Pickleball BC Association’s (“PBCA”) Activating Youth Pickleball in BC (“AYPBC”) Initiative Provides Pickleball Equipment for BC Regions
Connie McCann, past President of the Victoria Regional Pickleball Association, delivered equipment to Ecole Macaulay Elementary’s PE Teacher Darren Comer and his excited students.
March 6th 2025, Vancouver, B.C.— With the assistance of a $30,000 grant from the viaSport British Columbia Provincial Sport Development Fund awarded to PBCA in September of 2024, PBCA and Pickleball Canada (“PCO”) procured and delivered Franklin Sports equipment for the AYPBC initiative, introducing K – 7 students to the sport of pickleball across BC.
Working around the clock to out-race the impending, ever-changing Canada-USA 25% tax tariffs, David Snell PBCA President and Barry Petrachenko, PCO Executive Director, ensured that the pickleball equipment the students would use was shipped prior to the midnight deadline last month.
David Snell, PBCA President’s Comments & Background Recap
As David explains: “Though the final AYPBC lesson curriculum and tool sets for all of our BC clubs will not be ready until this Summer, our initiative of introducing pickleball to 16 Elementary schools and approximately 500 K – 7 students at our 3 BC Regions has had a tremendous start. Acquiring the equipment, including providing some Vancouver school teachers NCCP pickleball certification to coach students, were all positive steps towards our initiative.
To date, there are countless number of teachers and our 3 Regional Clubs (Vancouver, Victoria, and Vernon) who are overseeing this rollout, and all are involved in making this initiative happen. Overall, they are seeing the tremendous enthusiasm of both the teachers and the youth as our program is successfully deployed”.
Here an example of a heartfelt gratification PBCA has received from Darren Comer, Physical & Health Education Teacher, École Macaulay Elementary School, Greater Victoria School District: “I am writing this email on behalf of all of us here at Macaulay Elementary to pass along a huge THANK YOU for your very kind donation of pickleball equipment. We thoroughly enjoyed the 3 days of lessons provided to our students by the VRPA community volunteers and we will most certainly make good use of this amazing equipment for years to come!
Thank you for helping to introduce a relatively new sport to our students and in doing so helping to foster more active lifestyles in our young citizens ”
Working around the clock to out-race the impending, ever-changing Canada-USA 25% tax tariffs, David Snell PBCA President and Barry Petrachenko, PCO Executive Director, ensured that the pickleball equipment the students would use was shipped prior to the midnight deadline last month.
David Snell, PBCA President’s Comments & Background Recap
As David explains: “Though the final AYPBC lesson curriculum and tool sets for all of our BC clubs will not be ready until this Summer, our initiative of introducing pickleball to 16 Elementary schools and approximately 500 K – 7 students at our 3 BC Regions has had a tremendous start. Acquiring the equipment, including providing some Vancouver school teachers NCCP pickleball certification to coach students, were all positive steps towards our initiative.
To date, there are countless number of teachers and our 3 Regional Clubs (Vancouver, Victoria, and Vernon) who are overseeing this rollout, and all are involved in making this initiative happen. Overall, they are seeing the tremendous enthusiasm of both the teachers and the youth as our program is successfully deployed”.
Here an example of a heartfelt gratification PBCA has received from Darren Comer, Physical & Health Education Teacher, École Macaulay Elementary School, Greater Victoria School District: “I am writing this email on behalf of all of us here at Macaulay Elementary to pass along a huge THANK YOU for your very kind donation of pickleball equipment. We thoroughly enjoyed the 3 days of lessons provided to our students by the VRPA community volunteers and we will most certainly make good use of this amazing equipment for years to come!
Thank you for helping to introduce a relatively new sport to our students and in doing so helping to foster more active lifestyles in our young citizens ”
PE Teacher, Darren Waddell of Quadra Elementary School in Victoria, BC receiving their equipment.
Regional AYPBC Program Updates
1. Victoria, Vancouver Island Region: Connie McCann, past President, Victoria Regional Pickleball Association ("VRPA") states: “VRPA received the delivery of AYPBC equipment. Very exciting. We are eternally grateful for what we received and started distributing to our first school.”
1. Victoria, Vancouver Island Region: Connie McCann, past President, Victoria Regional Pickleball Association ("VRPA") states: “VRPA received the delivery of AYPBC equipment. Very exciting. We are eternally grateful for what we received and started distributing to our first school.”
Big smiles all around when the equipment was delivered to Rogers Elementary in Victoria, B.C. PE Teacher Karlie MvEvay with three Grade 5 students are keen to be in the Pickleball Club starting post March break.
McKenzie Elementary School in Victoria with Grade 2 Teacher Alex Lyner.
Another photograph by Connie with her roving camera … “George Jay Elementary School here in Victoria with PE Teacher Luke Forand. We are scheduling gym visits to George Jay in late May.”
2. Vernon, Thompson Okanagan Region: From Rick Klein, Chair Player Development Committee/Vernon Pickleball Association (“VPA”): “We received our equipment order from Franklin on Friday morning last week. Thanks to David and the rest of the PBCA board for your efforts in putting this all together—we really appreciate the work done and we are putting the equipment into use first thing Tuesday morning when we bring 90 grade 6 students to our facility and hold our first Slamboree!!
Last Thursday, February 20th we brought in 80 Grade 7 students for their own Slamboree, so there was fun chaos at VPA!!
Exciting times for us as we have been working with our three designated schools for the past month holding in-school practice sessions in preparation for this event. We will be doing 5 different skills competitions for the schools as well as courts for game playing. Our team is ready for the challenge with snacks and water and of course our new Franklin Equipment. We look forward to the progression of the plan.”
3. Vancouver Region: AYPBC Project Coordinator Sharon Hoy provides an update:
"The original EVES (East Vancouver Elementary School) project is into its third year of spreading pickleball throughout the district. We are really excited under the AYPBC program to be able to provide further equipment and pickleball introductions to under-resourced schools in Vancouver that are new to pickleball.
We currently offer monthly ‘Learn & Play’ professional development sessions to teachers new to pickleball and twenty-two teachers have just received Canada's National Coaching Certification Program (“NCCP”) training as described below.
Last Thursday, February 20th we brought in 80 Grade 7 students for their own Slamboree, so there was fun chaos at VPA!!
Exciting times for us as we have been working with our three designated schools for the past month holding in-school practice sessions in preparation for this event. We will be doing 5 different skills competitions for the schools as well as courts for game playing. Our team is ready for the challenge with snacks and water and of course our new Franklin Equipment. We look forward to the progression of the plan.”
3. Vancouver Region: AYPBC Project Coordinator Sharon Hoy provides an update:
"The original EVES (East Vancouver Elementary School) project is into its third year of spreading pickleball throughout the district. We are really excited under the AYPBC program to be able to provide further equipment and pickleball introductions to under-resourced schools in Vancouver that are new to pickleball.
We currently offer monthly ‘Learn & Play’ professional development sessions to teachers new to pickleball and twenty-two teachers have just received Canada's National Coaching Certification Program (“NCCP”) training as described below.
Photos from the Level 1, NCCP Instructor Certification Pickleball Course for teachers held at the David Thompson Secondary School on Friday, February 14, 2025. The pickleball instructor certification program was a joint effort between Pickleball Canada and Tennis Canada's Tennis Professionals Association, which was taught by Mark Renneson (group photo top), Head of Pickleball Coach Education, Tennis Canada and funded by PBCA.
Valentine’s Day smiles by Tony Casey (left), Director Global Pickleball Federation, and David Snell (right) President PBCA.
And we have Sharon Hoy, AYPBC Project Coordinator (left) with Connie McCann, past President at Victoria Regional Pickleball Association.
Some of these teachers do not have equipment and we can now share the four sets of equipment with those that want to teach this great game to their students. We will also use this equipment for school-wide programming where each student from kindergarten to grade 7 receives three introductory pickleball sessions.
From the start, removing financial barriers by providing equipment has been an important part of the success and growth of youth pickleball in Vancouver elementary schools. We thank you for your support!"
Also, according to Raja Sabbagha: “As one of the members of the original EVES pickleball project in Vancouver … I just wanted to take this opportunity, on behalf of our entire group, to say that we really appreciate your [PBCA] continued support of our initiative. I received a huge shipment of new Pickleball equipment at my school. Please thank everyone involved for their generosity, and we look forward to continuing our partnership in the near future."
Summary: Positive Energies!!
As eager players heading for the pickleball courts, we are all familiar with that pre-match excitement—the anticipation of playing with our partners and friends, and the euphoria of hitting that first ball. Those are some of the positive, healthy emotions we hope to pass on to our youth through our AYPBC program starting in our 3 Regions, and later in 2025 throughout BC.
For more information, contact:
David Snell, President, Pickleball BC Association
[email protected]
Sharon Hoy, AYPBC Project Coordinator
[email protected]
From the start, removing financial barriers by providing equipment has been an important part of the success and growth of youth pickleball in Vancouver elementary schools. We thank you for your support!"
Also, according to Raja Sabbagha: “As one of the members of the original EVES pickleball project in Vancouver … I just wanted to take this opportunity, on behalf of our entire group, to say that we really appreciate your [PBCA] continued support of our initiative. I received a huge shipment of new Pickleball equipment at my school. Please thank everyone involved for their generosity, and we look forward to continuing our partnership in the near future."
Summary: Positive Energies!!
As eager players heading for the pickleball courts, we are all familiar with that pre-match excitement—the anticipation of playing with our partners and friends, and the euphoria of hitting that first ball. Those are some of the positive, healthy emotions we hope to pass on to our youth through our AYPBC program starting in our 3 Regions, and later in 2025 throughout BC.
For more information, contact:
David Snell, President, Pickleball BC Association
[email protected]
Sharon Hoy, AYPBC Project Coordinator
[email protected]
ACTIVATING YOUTH PICKLEBALL IN BC ("AYPBC") AYPBC PROJECT NEWS
November 22nd 2024: Pickleball Canada Presents AYPBC Project to All Access National Championship Experience and the Global Pickleball Federation Meeting Mesa Arizona:
The USA Pickleball Championships took take place from November 10 to 17 in Mesa Arizona. Over 2,500 players of all ages and skill levels competed on 41 courts.
Just preceding and during the event, international pickleball leaders experienced a behind-the-scenes tour and deep dive into hosting, planning, organization, execution and logistics of a major tournament. Through its All Access National Championship Experience, the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF) also delivered educational + networking events for the visiting pickleball leaders from all five continents.
A workshop addressed GPF’s Active.8 strategic priorities: membership development; coaching and instruction; multi-sport games/Olympics; rules and officiating; marketing and communications; tournaments, ratings and rankings; community development and grants; and revenue, sponsorships and partnerships.
Leaders from Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania and The Americas also presented the state of pickleball within their continents. And Pickleball Canada President Val Vollmin and Executive Director Barry Petrachenko were given a special place on the workshop agenda to review the evolution of Canada’s integrated national l provincial l club system for pickleball. Val and Barry also delivered The Americas review.
“British Columbia’s leadership in advancing the Pickleball Schools model for activating youth pickleball in Canada was highlighted by Val and Barry through both their Americas and Pickleball Canada presentations" said Tony Casey. This topic was well received by the global leaders who expressed interest in hearing more about Pickleball Schools development in BC, Canada and beyond.
During the Arizona pickleball week, the GPF also held its first Annual General Meeting, which included in-person representation by GPF member countries from the five continents.
"All in all ... mid-November 2024 in Arizona was very good for competitive players and keen pickleball leaders alike", concludes Director Tony Casey. Tony Casey is a current director of the GPF, former member of the PFA and Pickleball Canada boards, and is an EVES/Pickleball Schools project co-coordinator along with Sharon Hoy for the Vancouver Pickleball Association.
Just preceding and during the event, international pickleball leaders experienced a behind-the-scenes tour and deep dive into hosting, planning, organization, execution and logistics of a major tournament. Through its All Access National Championship Experience, the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF) also delivered educational + networking events for the visiting pickleball leaders from all five continents.
A workshop addressed GPF’s Active.8 strategic priorities: membership development; coaching and instruction; multi-sport games/Olympics; rules and officiating; marketing and communications; tournaments, ratings and rankings; community development and grants; and revenue, sponsorships and partnerships.
Leaders from Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania and The Americas also presented the state of pickleball within their continents. And Pickleball Canada President Val Vollmin and Executive Director Barry Petrachenko were given a special place on the workshop agenda to review the evolution of Canada’s integrated national l provincial l club system for pickleball. Val and Barry also delivered The Americas review.
“British Columbia’s leadership in advancing the Pickleball Schools model for activating youth pickleball in Canada was highlighted by Val and Barry through both their Americas and Pickleball Canada presentations" said Tony Casey. This topic was well received by the global leaders who expressed interest in hearing more about Pickleball Schools development in BC, Canada and beyond.
During the Arizona pickleball week, the GPF also held its first Annual General Meeting, which included in-person representation by GPF member countries from the five continents.
"All in all ... mid-November 2024 in Arizona was very good for competitive players and keen pickleball leaders alike", concludes Director Tony Casey. Tony Casey is a current director of the GPF, former member of the PFA and Pickleball Canada boards, and is an EVES/Pickleball Schools project co-coordinator along with Sharon Hoy for the Vancouver Pickleball Association.
