TO SIGN UP FOR SESSIONS/PACKAGES: visit mydrayson.llu.edu
Instructor: Ernie Medina Jr.
- Started playing pickleball in April 2016
- Founder of pickleball in Loma Linda and surrounding communities
- First USA Pickleball Ambassador in the area of the Inland Empire
- Certified pickleball coach with the Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR)
- Adjunct professor teaching pickleball at La Sierra University (Riverside) and Crafton Hills College (Yucaipa)
- Vice chair, Board of Directors, USA Pickleball (national governing body for pickleball in the United States)
- Phone: 909-747-5935
Instructor: James Ku
- Certified professional pickleball coach
- Competed and medaled in USA Pickleball-sanctioned tournaments
- Credentialed referee for pickleball tournaments
- Appointed Pickleball World Ambassador to South Korea (2020)
- Phone: 310-927-5473
Evening Adult Classes
Beginner
Learn the basics of pickleball to get started in the game. This package will cover the serve, return of serve, ground strokes, and volley as well as basic rules, scoring, and other fundamentals of the game. Focus will be placed on fun, fitness, and safety. After taking this class, players will be able to join any open play. Sign up here.
Intermediate
This class is for the player who already has a basic understanding of the game and is aiming for the next level. A quick skills and knowledge assessment will be conducted, which will help decide the topics for this package. Focus will be placed on more challenging shots—like the drop shot—as well as running set plays and scenarios, strategy, and more. This is designed for those hoping to play more competitively and in tournaments. Sign up here.
Morning Adult Classes
Beginner
Learn the basics of pickleball to get started in the game. This package will cover the serve, return of serve, ground strokes, and volley as well as basic rules, scoring, and other fundamentals of the game. Focus will be placed on fun, fitness, and safety. After taking this class, players will be able to join any open play. Sign up here.
Kids' Classes (ages 10 and older)
Beginner
This kids' class focuses on fun as they learn to play pickleball. Basic skills are taught, and the classes are tailored to the kids' abilities and levels of skill. By the time they finish, they will be able to successfully play a game, as well as learn enough to earn the Pathfinder Pickleball Honor. Sign up here.
Intermediate
A number of young people are improving their skills rapidly and are looking for a class that takes them to the next level. This class focuses on kids taking part in competition and tournaments, with special emphasis on position, precision, patience, basic strategy, and shot selection. Sign up here.
Drill Sessions
Drills are considered the fastest way to improve your game—much faster than playing recreational games. Players who want to quickly improve specific shots will find drills to be the key.
However, they are not a replacement for taking a class, since the focus is on building consistent shots—not the mechanics of learning how to hit a shot. Minimal teaching takes place in drills, so participants are expected to know how to hit the shots before enrolling in drills.
If you don't know how to hit certain shots, check out our group classes or private lessons.
Finding drill leaders and partners can be challenging, as well as court time. Players participating in drill sessions will have a grasp of the fundamentals but are looking to increase consistency with certain shots.
These drill sessions will enable participants to hit specific shots many times within fun, game-style settings. Drills also provide more cardiovascular benefits than playing regular games with constant stop and go. The top pickleball player in the world, Ben Johns, says that "I never plays recreational games; I only do drills between tournaments." If you're short on time and want to improve your game in a hurry, drills are for you!
Drill Session - Advanced: Click here for times
Drill Session - Intermediate/Advanced: Click here for times
Drill Session - Beginner/Intermediate: Click here for times
Private Lessons
Please contact instructors Ernie Medina Jr. (909-747-5935) or James Ku (310-927-5473) to schedule your lessons. You can sign up online for a lesson, but you must call the instructor to actually schedule a time.
Private lessons for one player: 60 minutes | 90 minutes
Package of four private lessons: 60 minutes | 90 minutes
Semi-private lessons: 60 minutes | 90 minutes
Package of 4 semi-private lessons: 60 minutes | 90 minutes
Private lessons are ideal for those players who want to learn either on their own or with a specific partner. These lessons can be individualized to the student. Scheduling is flexible and can be arranged for the benefit of both the student and instructor.
For those interested in improving their pickleball game quickly, both lessons and drill sessions are available. To reserve your lesson or drill session, visit the webpage below and sign up today. Spaces will likely go quickly, so act now.