Regina Minor Pickleball League - Mission Statement
Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in North America. In Regina we have the unique opportunity to build a grassroots youth program from the ground up. Getting kids involved in sports has lifelong benefits beyond physical activity. It develops confidence, social skills, teamwork, sportsmanship and enhances personal and mental well-being.
Our goal is to build a youth training program for kids 10 years and over for both recreational and competitive play.
We will be focusing on instruction and skill development. In addition we want to develop a framework to support youth competitive play.
Working to grow the sport in our youth will ensure that pickleball, the sport we have all grown to love and enjoy, will only get better for everyone!
Why Join?
The new Pickleball Regina Youth League offers:
- structured on court learning on a continuous basis
- instructors certified through the National Certified Coaching Program
- all on court instructors have successfully completed the vulnerable level criminal record check process
- no cost membership in Pickleball Regina Inc. and Pickleball Saskatchewan for the first year of play
- complementary injury insurance through Pickleball Canada for on-court accidents
- opportunity to progress over time to build skills and expand pickleball knowledge
- continuation of learning towards competition with other pickleball groups
Program Hosts:
Les Covey
Les is a nationally certified level 2 pickleball instructor as well as a certified coach for over ten years of coaching minor hockey. He has been involved in many sports including hockey, youth football where he has over ten years coaching flag football.
Les is interested in coaching kids sports as there is so much more to minor sports than the sport itself. Skill development in teamwork, healthy living, sportsmanship, and positive interaction are essential life skills. By helping kids learn these lessons as well as the skill of practice and playing is important in helping youth to be successful young people in life.
Don McLean
Don started playing Pickleball about 5 yrs ago winning several medals at Sask. Provincials, Canada Western regionals and participated in the Canadian National Championships. Don is a level one NCCP Pickleball coach as well as a national certified NCCP baseball coach, NCCP volleyball and gymnastics coach. Don has coached children of all ages and all levels of play. Don is also coach for adult learn to play groups with PRI.
Don has been a critical care nurse since 1986 and is now a project manager with a research organization since 2003.
Don is active in Pickleball, cross country skiing and golf. Don enjoys camping and relaxing with family and friends.
Don and coach Less Covey are the main coaches with the Regina Minor Pickleball League started April 2024 and has been increasing in participants each session. Looking forward to 2025 RMPBL and meeting new participants
2025 Schedule:
Skill Development - Sunday, 2:00-4:00 pm, January 12- February 16, 2025 at the Queen City Pickleball Hub
Introduction to Competitive Play - Tuesday, 6:00-8:00pm, January 14- February 17, 2025 at the Queen City Pickleball Hub Program Details: This is a clinic that will start teaching the fundamental skills to start competitive play including:
Court Positioning: court movement and understanding where to be and how to get there plus why its a fundamental skill to learn and practice.
Team Play with a Partner: playing as a team is a fundamental skill working with your partner in ovement and court coverage, learning basic plays and strategy of both team offence and defence.
Ball Placement: in competitive play you need to be able to read your opponent's court position and target spots that make them have a more difficult shot, learning the basics of what to look for and where to place the ball as a fundamental skill of competitive play.
Shot Selection: deciding what shot to play, reading the ball's speed, height and direction are important in deciding what shot to make in return.
Fees: $75 per youth for 6 - two hour sessions. A T shirt can be ordered for $20.00
Contact: youth@pickleballregina.ca