New pickleball program focuses on youth

By Lethbridge Herald on September 15, 2022.

Herald FILE PHOTO

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Mardtin Pickleball  is starting up in the city next month and will gear towards middle and high school students.

Martin Lawrence and Ard Biesheuvel were the brainchild’s behind the idea and its aim is to introduce the game of pickleball to the next generation of players and each sessions will consist of learning activities and conclude with trying a new skill in a game setting.

Lawrence moved to Lethbridge from England this year and is certified badminton coach that started playing pickleball near the end of last year and carried that interest on to his move and played at the Immanuel Lutheran Church.

His plan was always to become a certified pickleball coach and teach others the game.

“But what we’re going to start is try and get kids to play from the middle school and upper school,” said Lawrence.

“But it’s an opportunity for them (kids) to learn the basic skills and particpatein in a family game  where they can go play their parents, grandparents and normally get beaten by their grandparents because they’ve been practicing a lot and had the chance to play a lot. We’re just trying to open it up to a new bunch of kids.”

Lawrence’s passion is coach young players and letting them explore sports to determine what they like and take  further into their education or in the workforce.

Biesheuvel said he’s done it in his PE classes and a lot of times kids quite enjoy it but don’t even know really how to play the game.

“We just thought you know let’s give kids another opportunity to be active after COVID,” he said.

“Something to help discover another sport, another thing they could potentially be doing.”

Biesheuval said once you get it going, it’s a very fast sport with the ball flying back and forth at high speeds and you have to react quickly.

The 90-minute sessions begin on Oct. 3 at Immanuel Lutheran Church for players from U12-U14 and U15-U18.

The U12-14 sessions are Mondays and U15-U18 is on Wednesdays.

“We kept it particularly small groups,” said Lawrence.

“We’re not interested in having a hall full of children and not wanting to engage and no one doing anything. (The) emphasis is on a small group and four people per court, so they’re active and participating for the whole 90 minutes.”

All sessions are from 4:15-5:45 p.m.

There are only eight spots available.

“It’s a passion for sport, a passion for junior sport that brings this altogether and our mutual love for the game of pickleball,” said Lawrence.

Registration and more information can be found by emailing mardtinpickleball@gmail.com or by calling (403) 393-2732.