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Empire is excited to offer pickleball classes for juniors and adults interested in learning the fastest growing sport in the country! Lessons will be held throughout the summer at Empire’s outdoor courts at the Harley School as well as Dinkers Pickleball Facility in East Rochester as well as Thornell Farm Park in Pittsford. Sessions will run for 4 consecutive weeks. Check out all the information including days, times, and prices on the upcoming summer offerings below.

Session 1 Dates: July 8th - Aug 1st
Session 2 Dates: August 5th - August 29th

Junior Group Lessons

For Juniors ages 9-12 looking to start playing Pickeball! Students will learn the basics of the sport all while having fun and staying active. No prior experience required to join this class. Junior Group Lessons will take place at Empire and Thornell Farm Park.

Empire Location
4 weeks @ $99

Wednesday

4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Thornell Farm Park
4 weeks @ $125

*Registration opens June 3rd  to Pittsford residents  and June 10th to the public

Monday

4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Session 1 Dates: July 8th - Aug 1st
Session 2 Dates: August 5th - August 29th

Adult Group Lessons

Beginner

This beginner course is the perfect place to start playing Pickleball! Richard’s fun and fast-paced class will teach you how to Dink, Serve, volley and keep score. An exceptional way to get started with Pickleball while having a great time and getting a good workout in. No prior experience is necessary to join this class.

Empire
4 weeks
$99

Tuesday

5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Wednesday

5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Dinkers
4 weeks
$140

Monday

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Monday

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Thornell
4 weeks
$125

*Registration opens June 3rd  to Pittsford residents  and June 10th to the public

Session 1

Monday

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Thursday

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Advanced Beginner

Now that you know your way around the court and can keep the score, Richard will put you on the winning team by  focusing on the fundamentals of control and power. You are going to love the unique combo of drills and structured playing situations! To register for advanced beginner, players must have prior experience playing pickleball a couple times, knowledge of scoring, and a basic understanding of the sport.

Empire
4 weeks
$99

Tuesday

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Wednesday

5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Dinkers
4 weeks
$140
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Monday

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Tuesday

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Thornell
4 weeks
$125

*Registration opens June 3rd  to Pittsford residents  and June 10th to the public

Session 1

Thursday

5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

*Registration opens June 3rd  to Pittsford residents  and June 10th to the public

Session 2

Monday

5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Thursday

5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Thursday

5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Intermediate

This is where You become YOU on the Pickleball court. Richard will help you customize your  game by defining your strengths and challenges on the court. You will develop weapons! This class will give you that competitive edge while continuing to offer all the fun that Pickleball  provides. To register for Intermediate, players must be rated minimum 3.0 or be a current student approved by Empire. Intermediate Group Lessons will take place at the Dinkers facility.

Empire
4 weeks
$99

Wednesday

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM ($120)

Wednesday

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Dinkers
4 weeks
$140

Monday

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Tuesday

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Thornell
4 weeks
$125

*Registration opens May 17th on Pittsford Parks & Rec site

Thursday

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

3-n-Me

‘3-n-me’ is the perfect Pickleball for those that want to combine a more private coaching environment with match-play. Formatted like a Drill and Play, you and 2 friends will work with Richard on specific doubles-based drills for an hour who the last 30min dedicated to matchplay  with Richard as your 4th player. Cost is $110/group.

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Sessions will be held at Dinkers Facility on Fridays & Saturdays. Click the link below to register.

Private Lessons

Private Lessons are available for booking to work on both technique and tactics.  To book a private lesson, please email richard@empiretennisacademy.com

Group Private Lesson (2 - 4 players)
$75 / 60 min.
Group Private Lesson (2 - 4 players)
$90 / 90 min.
Package of 5 Individual Private Lessons
$255 / 60 min.
Individual Private Lesson
$55 / 60 min.
About Richard

Richard Levine is very excited about returning to the Empire Academy Team as our Director of Pickleball for his 2nd season. Richard hails from the NYC Metro area, where he played Tennis at Ramapo High School in Rockland County and then Division 1 at Hofstra University on Long Island. Richard is PPR Certified (Professional Pickleball Registry) and was one of the first 25 people to receive a degree in Professional Tennis Management at Ferris State University in Michigan. After completing his degree, he moved back to New York where he was the Head Pro of the Tamcrest Country Club. After two years at Tamcrest, Richard became the Co-Owner and Director of the Columbus Racket Club on the Upper West Side in Manhattan. While at Columbus Racquet Club Richard also coached the High School Team at Columbia Prep, where he was named the High School Coach from 1997- 1999. Richard sold Columbia Racquet Club and moved onto becoming the Director of the Woodstock Tennis Club. In 2001, Richard moved to Florida and became the Director of Racquet Sports at The Beauclerc Country Club/ JCC of Jacskonville from 2001 - 2013. During his tenure at the Beauclerc Country Club, Richard helped lead several of his adult doubles leagues to win numerous First Coast Championships, and had also received an International JCC Award for Innovative Programming. After 25 yrs in the tennis industry, Richard shifted gears and opened and still currently runs an Entertainment Company as a Singer/DJ/Entertainer. With all of his years coaching/playing tennis, Richard transitioned to becoming an avid Pickleball player and coach. Richard became passionate about everything Pickleball and has used his 25 years of coaching tennis stroke mechanics and high performance doubles coaching to provide players with unique technical, tactical and mental insight to bring quality instruction to players in the Jacksonville area over the past several years where the Pickleball scene is booming. Richard now has his coaching certification from the Professional Pickleball Registry, and is excited to join the Empire team as our Pickleball Head Professional and spread the popularity of the sport to the Greater Rochester Area.  You can reach Richard at richard@empiretennisacademy.com.

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