Pickleball Lessons Offered To Long Valley Adults: Here's Where

LONG VALLEY, NJ — Looking for a fun way to get outdoors, meet new friends, and pick up a fresh hobby? Washington Township Recreation has you covered.

Adult pickleball lessons are now offered by the township, and will be held at Rock Spring Park during the months of April and May, officials said. The lessons will be offered on both Saturdays and Thursdays, so residents can pick what aligns best with their schedule.

The program, instructed by TJD Sports Academy, will kick off on April 24 for Thursday sessions and April 26 for Saturday sessions.

Participants will focus on improving key skills such as forehand and backhand shots, net play, serving and drop shots. Additionally, they will learn court positioning, strategies for enhancing their overall game, and the essential fundamentals of pickleball for beginners.

Thursday sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. or from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., while Saturday sessions offer the choice of 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. or 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

A nonrefundable fee of $165 is due before April 21 to participate in the program, officials said. Please note, paddles will not be provided for the lessons.

Pickleball is the newest sports craze taking over New Jersey, with players using elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong.

If you've never played pickleball, here's a quick primer for those who are curious.

1. It was created in 1965 by three fathers. They were on an island near Seattle and wanted to keep their kids entertained. They discovered an old badminton court and improvised with ping pong paddles, creating simple rules.
2. The game combines tennis, badminton, and ping-pong by requiring players to hit a Wiffle-type ball back and forth over a net. The game begins with an underhand serve.
3. Because the court is smaller than tennis, it's easy for all ages to play, either as doubles or singles.
4. After a serve, the ball must bounce once on each side of the net. There is a "no man's land" 7 feet from either side of the net, from which you aren't allowed to volley. And a pickleball is lighter than a tennis ball, so it doesn't bounce as high.

For more information on how to register, contact the recreation office at (908) 876-5941, or email them at recreation@wtmorris.net.