©2025 All Rights Reserved | Association of Pickleball Players
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Debuting in South Florida at The Fort in January 2025, APP Academy will be the first-ever US and International boarding pickleball training and development program.
The program is designed to develop APP Next, Collegiate and Professional pickleball players, while building well-rounded student athletes.
Our family orientated environment encourages players to reach their goals by embracing challenges on the court, in the classroom, and through daily competition.
OUR MISSION
Thank you for visiting our site and showing interest working with our team overseeing both the APP Academy and Touring Pros Program - the APP High Performance Coaching Staff.
I strongly feel that this group of dedicated coaches and leaders in the pickleball industry, will make both of these player development programs the best worldwide training opportunities for any aspiring player junior to pro.
Ken Herrmann
Managing Owner, APP Academy & APP TPP
I strongly feel that this group of dedicated coaches and leaders in the pickleball industry, will make both of these player development programs the best worldwide training opportunities for any aspiring player junior to pro.
Ken Herrmann
Managing Owner, APP Academy & APP TPP
The Fort
Premier sports facility in South Florida, the ultimate destination for athletes and enthusiasts
Features
01
Premier Facility in United States
02
Located in South Florida
03
43 lighted courts (14 covered)
04
On-site fitness facility
05
Full service restaurant
06
2000 sq ft pro shop
07
Championship court seating 1200
Core Values
Leadership
Leaders are positive role models who have a profound influence on other student athletes. Student-athletes at the APP Academy are encouraged to set an example by inspiring other players to reach their maximum potential.
Resilience
On court practices, strength and conditioning sessions, academic classes, and competition constantly stretch players out of their comfort zones. Facing adversity allows players to overcome temporary setbacks and is key to building resilience in competition and in life.
Integrity
Players are held to a high ethical standard. Student-athletes are constantly encouraged to achieve competitive goals without compromising their most important core values.
Diligent
With the Academy staff’s philosophy on each individual’s quality of working carefully, student-athletes will remain committed to their tasks on hand both on and off the court and push back against inevitable roadblocks.
Timeline
Jan 2025
APP Academy Non-Boarding
APP Academy After School
JUNE 2025
APP Academy Summer Camps
AUG 2025
APP Academy Boarding
DIRECTORS & Administrative Staff
Kyle Yates
Co-Director
2024 Hall of Fame
2024 Hall of Fame
DeAnne“Dee” Davison
General Manager
APP Academy / Touring Pro Program
academy@theapp.global
APP Academy / Touring Pro Program
academy@theapp.global
Coaching Staff
Chad edwards
APP Next National Team Coach
Lee whitwell
APP Next National Team Coach
Dominic Catalano
APP High Performance Coach
Regina Goldberg
High Performance Coaching Team
Brad Mixson
High Performance Coaching Team
Mason DURBIN
High Performance Coaching Team
Timeline
NON-BOARDING PROGRAMS
Programs Offered:
APP Academy Full-Time(Non-Boarding)
APP Academy After School
APP Academy Full-Time(Non-Boarding)
APP Academy After School
Winter Session
January 20th – March 30, 2025
Duration: 10 weeks
Days: Monday – Friday, plus Saturday
Spring Session
April 7th – June 1, 2025
Duration: 8 weeks
Days: Monday – Friday, plus Saturday
Fall Session
August 18th – December 21, 2025
Duration: 18 weeks
Days: Monday – Friday, plus Saturday
Timeline
FULL YEAR BOARDING PROGRAM
January 6, 2025, we will start accepting applications and deposits for the 2025-2026 APP Academy full-year boarding program. Annual Fort Junior Membership is required.
August 18, 2025 – May 15, 2026
Holiday Break – December 22, 2025 to January 4, 2026
Spring Break – March 30 to April 5, 2026
Graduation May 16, 2026
WEEKLY SCHEDULE & PRICING
Time
Activity
6:45am
Rise and Shine
7:30 am - 10:30 am
Breakfast/ Studies
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Morning Session: On Court Training
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Lunch, Studies, Appointments, Admin
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Afternoon Session (Tues/Wed/Thurs):
Rotiating Gym, Strategy, Film, Mental, Nutrition, Etc.
Rotiating Gym, Strategy, Film, Mental, Nutrition, Etc.
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Afternoon Session (Monday - Friday): On Court Training
7:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Dinner
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Study Hall
9:45 pm
Curfew
10:30 pm
Lights Out
Weekend
• No scheduled activities
• Private lessons available
• Travel to local, regional, national tournaments supported
• Study
• Rest
• Private lessons available
• Travel to local, regional, national tournaments supported
• Study
• Rest
WINTER SESSION
# WEEKS
# HOUR TRAINING
TOTAL COST
COST PER TRAINING
DEPOSIT
BALANCE DUE
FALL SESSION
August 18, 2025 to December 21, 2025
August 18, 2025 to December 21, 2025
18
477
$19,318
$40.50
20%
August 18, 2025
WINTER SESSION
January 5, 2026 to May 15, 2026
January 5, 2026 to May 15, 2026
18
477
$19,318
$40.50
20%
January 5, 2026
Time
Activity
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Morning Session: on/off court training
2:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Lunch, Studies, or rest
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Tuesday & Thursday: Fitness Training
Wednesday: Mental Specialist
Wednesday: Mental Specialist
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Afternoon Session: on/off court training
SESSION
# WEEKS
# HOUR TRAINING
TOTAL COST
COST PER TRAINING
DEPOSIT
BALANCE DUE
WINTER SESSION
(Non-Boarding)
(Non-Boarding)
10
265
$6,900
$26.04
20%
January 20, 2025
SPRING SESSION
(Non-Boarding)
(Non-Boarding)
8
212
$5,520
$26.04
20%
April 7, 2025
FALL SESSION
(Non-Boarding)
(Non-Boarding)
18
477
$12,421
$26.04
20%
August 18, 2025
Weekly schedule includes Monday through Friday
The APP Academy After-School program is designed for athletes who attend a traditional school and wish to attend the high-performance development training program offered by the APP Academy.
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Afternoon: on court training
Plus, Saturday 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
* Academy students enrolled in the After School Program have the option to participate in the Tuesday-Thursday off court fitness mental specialist training sessions. This will be an additional fee.
SESSION
# WEEKS
# HOUR TRAINING
TOTAL COST
COST PER TRAINING
DEPOSIT
BALANCE DUE
WINTER SESSION
(Package A)
(Package A)
10
60
$1,531
$25.51
PAID IN FULL
January 20, 2025
WINTER SESSION
(Package B)
(Package B)
6
36
$1,387
$38.54
PAID IN FULL
January 20, 2025
SPRING SESSION
(Package A)
(Package A)
8
48
$1,224
$25.51
PAID IN FULL
April 7, 2025
SPRING SESSION
(Package B)
(Package B)
4
24
$925
$38.54
PAID IN FULL
April 7, 2025
FALL SESSION
(Package A)
(Package A)
18
108
$2,755
$25.51
PAID IN FULL
August 18, 2025
FALL SESSION
(Package B)
(Package B)
9
54
$2,081
$38.54
PAID IN FULL
August 18, 2025
PAY AS YOU GO
9
1
$50
$50
PAID IN FULL
Based on Space Available
PACK OF 10 (Mental Specialist Training)
$100
PAID IN FULL
Paid During Session
Housing and Academic Support
Full-Time Boarding
FULL-TIME BOARDING: HOUSING
- Shared Housing
- Fully Furnished
- Kitchen
- Laundry
- Resident Parent Manager
FULL-TIME HOUSING & SUPERVISION
- House adult/parent living with athletes if APP Academy boarding
- Meal Prep
- Transportation
- Study Hall
- Calendar/Schedule Management
- Medical appointments
- Social outings with supervision
Full-Time Boarding: Education
APP Academy is dedicated to academic success, ensuring education remains a priority alongside performance training. Our methods create well-rounded student-athletes through advanced technology, tutorial support, ACT/SAT prep, and the flexibility needed by serious athletes.
Our goal is for 100% of APP Academy athletes to earn academic or athletic scholarships and continue playing pickleball at the collegiate level.
- Online / Public /Private
- Registration Assistance
- Coordinating Tutoring
FAQs
Who is eligible to participate in the APP Academy programs (non-boarding full-day program and after-school program)?
A player in the APP Academy is still playing amateur tournaments with a skill level 5.0 or below. When they are committed to playing full-time pro and meet APP Co-Director’s approval, they can move to the Touring Pro Program (TPP).
Can students play additionally at The Fort when not attending their APP Academy sessions?
A junior will have the opportunity to obtain a junior membership at the Fort to play additionally with family and friends if enrolled in either the APP Academy or the Fort’s junior program. For additional information contact Fort Membership Director, David Tabb at: davidt@playthefort.com
What is the coach/student ratio?
6:1
What is the contingency plan for rain?
We will move the academy to the covered courts in case of rain.
How can a student arrange private lessons with members of the APP High-Performance Coaching staff?
A student can arrange a private lesson with one of the academy's high-performance coaches by contacting Dee Davison at ddavison@theapp.global.
How is a player’s skill level assessed, and how are academy students placed?
A player must have an advanced skill level for their age to be accepted into the APP Academy program. A player’s skill level can be assessed using their UTR rating, current tournament results, and/or 30-minute evaluation with one of the APP Academy Coaching Staff. The APP Academy requires acceptance into the program, contact DeAnne “Dee” Davison via email: academy@theapp.global for additional information.
When does registration open for the APP Academy non-boarding full-day program and the APP Academy after-school program?
Registrations are now being accepted for the non-boarding full-day program and after-school program. Please email academy@theapp.global for additional information. Winter session begins January 20, 2025; spring session begins April 7, 2025 and fall session begins August 18, 2025.
