Indoor pickleball game with four players on court, two near net and two preparing to serve, with a sign in the background that says "Play Pickleball!"

New to Pickleball? We’ve Got You.

Three smiling adults, two men and one woman, standing together indoors. The man on the left is wearing a dark blue shirt, a black cap with glasses on top, and is holding a paddle. The woman in the middle has blonde hair and is wearing a light purple sports shirt. The man on the right has gray hair, glasses, and is wearing a dark blue long-sleeved shirt with a logo and text that reads 'Washington DC Pickleball.'

Whether you're brand new or building your game, we offer beginner-friendly clinics, skill-building lessons, and guided practice sessions across DC.

Meet Our Coaches

The two USA Pickleball Ambassadors in DC, Ruth Ellis (SW/SE) and Ann Kambara (NW/NE) are certified pickleball instructors who conduct clinics for beginners, advanced beginners, and intermediates at different locations in conjunction with the Department of Parks and Recreation. Ruth also offers instruction at Anacostia Park, which is a National Park Service facility. Skill-building is also offered at different times throughout the year.

A middle-aged woman with gray hair, smiling, holding a blue paddle, outdoors on a cloudy day, with palm trees and mountains in the background.

    • Location: Southwest & Southeast

    • PPR Certified instructor

A woman with short dark hair smiling, wearing a colorful patterned top, against a blue background.
Two people wearing black shirts with 'DPL' and 'DC Pickleball League' on them, each with medals around their necks, standing side by side indoors, smiling at the camera. The woman has shoulder-length hair, and the man has curly blonde hair and glasses. In the background, part of a sign and a green indoor area are visible.

    • Location: Northwest & Northeast

    • PPR Certified instructor

    • PPR Certified instructor

Steve Valiant & Maya Ben-David are PPR Certified Pickleball Coaches and founders of the highly popular DC Pickleball League LLC (DCPL).

Please visit wdcpickleball.com for upcoming DCPL events, lessons, clinics, & open play information.

Steve Valiant has played the sport for the last 17 years and has been competing in tournaments playing against many of the top professional players throughout the nation since 2009. He is well-known and admired throughout the pickleball community. He has helped hundreds of beginners and more advanced players to play effectively in recreational and tournament play.

Maya Ben-David discovered pickleball in Washington DC in 2019 and she has been dedicating her time to drilling, competing in tournaments, teaching and organizing highly successful pickleball programs in the DMV area.

Two women playing pickleball on indoor court, one about to hit the ball with paddle, the other preparing to return shot.

Tailored sessions for WDCP members, sorted by experience:

Skill Level Clinics

    • Fundamentals refresh + new skills

    • Forehand/backhand volleys, blocking, game strategy

    • Serve + return drills, directional control

    • Punch/block volleys, doubles tactics

    • Third shot drops, lobs, court positioning

    • Dinking strategies + overheads

Two women playing pickleball on an outdoor court, one woman wearing a white top and pink skirt, the other in a gray shirt and shorts, with two other players in the background.
Two men playing pickleball indoors; one man is preparing to hit a ball with a paddle, while the other is watching.

Want to Study on Your Own?

Check out USA Pickleball for video tutorials and tips to improve your game.