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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 Next Gen, 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

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

DeAnne“Dee” Davison​

General Manager
APP Academy / Touring Pro Program
academy@theapp.global

Coaching Staff

Chad edwards

APP Next Gen National Team Coach

Lee whitwell

APP Next Gen National Team Coach

Dominic Catalano

APP High Performance Coach

Ken Herrmann is building a team of high-performance international pickleball coaches to lead our player development program.

Two Directors for the APP High Performance Coaching will lead the professional staff.
If you are interested in hearing about more opportunities to join our team, please email Ken at kherrmann@theapp.global.

Contact

NON-BOARDING PROGRAMS

6:1 Ratio – 6 students to 1 Pro Instructor

Session

Description

WINTER SESSION
January 6th - March 30, 2025
12 weeks Monday – Friday
APP Academy Full-Time (Non-Boarding)
APP Academy After School
WINTER SESSION
January 6th - March 30, 2025
12 weeks Monday – Friday
APP Academy Full-Time (Non-Boarding)
APP Academy After School
WINTER SESSION
January 6th - March 30, 2025
12 weeks Monday – Friday
APP Academy Full-Time (Non-Boarding)
APP Academy After School

Timeline

NON-BOARDING PROGRAMS

Programs Offered:
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.
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
WINTER SESSION
# WEEKS
# HOUR TRAINING
TOTAL COST
COST PER TRAINING
DEPOSIT
BALANCE DUE
FALL SESSION
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
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
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)
10
265
$6,900
$26.04
20%
January 20, 2025
SPRING SESSION
(Non-Boarding)
8
212
$5,520
$26.04
20%
April 7, 2025
FALL SESSION
(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)
10
60
$1,531
$25.51
PAID IN FULL
January 20, 2025
WINTER SESSION
(Package B)
6
36
$1,387
$38.54
PAID IN FULL
January 20, 2025
SPRING SESSION
(Package A)
8
48
$1,224
$25.51
PAID IN FULL
April 7, 2025
SPRING SESSION
(Package B)
4
24
$925
$38.54
PAID IN FULL
April 7, 2025
FALL SESSION
(Package A)
18
108
$2,755
$25.51
PAID IN FULL
August 18, 2025
FALL SESSION
(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

SUMMER CAMPS

Summer camps are held weekly Monday through Friday and will begin June 2nd and run through August 1st, 2025. Each camp will provide on court training with additional off session focusing on fitness and mental toughness training.

All day sessions will provide lunch and a rest period each day from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.

Pricing will be available in April.

Pick your session for the week:

Morning:  8:30 am  – 11:30 am  on/off court training

Afternoon: 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm  on/off court training


All Day:  Morning and Afternoon session with lunch/rest provided


HOLIDAY CAMPS

Full-day camps offered consisting of three full days

Each day lunch and a rest period is provided from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm.

Pricing will be available in September.

Pick your Holiday Camp: Dec 22/23/24  or  Dec 29/30/31

Morning:  8:30 am – 11:30 am  on/off court training

Lunch/Rest: 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm  on/off court training


Afternoon:   Morning and Afternoon session with lunch/rest provided


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​

For more information or to discuss eligibility, contact Ken Herrmann directly

Contact

Your Pathway to Competing at the Highest Levels

A continued pathway of development for an aspiring player wanting to compete at the highest levels of the sport
*Next Gen II is the pathway to developing a younger player to compete in the Next Gen Series and be recognized for the U.S. Next Gen National Team or Training Assistance Program (TAP).

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.