Submitted by John Gullo, USAPA Ambassador for Northern Utah

John Gullo, ambassador for Northern Utah announced some great news recently.  The mayor of Ogden and the Superintendent of Ogden Schools have collaborated and, with funding from the American Dream Foundation, will implement pickleball as a mandatory PE program in all Ogden Schools, 5th through 12th grade.

But it doesn't stop there.  Ogden City Recreation will form Club Pickleball for youth in the city and run tournaments for all youth.

But it doesn't stop there.  After school programs will also begin at the same time in 4 YMCAs, 3 Boys & Girls Clubs and Youth Impact program.

A total of 17 programs will be active this year.   The schools and programs are being supplied 4 USAPA nets, 45 paddles and 45 balls per program.  The Ogden Pickleball Association has developed a PE training program/lesson plan and, in association with ADF and Tim Finger from Pickleball Now, the group has developed a video for PE teachers to train with.  The program begins this November.  In early October Dennis Forbes and Tim Finger ran a training program for all PE Teachers and after school mentors.

Terry Corbrige, Ogden Pickleball Association Trainer, stated that club members will be assisting PE Teachers with instruction at the schools and after school programs.  This is in addition to what has been already started with special needs students in Ogden.  By the end of the school year we hope to have over 8,000 students playing the game.

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