Lessons

Private + Semi Private Lessons

COST

$60 –1 Hour Private
$40 Each – 1 Hour Semi Private
$30 Each – 1 Hour 3 or 4 person

Schedule a private or semi-private lesson with one of Pickleball Universities Certified (IPTPA) Instructors.

All lessons are tailored to meet your specific goals using a variety of Instructor led techniques:

Ball Feeding Drills, Game Scenario Skills, Ball Target Strategies, as well as Game Play

NOTE: NON-Members may sign up for Pickleball University Sponsored Clinics or Lessons at the club member cost but will be required to pay an additional $15 visitor fee and sign a Liability Waiver at check in.

Meet Our Instructors

Clare Grabher

Clare comes from a tennis background, having been a British Junior Champion and played at Wimbledon as well as being the co-owner of New England Tennis Holidays, an adult tennis camp in New England for the past 30 years.

Clare is a 6-time USA Pickleball National Champion (55+  5.0 singles & doubles), a 3-time US Open gold medalist (55+ and 60+ doubles) and has won gold at both the National Senior Games and World Senior Games. She has also medalled 4 times in singles at the pro level in both the National and US Open Senior Pro events.

Clare is a Certified Level II IPTPA Teaching Professional and loves sharing her love of the game with students here in Florida and at her summer home in  New Hampshire.

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Paul Woodman

Paul Woodman combines his professional teaching background with his Pickleball knowledge skills to give each student a fun and rewarding training session. Paul has earned dozens of medals in local, regional and State level tournaments. Lessons are individualized for first time beginners to the more advanced tournament player wanting to get to the next level.

Paul is a Certified IPTPA Level 2 Teaching Professional as well as an IPTPA Certified Rating Specialist (CRS). He is also a year round resident of Vero Beach.

Paul incorporates a variety of teaching methods in each lesson using proven drills, demonstrations, court targets and game play scenarios. Other options offered include personalized student video recording and use of his automated pickleball feeding machine.

Contact Paul to schedule your individual, semi-private or small group lesson. Larger group clinics can also be arranged.

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Keri Keen

Keri Keen is a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant for over 31 years who has been teaching and coaching her patients back to health and healing from many traumatic accidents and sports related injuries. The knowledge of the body in motion has helped her with her game and passion of pickleball.

Keri has accumulated dozens of local, state and regional pickleball medal awards including, Florida state senior games 50+ women’s doubles silver medalist, and 50+ women’s singles bonze medalist, US Open gold medalist champion 50+ women’s doubles, and gold medalist mixed doubles 5.0 skill level local tournament.

Keri is a certified level II IPTPA Teaching Professional and enjoys sharing her knowledge and passion of the game of pickleball. You will find her on the pickleball courts daily.

A couple of my students wrote this, “I am so thankful for today, you were and are awesome! I especially loved your spirit of why you want to teach, your mission, your stretching exercises were so great that I think I can warm up before I get there.” “Thanks for the lesson! It was great! Learned a lot. Using some of it today!” “Lob serve really helped today against hard hitters! Great lesson as always.”

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Dereck Prince

Dereck has been playing racquet sports—table tennis, badminton, tennis—since the age of 10 in his native country of Guyana.  A physical fitness aficionado, he made the transition to pickleball in 2017 and has loved it ever since.  He holds a Masters Degree in Mining Engineering with a specialty in Computer Programming and Data Analysis, and has taught hundreds of geologists, mining engineers, and other technical professional all over the world in two languages (English and Spanish) how to use computer software for over 35 years.  He is a nationally-recognized USAPA Certified Pickleball Referee, a USAPA Registered Pickleball Referee Trainer, a member of Pickleball Coaching International, and an IPTPA Level II Certified Pickleball Teaching Professional.  Easily recognized on the pickleball court in his long-sleeved shirts and full-length compression tights, he has amassed a number of gold, silver, and bronze medals at various tournaments in Florida and Colorado.

Students who have taken Dereck’s classes appreciate his technical approach, emphasis on proper stroke fundamentals through drills, his infectious personality, and his passion for the sport of pickleball.  His well-honed analytical skills are put to good use as he is able to document, diagnose, and help players of all levels correct and reduce the number of unforced errors they make.  A year-round resident of Vero Beach, he is available for customized private (one-on-one), semi-private (one-on-two), and group lessons.  And for those who prefer to stay out of the Florida heat and play indoors, Dereck is the Pickleball Program Coordinator and resident pro at the Indian River County Intergenerational Recreation Center.

Richard van Zyl

Richard grew up in South Africa and finished his education with a BSc in Civil Engineering. He left in 1981 to sail around the world, visiting 46 countries, before settling in Florida, where he is a year-round resident. His other adventures include climbing mountains, hang-gliding or skydiving, scuba diving or kiteboarding, snow-skiing and kayaking. His passion and dedication to the sport of Pickleball is his latest endeavor.

Richard started competing in tennis at age 10, and continued through college and beyond, until he discovered his love of Pickleball. Sports has kept him in good physical shape and he remains a fierce competitor. He started participating in tournaments in 2016, and has amassed an impressive number of medals in men’s, mixed and singles. You will see him at many local tournaments sporting “crazy socks” and Babolat gear. his latest sponsor.

Richard has been teaching for decades as a sailing, kiteboarding and scuba instructor. He has been a Realtor since 2001 and is still active with Atlantic Shores Realty Expertise in Vero Beach. His drive to succeed, people skills and ability to solve problems, using various methods and aids, is Richard’s specialty. His knack for analyzing players’ abilities and improving their performance has been proven many times over, and students continue to return and learn.

In 2019, he completed his Pro Pickleball Registry Coaching Certification under the tutelage of 5-time National Champion, Sarah Ansboury. PPR is the official education and certification partner of the USA Pickleball Association, and sets the standard for effective teaching using proven methods.

Whether you have never played a sport in your life, or you are a seasoned pickler looking to hone your skills, call Richard for an individual or group lesson today!

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Richard Ritacco

Richard Ritacco has a masters in education and is a IPTPA Level II Certified Pickleball Instructor. As an Educator/Administrator he has helped and seen people develop and grow in many areas of their lives.

Rich started 2 pickleball clubs and was instrumental in one growing to over 90 members in less than a year.

 Rich is an avid pickleball player and has a passion to help players develop and improve their skills.

Rich brings players to higher levels teaching strategic play and smart pickleball.

He loves to compete and has medaled in local, state, national and international tournaments.

In addition to the many skills Rich teaches to his students, he also personalizes each lesson after speaking with each student about their goals on how and why they wish to improve.

Rich’s enthusiasm and love of the game is contagious and most importantly he wants pickleball to be part of the fun in life.

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MISSION STATEMENT

As a not-for-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.

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