Need Help? help@obsessedpickleballers.com
Or call us at (332) 456 1091
Need Help? help@obsessedpickleballers.com
Or call us at (332) 456 1091
CAMP DETAILS
Obsessed Pickleballers Beginner Camp In Northbrook, IL
Focused Classes
8:1 Ratio
Venue
Slate Pickleball Club - 569 S Waukegan Rd, Northbrook, IL 60062
Date & Time
Sunday, May 31st, 2026
4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Age
40 and over
Skill Levels
Beginner
Pro Instructors
Coach Steven Taylor
🎁 Bonus #1:
The Perfect Guide To Acing Pickleball eBook ($47 value)
🎁 Bonus #2:
Obsessed Pickleballers Lifetime Community Membership ($360/year value)
🎁 Bonus #3:
That’s a surprise and you’ll get that after the camp
Meet Coach Steven – Chicago's Infectious "You Can Do It" Game Changer
I’m a 26-year Chicago Public Schools educator, 13-year U.S. Air Force veteran, and one of Chicago’s most energetic and encouraging pickleball coaches — with a genuine “you can do it” attitude that students consistently describe as infectious. I’ve dedicated my coaching career to one mission: helping brand new players discover their love for pickleball and walk away from their very first session with more confidence, more skills, and a genuine smile on their face — especially players in their 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond.
My pickleball story is one of my favorites. A friend told me about the sport four years ago and suggested I enter a Chicago Park District Veterans tournament the following week, just to see if I liked it. I’d never played. I entered anyway. And I swept both novice divisions and placed third in the intermediate division on my very first tournament day. That’s when I knew pickleball and I were going to have a long relationship.
What I bring to your game:
- Swept both novice divisions in his very first tournament appearance — and placed 3rd in intermediate
- Tournament competitor — multiple trophies and medals in men’s and mixed doubles, 40+ age groups
- 26 years as a Chicago Public Schools educator — teaching, communicating, and motivating people is in my DNA
- Golf instruction background
- Students say his “you can do it” attitude is infectious — the best compliment a coach can receive
- Known for a jovial, fun, laugh-filled coaching environment that makes learning feel effortless
My story: A friend introduced me to pickleball four years ago and suggested I jump straight into a Chicago Park District Veterans tournament. No practice. No preparation. Just show up and play. I swept both novice divisions and placed third in intermediate. I’ve been hooked, and coaching ever since.
What made me a great student of pickleball is the same thing that makes me a great teacher of it: I understand how racquet sports work, and I understand what it feels like to start from the beginning. I’ve spent 26 years teaching in Chicago Public Schools, and 13 years in the Air Force before that, developing the leadership and motivational skills that make my coaching sessions feel less like instruction and more like a genuinely fun afternoon with someone who genuinely wants you to succeed.
My approach: I enjoy meeting people and promoting the positive attributes of learning and playing pickleball. I bring a jovial spirit to every session and a “you can do it” attitude that my students tell me is infectious. Being able to laugh, joke, and have fun with students makes my teaching productive and worthwhile.
Here's what makes my approach unstoppable:
I bring tournament competitive experience, and a genuinely infectious enthusiasm for this sport… all focused on helping brand new players feel confident, capable, and completely hooked on pickleball within the first four hours.
But here’s what I’m MOST focused on: Patient, beginner-friendly drilling that builds real confidence.
Not overwhelming drilling, but structured, encouraging drilling where you practice the same skill until it clicks. The kind that builds proper technique from day one so you start your journey the right way. With 26 years of teaching experience and an Air Force-forged ability to motivate anyone, I know exactly how to make every player feel capable from the very first rep.
I don’t waste time talking. We drill. You improve. You feel it immediately.
On May 31st, I’m bringing this infectious energy, military discipline, and genuine love for this game to beginners ready to start their pickleball journey in Northbrook.
Schedule
Your 4-Hour Transformation Journey
I. Welcome & Orientation (15 minutes)
Your Safe Space to Learn
This isn’t intimidating. Within 5 minutes, you’ll realize everyone else is a beginner too. We’ll explain exactly what to expect, introduce you to your equipment, and make sure you feel completely at home.
- Coach and participant introductions
- Camp structure overview
- Equipment basics: understanding paddles and balls
- Safety & injury prevention: warming up properly, court awareness, staying hydrated
II. Warm Up & Movement Fundamentals (15 minutes)
Learning to Move Like a Pickleball Player
- Dynamic warm-up: light jogging, lateral shuffles, arm circles, reaction drills
- Court movement basics: ready position, split step, moving to the kitchen
- Building confidence in your movement
III. Grip Fundamentals & Paddle Control (15 minutes)
The Foundation of Every Shot
- Continental grip instruction — the grip that works for everything
- Hand positioning and paddle control basics
- Partner tap rally and soft control drills
- Feeling the ball on your paddle
IV. Dinking Fundamentals (45 minutes)
The Heart of Pickleball
- What is a dink and why it matters
- Soft touch technique that anyone can learn
- Body positioning near the non-volley zone
Drills:
- Cross-court dinking practice
- Forehand and backhand dinking
- Consistency challenges — how many in a row can you do?
V. Volleys (30 minutes)
Controlling Balls in the Air
- What a volley is and when to use it
- Proper paddle positioning
- Punch vs. swing technique — the secret beginners need to know
Drills:
- Volley exchanges with your partner
- Reaction volleys — building your reflexes
- Target volleys — aiming practice
BREAK (10 minutes)
VI. Serving Fundamentals (25 minutes)
Starting Every Point with Confidence
- Legal serve rules explained simply
- Underhand motion and proper contact point
- Body positioning that makes serving easy
Drills:
- Target serving practice
- Consistency building — getting it in every time
VII. Return of Serve (25 minutes)
The Second Most Important Shot
- Why deep returns matter
- Court positioning after your return
- Setting yourself up for success
Drills:
- Return and move drill
- Return placement practice
VIII. Game Play, Rules & Scoring (30 minutes)
Understanding the Game
- Basic rules explained clearly:
- Two bounce rule
- Non-volley zone rules
- Common faults
- How scoring works — we’ll practice until it makes sense
- How to call the score
- Pickleball etiquette: fair calls, sportsmanship, paddle tapping
IX. Guided Gameplay (20 minutes)
Putting It All Together
- Coach-guided gameplay with gentle corrections
- Focus on serving sequence
- Moving to the kitchen confidently
- Partner communication
- Experiencing actual pickleball!
X. Wrap Up & Q&A (10 minutes)
Your Path Forward
- Recap of key skills learned
- Open Q&A — ask anything!
- Tips for continued improvement
- Community access and next steps
- Group photo + exchange of contacts with your new pickleball friends
WHY I'M OBSESSED WITH BEGINNER-FRIENDLY DRILLING (AND WHY YOU WILL BE TOO)
Most beginner camps overwhelm you with too much information.
I’m different.
Here’s my philosophy: Repetition = Confidence
You don’t learn pickleball by watching demonstrations. You learn by actually doing it, over and over and over, with a coach who has 26 years of teaching experience and an Air Force-forged ability to motivate anyone on his worst day.
And here’s the truth about why I’m obsessed with beginner-friendly drilling:
Because let’s be honest — we all love that moment when we try something new and it actually WORKS, don’t we?
That moment when your first dink lands softly in the kitchen.
That rush when your serve finally goes in — three times in a row!
That feeling when you rally back and forth without missing.
You don’t have to wait weeks to see progress. You see it immediately. Right there on the court.
That’s why drilling is the heartbeat of my beginner camps. Not because I think it’s good for you (though it is), but because it’s incredibly satisfying to watch someone go from “I can’t do this” to “I just did that!” in a single evening.
Player Stories
See why 98% of our campers recommend this camp.
Hi, I’m Debbie from Oklahoma. I really enjoyed today’s drill. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it exceeded my expectations. I got plenty of reps, learned many new aspects of the game, and added to my toolbox. It was a great experience.
– Debbie
Hi, I’m Linda. I’m from Iowa. I joined the camp today. It was great to touch on all different aspects. We’re able to drill enough that we got good at all the different aspects. So I’m ready to hit the courts.
– Linda
Hi. I just finished an Obsessed
Pickleballers clinic, and I would
recommend it to anyone who wants to get better. Mark has a great way of explaining things, and he teaches in a way that anyone can get better in the four hour session.
– Camp Attendee
REMEMBER FEELING INTIMIDATED WATCHING PICKLEBALL PLAYERS?
You know that moment when you see people playing pickleball and think…
…“I could never do that”?
…“I’m not athletic enough”?
…“Everyone else already knows how to play”?
That feeling ends on May 31st.
Because by the time you walk off the court at 8:00 PM, you’ll be playing actual pickleball games. You’ll understand the rules. You’ll know how to keep score. And you’ll have a clear path to becoming the player you’ve been watching from the sidelines.
IMAGINE THIS: It's Tuesday, June 2nd (Two Days After Camp)
You’re at your local park and you see a group playing pickleball.
But this time, instead of watching from the sidelines, you walk up confidently.
“Mind if I join?”
They welcome you in. You step onto the court. You call out the score correctly. Your serve goes in. You move to the kitchen. You dink the ball back and forth. You’re actually playing pickleball — and holding your own.
By the end of the games, they’re asking if you want to join their regular group. They’re exchanging phone numbers. You’re already part of the community.
That’s the difference between who you are right now and who you’ll be after the camp.
And it all starts the moment you register — because the transformation begins before you even arrive.
WHAT YOU'LL ACTUALLY WALK AWAY WITH (The Real Outcomes)
You'll Actually Know How to Play Pickleball
I’ll teach you every fundamental skill you need to step onto any court and play. You won’t just understand the theory, you’ll have actually done it, repeatedly, with patient coaching from a 26-year educator and Air Force veteran who makes every student feel like they can do this.
By the end of camp, you’ll be able to serve, return, dink, volley, keep score, and play actual games. You’ll understand the rules. You’ll know the etiquette. You’ll be a real pickleball player.
You'll Meet Your New Pickleball Family
I’ll connect you with other beginners at your exact skill level. You’ll exchange numbers, join the Obsessed Pickleballers Community together, and stay permanently connected with everyone you meet.
No one gets left behind. Whether you’re naturally social or more reserved, you’ll be welcomed and seamlessly connected with the entire group through our community platform.
After camp, the group chat starts buzzing with practice invites. By next month, you’ll have a regular crew of fellow beginners who understand your journey, no more feeling intimidated or alone.
You'll Have Confidence to Play Anywhere
I’ll eliminate the fear that’s been keeping you on the sidelines. Not sure about the rules? You’ll know them. Worried about looking foolish? You’ll have practiced hundreds of shots. Intimidated by the scoring? You’ll be calling it out confidently.
When you step onto courts the following week, you’ll walk on with your head held high. You’re not a beginner hoping to fake it — you’re a trained player ready to learn and improve.
You'll Understand Your Path to 2.5 and Beyond
I’ll show you exactly what to practice and how to improve. You won’t be wandering aimlessly, you’ll have a clear roadmap from beginner to intermediate and beyond.
Most beginners spend months or years developing bad habits. You’ll learn the right way from day one — setting yourself up for rapid improvement.
You'll Fall in Love with This Amazing Sport
I’ll show you why millions of people are obsessed with pickleball. You’ll leave energized, excited, and already planning your next time on the court.
Remember feeling intimidated watching others play and wondering if you could ever do that?
On May 31st, that question gets answered.
Because when you experience what it feels like to actually play, when you’re laughing, competing, and connecting with new friends, that’s when you catch the pickleball bug.
The Bonus Package That Keeps You Improving For Life
Most camps charge such hefty prices and send you home with nothing but memories. We’re giving you a complete transformation system for life:
🎁 Bonus #1: The Perfect Guide To Acing Pickleball eBook ($47 value)
Written by Obsessed Pickleballers head coach Mark Ianni, it captures everything we teach on the court — and then goes even deeper — so you’re never guessing what to do next.
Here’s what’s inside:
- Every pickleball concept explained in detail for 40+ players
- Clear explanations of every fundamental shot
- Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
- Practice drills you can do with your new camp friends
- Your roadmap from 2.0 to 2.5 to 3.0 and beyond
Over 500 five-star reviews from players just like you who use it as their ongoing playbook.
🎁 Bonus #2: Obsessed Pickleballers Community Membership ($360/year value)
Imagine having access to hundreds of passionate players AND coaches from across the entire US.
Here’s what happens in the community:
- Weekly Live Coaching Sessions from coaches across the US — your camp friends join these sessions too, so you’re learning together even after May 31st
- 24/7 Access to Ask Beginner Questions – No question is too basic. Post videos, ask for help, get feedback from coaches and experienced players
- Complete Video Library with beginner-focused content you can work through with your new partners
- Nationwide Network – When you travel, you already have friendly faces to play with
- The Group Chat on Steroids – Your camp crew is chatting, but so is the entire national community. You’re part of something massive.
Real benefit: Your beginner crew just became a nationwide family. Continuous coaching, continuous connection, continuous improvement — forever.
Bonus #3: That’s a SURPRISE! And a little hint: It’s another perfect guide for 40 and over players.
Frequently Asked Questions
What skill level is this camp for?
This camp is designed specifically for beginners, players at the 2.0-2.5 level or anyone who’s brand new to pickleball. If you’ve never played before or you’ve only played a few times, this camp is perfect for you.
I've never played pickleball before. Would I be eligible?
I'm not very athletic. Will I be able to keep up?
Yes! Pickleball is one of the most accessible sports out there, and this camp is designed specifically for players in their 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond. With 26 years of teaching experience in Chicago Public Schools and 13 years in the Air Force, I know how to make learning accessible and genuinely enjoyable for everyone regardless of athletic background. My “you can do it” attitude isn’t a slogan — it’s how I coach every single person in the room.
What should I bring?
Will I get one-on-one attention?
Definitely. With a maximum of 8 students, you’ll receive plenty of personalized feedback and individual attention throughout the camp. My 26 years in the classroom means I know how to read every student individually and adjust on the fly to make sure no one gets left behind.
When do I get the bonuses?
Immediately upon registration:
- Perfect Guide eBook (instant download)
- Community access (login credentials sent to your email)
You can start learning even before you arrive.
The SURPRISE bonus will be sent to you after the camp.
What if I can't make it and need to cancel?
We understand that life happens, and we always aim to be as fair and flexible as possible.
If you need to cancel your registration for any reason, the following refund and credit options apply based on how much notice we receive:
30+ Days’ Notice
You may choose between:
• A 90% refund, or
• 100% credit toward a future Obsessed Pickleballers camp
15–30 Days’ Notice
You may choose between:
• A 90% refund, or
• 100% credit toward a future Obsessed Pickleballers camp
8–14 Days’ Notice
You may choose between:
• A 50% refund, or
• 100% credit toward a future Obsessed Pickleballers camp
0–7 Days’ Notice
While we’re unable to offer refunds within this window, we’re happy to provide 100% credit toward a future Obsessed Pickleballers camp so you don’t miss out.
To request a refund or credit, please email us in writing. Once received, requests are typically processed within 10–15 business days.
Thank you for your understanding—we truly appreciate being part of your pickleball journey and look forward to welcoming you on the court soon.
I'm nervous about being a complete beginner. Is that normal?
Completely normal! Every single person at this camp is either a complete beginner or has only played a handful of times. My students consistently tell me my “you can do it” attitude is infectious — and that energy fills the room from the very first minute. You’ll feel completely at home before you even pick up a paddle.
Ready For Your Breakthrough?
This is your moment.
Sunday, May 31st, 2026. 4:00 PM, Slate Pickleball Club, Northbrook, IL
People will walk in having never held a paddle.
People will learn, laugh, and play their first real games.
People will walk out as confident pickleball players with new friends and a clear path to 2.5 and beyond.
The question is: Will you be one of them?
All rights reserved 2026. This product is brought to you and copyrighted by Obsessed Pickleballers