Glen Ellyn Park District offers free Pickleball clinic for adults

Pickleball has grown in popularity in recent years, and Glen Ellyn Park District wants to help you learn how to play the game.

An Adult Outdoor Pickleball Clinic is being offered from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at Village Green Park, 130 S. Lambert Road, Glen Ellyn.

According to www.pickleball.com, the game was invented by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum, who developed the game for their children who were searching for something to do. These three dads created the game in 1965, and over the years it has expanded internationally.

Using a whiffle-like ball, paddles, and a net, pickleball is played with either two or four players. The sport is a combination of badminton, tennis, and Ping-Pong, and is played on smaller modified tennis-like courts. Each game is played to 11 points, using underhand serves, volleys, and forehand/backhand hits.

The free Adult Outdoor Pickleball Clinic is open to ages 18 and up. All equipment is provided; bring a water bottle, weather-appropriate clothing, and lots of energy to learn this fun, fast-paced game. Free juice and bagels will be provided for players. Preregistration is required due to limited space at www.gepark.org/register.

Mark Cunnington, Director of Racquet Sports, will be instructing the pickleball clinic. He has taught Pickleball, tennis, and platform tennis for the Glen Ellyn Park District for the past four years.

For more information, email Mark Cunnington at gepaddlepro@gmail.com.