Pickleball Clinics in the Philippines: Pickleball Clinics Pop Up in Popular Philippine Malls This Summer
What's the Score?
As the Philippine summer continues, pickleball players of all levels can access affordable and even free clinics held at prominent shopping malls across the country. These initiatives aim to make the sport more accessible and help enthusiasts improve their skills with guided sessions from certified coaches and international medalists.
Hit it deeper!
The trend of hosting pickleball clinics in popular mall destinations highlights the sport's growing presence in the Philippines during the summer season. Several mall chains are participating, offering different programs tailored to various audiences and skill levels.
One notable initiative is taking place at Ayala Malls U.P. Town Center. Here, clinics are offered for individuals aged 15 and older. Access to the four planned sessions on May 4, 11, 25, and June 1 requires participants to present receipts totalling ₱3,000 from the mall's stores, excluding Merkado, Landers, bills payments, and bazaars. These sessions are designed to progressively teach pickleball fundamentals. They begin with dinking fundamentals and court positioning, move on to serving and returning, and then cover volleys and a dink review. The final session includes a review and culminates in a tournament. The clinics are led by international gold medallist Ian Alcazar, providing participants with high-level guidance. Registration for this program remains open until May 4, 2025.
Another accessible option is being offered by SM City Novaliches, part of the widespread SM chain of malls. This location provides free weekend pickleball clinics that are open to players of all ages and skill levels. These free coaching sessions began on April 26, 2025, and are scheduled to run every Saturday and Sunday until May 25, 2025. Saturday sessions are held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., while Sunday sessions take place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.. The clinics are conveniently located at the Pickleball & Badminton Court on the Ground Level of SM City Novaliches.
Additionally, Robinson’s Dasmariñas, in partnership with Dasma Pickleball and Crosscourt Sports, is hosting summer pickleball clinics. These clinics are paid, starting at ₱900 per person, but feature structured training alongside open play opportunities. The clinics are organised into multiple batches throughout May. The first two batches, scheduled for May 5–9 and May 12–16, each include five sessions featuring one hour of training plus four hours of open play. The registration fee for these batches is ₱900. Subsequent batches will take place on May 19–20 & 22–23 and May 26–29. These batches consist of four sessions, each with one hour of training and four hours of open play, at a registration fee of ₱750.
This mall-based approach demonstrates a concerted effort to bring pickleball directly to public spaces, making it easier for casual and aspiring players to try the sport and receive professional instruction.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The appearance of pickleball clinics in popular Philippine malls this summer is a significant indicator of the sport's accelerating growth and democratisation in the region. By leveraging high-traffic retail locations, event organisers and mall operators are effectively lowering the barrier to entry for potential new players. Offering options ranging from free sessions at SM City Novaliches to structured, paid clinics at Robinson's Dasmariñas and incentive-based access at Ayala Malls U.P. Town Center caters to a wide demographic and budget range. The involvement of an international gold medallist like Ian Alcazar adds a layer of credibility and high-quality instruction that is particularly appealing. This strategy of integrating pickleball into everyday public spaces like malls is a smart and effective way to increase visibility, accessibility, and participation, fostering the sport's development at a grassroots level across the Philippines.