Players will cycle 4 on/4off after 2 games to rotate players and sides of the court
  • The paddle racks are used on a rotational basis, grouping players based on skill.
    • Red – Beginner (2.5-3.0)
    • Yellow – Intermediate (3.0-3.75)
    • Green – Advanced (3.75-4+)
  • Please do not put more than one paddle in any rack at a time
  • No court reservations during open play.

Meet our Coaches

Cameron is a PPR-Certified Level 1 Coach who specializes in clinics and private lessons. As a former tennis instructor and DIII tennis player, he has spent a lot of time on the court playing, teaching, and inspiring new players. His favorite part of the game is that it is equal parts brain and body, strategy and skill. 

As a father of three children, he knows the importance of keeping instruction engaging. Cam focuses on building a welcoming and supportive environment where students can ‘embrace the miss’ as a part of learning. He loves hosting private lessons, where he can give mindful, focused attention to the students. He also enjoys introducing new players to the sport in the clinics, knowing they will certainly ‘catch the bug’ as he did.