Red Deer Pickleball Programs
Whether you are a new player wanting to learn the basics, or a veteran looking to improve your skills for competition, we have a player development program for you! You may start at whatever step suits you best as long as you have the prerequisites completed.
Our programs are only available to members of the Red Deer Pickleball Club. Registration information will be posted as programs open.
Step 1
Learn to Play Lesson
If you are new or just starting, our Learn to Play lesson is for you! Learn the basic rules and mechanics of the sport!
Prerequisite(s): Membership
Skill Level: New Players
Cost: First Lesson is Free for New Members! $10 to repeat the lesson.
Duration: 2 hours
Step 2
Skills & Drills
Once you have completed “Lesson #1 – Learn to Play”, it is important to practice your skills. Skills & Drills is an organized session dedicated to practicing your skills. You may repeat these sessions as often as you like. A coach will review basic techniques and strategies and then you will practice them with other participants.
Prerequisite(s):Membership, and know how to play pickleball or have completed Step 1 – Learn to Play Lesson, 10+ Hours of Game Experience.
Skill Level: New Players, Unrated Players, 3.0 and Under
Cost: TBD
Duration: 2 hours
Step 3
Power-Up to 3.0 Lesson
Once you have a good sense of the rules and some experience playing pickleball, this lesson is for you. This lesson is taken in two parts on two different nights. We will walk through the techniques and strategies needed to progress your skills for competitive play at the 3.0 level. This lesson may be repeated until you have successfully achieved a 3.0+ rating.
Prerequisite(s): Membership, and completion of Step 2 or have a rating of 2.5+ or higher, and have basic understanding of the following: Rules, Court Safety, Court Etiquette, and Keeping Score.
Cost: TBD
Duration: 2 hours
Rating Recommended
If you are interested in progressing to play in tournaments or in competitive organized play within our club, we recommend at this point you get rated.
The following lessons require a rating to take part in.
Step 4
Power-Up to 3.5 Lesson
Once you have received a rating of 3.0 to 3.49 this lesson is for you. This lesson is taken in two parts on two different nights. We will walk through the techniques and strategies needed to progress your skills for competitive play at the 3.5 level. This lesson may be repeated until you have successfully achieved a 3.5+ rating.
Skill Level: Rated Players 3.0 – 3.49
Cost: TBD
Duration: 2 hours
Step 5
Power-Up to 4.0 Lesson
Once you have received a rating of 3.5 to 3.99 this lesson is for you. This lesson is taken in two parts on two different nights. We will walk through the techniques and strategies needed to progress your skills for competitive play at the 4.0 level. This lesson may be repeated until you have successfully achieved a 4.0+ rating.
Skill Level: Rated Players 3.5 – 3.99
Cost: TBD
Duration: 2 hours
Clinics
We bring in high level players to offer clinics for our members. These clinics are one off group lessons that are designed for specific skill levels and focus on a specific skill or group of skills to advance your play. Clinics typically include groups of up to 16 players at a time.
Private Coaching
Are you interested in one on one lessons? We have club endorsed coaches that you can trust to take your game to a new level. These sessions can be one on one or a group of up to 4 players.
Youth / Juniors
We normally are involved with one or two events per year focused on Youth/Junior players. Watch our events page, & social media for upcoming events.
Seniors Play (Ages 60+)
At the Red Deer Pickleball Club, we’re proud to be a senior-friendly organization with a strong and growing group of members aged 60 and up. Pickleball is an ideal sport for older adults—it’s social, easy to learn, and gentle on the body—making it a great way to stay active and engaged at any stage of life.
In addition to all our regular programming, we offer Senior-Specific Play Times organized and run by dedicated volunteers. These include Senior Round Robins, as well as Beginner and Intermediate-Level Skills Sessions tailored for seniors. These sessions are structured to be welcoming, low-pressure, and paced appropriately for players at different stages of their pickleball journey. Availability and frequency of senior-specific programming may vary based on volunteer capacity, and all session times can be found on CourtReserve.
Seniors are also a big part of our club’s vibrant Drop-In Play community. While many sessions are open to all ages, we encourage members to select times that match their skill level to ensure an enjoyable and appropriate pace of play. Whether you’re brand new to the sport or have been playing for years, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to connect, improve, and have fun with others in your age group.
Red Deer Pickleball News & Updates
Bower Place – Facility Upgrades
Hello Friends! Exciting news for all our members who've yet to visit Bower Place Shopping Centre's courts this winter - we've made some fantastic upgrades! New Nets: All 7 courts are now equipped with brand-new nets, ensuring a better game for everyone. Bold Red...
Welcome to our new website!
The day is finally here! We are proud to launch our new website, the first piece of a lot of new digital changes coming this year! This new site has above all, completely reorganized all of our policies, rules, and bylaws. For now, we are still using Hold My Court for...
Our Club Coaches
Carol Graham
Carol Graham, with over 35 years of coaching experience, is a passionate educator and athletic director. Specializing in middle to high school athletics, she holds degrees in Athletics and Sport Conditioning, and Education from the University of Alberta. A proficient coach in volleyball and pickleball, Carol excels in nurturing physical literacy and instilling a love for sports in individuals of all ages, leveraging her diverse athletic background and educational expertise.
Joel Pelletier
Joel started playing pickleball 5 years ago and has been determined ever since to learn everything he can about the sport by breaking down skills and movements. In 2023 Joel was drafted as a 5.0+ player into the Canadian National Pickleball League where his team achieved 2nd overall. Joel is driven to learn as much as he can about the sport and hopes to be able to share what he has learned with the members of the Red Deer Pickleball Club.
Rich Thul
Rich Thul, a dedicated coach with a rich background in hockey, baseball, and pickleball, brings his passion for sports to the forefront. With qualifications in multiple sports including NCCP Level 2 in Hockey, Lacrosse, Baseball, and IPTPA Level 2 in Pickleball, he excels in player development. Rich's goal is to enhance pickleball skills among all ages, fostering a love for the sport through his positive and encouraging approach.
Robyn Froese
Robyn Froese, a Level 1 NCCP certified pickleball coach, has a rich sporting background, including volleyball, basketball, and more. Starting pickleball in 2013, she transitioned from recreational to competitive play, especially during COVID. With degrees in business and education, she combines her coaching skills in volleyball and pickleball, passionately teaching and inspiring youth in her community. Her approach emphasizes pickleball's accessibility and social benefits for all ages and abilities.
Patrick Galesloot
Patrick is a passionate pickleball player, coach, and advocate for pickleball. Since picking up a paddle in 2017, he’s been all in: volunteering with the Red Deer Pickleball Club as a director, announcer, and Level 2 certified referee, and even earning a silver medal at the 2021 Canadian Nationals. In 2022, he began teaching beginner lessons at the YMCA and now coaches RDPC members as well. As an NCCP Level 1 and 2 certified coach, Patrick brings experience, energy, and a love for the game to every session. Whether you’re new or leveling up, he’s ready to help you thrive.
Keith Quesnelle
Keith has always had a passion for sports, playing everything from football to badminton. Five years ago, he discovered pickleball and instantly knew he had found something special. Since then, he has earned medals at the club, provincial, and national levels. As a certified NCCP Level 2 Pickleball Instructor and a Selkirk Advocate, Keith combines his years of coaching experience with a love for helping players of all ages and skill levels grow their game. Keep those paddles up!
