FORT PIERCE – Whether you are new to the sport or a pickleball aficionado, St. Lucie County’s Parks & Recreation Department wants to help residents better understand the game with the return of a four-week, teaching/coaching session for players of all skills at the Havert L. Fenn Center.

Instructor Dereck Prince (The Pickleball Guy) returns to lead the “Get to Know Your Pickleball Game” program for beginners, intermediate and advanced players, who are at least 12 years old or older. All sessions will take place on Mondays, except for the third week in February due to the holiday, inside the Fenn Center.  

The cost to participate in the four-week events is $20 per class. Residents can choose the class that fits their needs.

The dates and times for these sessions are:

• Beginners: Feb. 2, 9, 17 and 23 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
  • Beginner Week 1 - Ball Control Drills; The Serve; Returning the Serve
  • Beginner Week 2 - The Forehand & Backhand Drive/Groundstroke
  • Beginner Week 3 - The Forehand & Backhand Block Volley
  • Beginner Week 4 - The Straight-Ahead Lift Dink; Pickleball Scorekeeping
    
    
• Intermediate: Feb. 2, 9, 17 and 23 from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m.  
  • Intermediate Week 1 - The Push Dink; Cross-Court Dinking
  • Intermediate Week 2 - The Forehand and Backhand Volley (The Fast Game)
  • Intermediate Week 3 - The Dink Volley; The Drop Shot
  • Intermediate Week 4 - Doubles Strategy—Offense & Defense; Mid-Court Defense/Resetting
    
    
• Advanced: Feb. 2, 9, 17 and 23 from 6 to 7 p.m.  
  • Advanced Week 1 - The Offensive Lob; The Overhead Smash; The Lob Return
  • Advanced Week 2 - The Drop Volley; The Backhand Roll; The Erne; The ATP
  • Advanced Week 3 - Slicing & Spinning
  • Advanced Week 4 - Covering the Middle; Poaching; Stacking & Switching

Space is limited to 12 players for each session. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Advanced registration is strongly recommended. No equipment is needed for the “Get to Know Your Pickleball Game” program; however, athletic attire is recommended.

For more information, please contact the St. Lucie County Parks & Recreation staff at 772-462-1521.

Located at 2000 Virginia Ave., the Havert L. Fenn Center is a 60,000-square-foot event space managed by St. Lucie County's Parks & Recreation Department. For more details, visit the St. Lucie County Havert L. Fenn Center site.