About Us
Mission Statement
As a non-profit, volunteer-based organization, Pickleball University will foster the development of pickleball within the greater Vero Beach community. We will collaborate with individuals, organizations, and local governments to create fun and competitive opportunities for our general membership.
A few of our early members started playing Pickleball with portable nets, and chalking off their condo parking lot. They would caravan from place to place to find the best avenue to play Pickleball finally choosing Vero Pocahontas City Park. With a total of 60 members joining,the City felt that Pickleball was a viable sport and decided to install six dedicated Pickleball courts. The courts were completed in early fall of 2015. As the adage goes, build it and they will come, and now with 12 courts membership climbed to over 950 members in just a short amount of time.
On October 15th, 2019 our club reached a long-term license agreement with the City of Vero Beach. This agreement gives us control of these courts but with that comes the responsibility to maintain the facility using club funds and donations from members, drop in fees and sponsors.
In April of 2020 the club embarked on an ambitious project to refurbish all 12 courts at Pocahontas Park. The project cost more than $230,000 was completed without any taxpayer or government funds.
PickleU totally rebuilt the North six courts from the ground up. The six South courts had all cracks repaired, were leveled and resurfaced. New divider fencing was added to all 12 courts along with new fabric around the entire perimeter of the courts. We also installed new nets on all courts. The club also installed lighting on the six South courts and night play has become very popular. Our members and business sponsors donated 16 aluminum benches with back rests, bag racks and paddle boxes.
We are well known for our IPTPA Level II certified coaching staff which includes a multi year national champion.
Currently we have an open membership program. Membership is monitored by our board of directors on a regular basis. Our daily drop in fee is $10. This fee helps to pay for the 2020 project and ongoing club expenses. Your daily play wristband is good for the entire day including night play.
We offer general play, ladders, open play for specific levels, clinics, a free introductory lesson that we call Pickleball 101 to get you started and Pickleball 102, private and semi-private lessons, and after school and summer programs. As a member you will be invited to play in weekly round robins and other organized events as well as plenty of open play.
But the fun doesn’t end on the court. We are a very social club and we host cookouts, parties and many other social activities. Our goal is to continue to grow the game and provided an opportunity for all players to learn, play and have fun.
The Pickleball University is open to all, and we have the friendliest players you could ever meet. But first a warning:
Pickleball is highly addictive! It is less a sport than a way of life. The play doesn’t begin and end on the courts but extends to friendship and fun in the form of social events, community outreach, and opportunities to volunteer and mentor. Welcome to the fastest growing sport in the USA. You are in a real, but sweet pickle.
PS: You may also find yourself making horrible pickle puns.
What is Pickleball?
Pickleball is a paddle sport played with a whiffle ball on a badminton-sized court and a tennis-style net. A non-volley zone (or kitchen) prevents volleys close to the net, and the serving team cannot volley the return of serve. These unique rules favor players with less mobility and allow senior players to compete successfully with younger competitors.
Pickleball is enjoyed by people of all ages and athletic abilities thanks to its ease of play and straightforward rules. The sport is inexpensive, social and healthy, and has been widely accepted in school gyms, fire stations, community centers, local parks, athletic clubs and thousands of backyard sports courts. In some ways it’s a combination of tennis and badminton, and along with sports such as table tennis and racquetball, pickleball has exploded in popularity. Thousands of pickleball courts have been built in recent years, especially in senior communities.
These areas have benefited from increased comradery amid peers since both doubles and singles can be played. Doubles involve longer rallies, lower physical demands and more opportunities for court banter. Though easy to learn, pickleball provides endless opportunity for individual improvement and learning subtle techniques. Many players who initially dismiss the sport as amateurish, simplistic or noisy now find it addicting. Like golf, many fans play several hours a day either indoors or outdoors.
Pickleball is an inclusive, accessible, non-elitist sport that transcends social and economic barriers. Playing styles vary widely, even at the highest levels. Many top players have no past racquet or paddle sport experience and have limited athletic abilities. Pickleball is easy to jump into but difficult to master. Grab a paddle and give it a try!
Thanks to our friends at Pickleball Central for this explanation.
2023 MEMBERSHIp AND FEES
Existing members:
Annual renewal fee $125 +7% sales tax.
New members: $325 +7% sales tax.
(includes a $200 initiation fee)
- Identification bag tags and silicone wristbands will be issued to all members. You must wear your wristband so it is visible when playing at the courts.
- Current lifetime members do NOT need to sign up. New lifetime memberships are no longer available.
- Our daily drop in fee is $10 - 7 days a week starting at 8:30 a.m. until Lights out at 9 p.m. You may come and go. You must sign a waiver at the South gate entrance and wear the provided daily play wristband.
- Rotation System for Waiting Players: If all the courts are in use, and you are ready to play, place your paddle (with your name on it) in the paddle rack.
- Court Assignments: All courts are available for play by any skill level. Players are expected to observe and make individual decisions regarding where they choose to play on any given day.
Public Availability
Pickleball University, Inc. (the Club) is the sole licensed operator of the Pickleball courts at Pocahontas Park. The Club allows nonmembers to use these courts subject to the payment of a $10 drop-in fee and a signed acceptance of a liability waiver. Currently Drop-ins allowed after 8:30 a.m. May play until lights out at 9:00 p.m.
*USE THESE COURTS AT YOUR OWN RISK*
COVID-19 WARNING: Play At Your Own Risk
Playing on these courts is a voluntary action by you. Neither the City of Vero Beach nor Pickleball University, Inc. will be liable to you for any injury or contraction of a transmissible disease.
Here are some recommendations for your safety:
Maintain ‘social distancing’ both inside and outside of the fence. Do not handle other people’s paddles. Sanitize your hands frequently. Wear a mask while waiting to play. Limit the number of people on the courts and benches.
READY TO LEARN?
Luckily Pickleball is a fairly simple game to learn and play and is relatively inexpensive too. You basically need a paddle, ball and tennis shoes and you’re ready to go. However, there are a few basics you need to do before you get on the courts.
You are also welcome to come to our weekly Pickleball 101 for a one time FREE lesson to see if you like the game well enough to continue. You do not need equipment and this demonstration will last about 45 minutes. What’s the next step after 101? Pickleball 102, for a nominal fee you will get to play with a coach. Click on view calendar for scheduled sessions.
RULES & TIPS
All players should make themselves familiar with the rules. The official rules of pickleball and much more information about the game are found on the USAPA website.
There are a multitude of resources available on YouTube to see how to play and get free instruction.
Feel free to reach out to our instructors if you are in need of lessons.
Equipment
Pickleball’s requirements are fairly minimal when it comes to equipment. Paddle faces are made of wood, composites or graphite. Overall, paddles are roughly 8” wide and 15” long with hard, smooth surfaces. Balls are made of hard plastic with holes and are similar in size to baseballs.
Nets are 34” high in the center. Courts are 20 feet wide and 44 feet long. Four pickleball courts can fit in the same area used for a single tennis court.
WHERE TO PLAY
Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the US with courts springing up everywhere. To find a complete list throughout the US you can check out “Places to Play” on the national site.
Here are some local play facilities:
Vero Beach
Pocahontas Park
Play starts at 8AM-10PM
Drop-Ins welcome
$10 Daily Fee after 8:30 am
South County Park
No set times
Intergenerational Center
Hours Vary
Sebastian
Sebastian Pickleball Complex
NO Fee/No Program
8 dedicated pickleball courts
160 Airport Dr E
Daily play dawn to late (lights for a fee.
FORT PIERCE
Pepper Park
2 courts
3302 North SR A1A, Fort Pierce, FL 34949
Tournaments
Are you the competitive type? If so, Pickleball may just be for you. In addition to the social activities usually found on the courts there are also numerous Regional, State, and National tournaments you can get involved with.
Generally you enter these tournaments by age, skill level, gender or a combination of all. Skill levels range from a 2.5 to 5.0 rating. To see how your skill stacks up visit the USAPA Player Ratings page at the United States of America Pickleball Association USAPA.org.
Thank you for your interest. We are here at Pickle U. and we look forward to seeing YOU on the court!
