PACE X JUNIOR ACADEMY

PACE X JUNIOR ACADEMY

Taking Juniors in Houston to the Next Level

Designed for serious junior athletes ages 8–16, the PACE X Junior Academy is an application-only program built to prepare competitive players for tournament success. This elite training environment is for juniors who are committed to improving their skills, competing at a higher level, and developing the discipline required to perform under pressure.

Program Highlights

Advanced On-Court Training

Includes 9 hours of high-level group training across three intensive sessions. Each 3-hour session focuses on advanced drills, competitive match play strategy, court positioning, and decision-making under pressure — all structured to prepare athletes for real tournament environments.

Tournament Coaching Experience

November 2nd Tournament Included.

Every academy athlete receives free tournament entry, with PACE Pros on-site providing live coaching, match analysis, and in-game adjustments throughout the event.

Private Coaching Advantage

Athletes receive 3 hours of one-on-one private coaching with PACE Pros to accelerate individual development. Each player completes two 1.5-hour private lessons, working directly with both academy coaches to target technical gaps and competitive growth.

Strength, Conditioning & Mental Focus

Each on-court session integrates strength training, conditioning, and mental focus strategies. Athletes work with coaches to build mobility, prevent injury, and develop the mindset required for sustained competitive performance.

Small Group. Serious Focus.

Enrollment is strictly limited to 12 athletes to ensure a focused, disciplined, and high-performance training environment where every player receives meaningful attention.

Elite Instruction Ratio

A 6:1 player-to-pro ratio guarantees consistent feedback, hands-on coaching, and individualized guidance throughout the program.

PACE Academy Gear

This academy is JOOLA-sponsored. Participating athletes receive access to academy bags and shirts at a discounted rate, reinforcing professional standards on and off the court.

Application Required

PACE X Junior Academy is application-only and reserved for committed, competitive athletes ready to train, compete, and progress to the next level.

PACE X JUNIOR ACADEMY OUTLINE

Theme: “Play With Purpose”

Hour 1 – Warm-Up & Footwork Foundations

Dynamic warm-up & mobility
Court movement drills with resistance
Agility ladders, cone cuts, and directional split-step training

Hour 2 – Stroke & Shot Consistency

Deep crosscourt dinks & resets
Third shot drops vs drives
Return + transition to NVZ
Serve/return placement under pressure

Hour 3 – Coached Match Play

King/Queen of the Court (rotation with focused goals)
Video review clips + feedback
Goal Setting & Journaling: Tournament prep planning

Theme: “Control the Rally – Win the Point”

Hour 1 – Strength & Reactive Movement

Core & shoulder stabilization drills
Resistance band strength work (hips, shoulders)
Reaction-based footwork & ball tracking

Hour 2 – Offense/Defense Training

Speed-up timing & block technique
Transition zone: When to reset vs attack
Poaching communication drills
2 vs 1 defense scenarios

Hour 3 – Game Simulation & Feedback

Mini-games to 7 with coach-fed scenarios
Immediate feedback between points
Journal: Self-assess top 3 match weaknesses

Theme: “Tactical Awareness & Mental Toughness”

Hour 1 – Warm-Up & Competitive Conditioning

Cardio & mobility circuits
Fast-paced point-play rallies (no breaks)
Mental challenge drills (e.g., mistake recovery, pressure targets)

Hour 2 – Tournament Situational Drills

Serve under pressure (0-9 behind scenario)
Momentum shift training
Side out defense focus
Partner trust communication drills

Hour 3 – Full Match Play + Debrief

Tournament-style match play (with timeouts, coaching breaks)
Coaches provide live adjustments
Post-match debrief and Q&A
Final goal review and individual feedback

Schedule / Costs

Dates: October 12th, October 19th, October 26th
Match Play: November 2nd
Time: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Academy Cost: $495

What's Included

9 Hours of On Court Instruction
Personal Coaches for each child
3 Hours of Private Lessons (2 Lessons / 1.5 Hours Each)
3 Hours Match Play / Round Robin / Coached Play / Last Day
On site strength training
Personal Goal Setting and accountability
On and off court strategy sessions
Mental strength tools
Sponsored By Joola: Discounted PACE Gear

Our Instructors

Pierre TurmelAcademy Professional

Pierre Turmel comes to PACE from being the Director of Tennis & Pickleball at Lost Forest Country Club. He was a coach with the Tyson McGuffin camps where he lead instruction across the county. Pierre currently plays on the PPA tour in both the main and Senior events. A multiple time Gold Medalist in the 5.0 division and has a wealth of knowledge to help you with your game!

Jeremy VoAcademy Professional

Jeremy Vo was born and raised in Houston, TX. By the early age of 7, he was introduced to various racket sports, but his interest gravitated towards tennis and table tennis. He was accepted into the Zina Garrison Tennis Academy and trained there from 1995-2003. This experience led him to compete as a top level in Junior tennis and gave him opportunities to train with and compete against former and current pros. Throughout his tennis career, he has coached tennis for over a decade before he picked up pickleball in October of 2022. Since then, he has already competed and medaled over 13 times and plans to pursue more tournaments in the future.

Jed McNealAcademy Professional

Born and raised in Jacksonville, FL, Jed McNeal is a passionate pickleball instructor and player. A devoted father of two sons, he balances family life with his love for the sport. Jed often finds himself on the medal stand in tournaments, showcasing his competitive spirit and skill. He enjoys sharing his expertise with others, particularly teaching the intricacies of drives and topspin drops to help players elevate their game. Whether on the court or at home, Jed embodies dedication and a love for pickleball.