Adult Fitness and Athletics
Get in shape and have fun in our fitness classes, sports leagues, and open gyms.
No matter your fitness level or fitness goals, we have something for everyone! Choose from a variety of fitness classes and recreational activities including basketball, kettlebells, pickleball, tennis, volleyball, yoga and Zumba. Sign up for lessons, join a competitive league, stop by for open gym, or become a member of the Pony Activity Center.
Search for classes
Join the Pony Activity Center (PAC)
The facility offers the following amenities:
- Indoor walking/running track - Nine laps per mile
- Weight room - 5,600 square feet
- Cardio room - 2,400 square feet
- Four gymnasiums
- Stretching/resistance area
- Locker rooms with a shower
Adult Fitness and Athletics
- Fitness
- Adult Basketball - Open Play
- Pickleball
- Softball League
- Tennis - Lessons
- Adult Volleyball - Open Play
Fitness
Adult Basketball - Open Play
Play is competitive, fun and a great work out for all levels of play. Teams are formed at the gym to play pick-up basketball. This is not a league, and new players are always welcome.
Beginning Jan. 2024 - Pre-registration is required to for open play.
You must have an account in ActiveNet in order to pre-register for all Open Play dates/times. Pre-registration is required for Open Play.
- Open Play activities are included with a Full PAC membership.
- Non-PAC member players or track-only members are charged a day pass fee of either a senior ($5), adult ($7) or youth ($5) rate, when registering.
- Day passes are non-refundable less than 24 hours prior to play and are not refunded in the event of a no-show. You may call or email the PAC office for cancellations - pac@stillwaterschools.org or 651-351-8036. You may also withdraw from your online account until 11:59 p.m. before the day of play.
Registration opens two days prior to day of play at the following times:
8 a.m. for Stillwater School District Residents
12 p.m. for Stillwater School District Non-Residents
Open Play times - Year Round:
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays: 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Wednesdays: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Check the Pony Activity Center Gym Calendars for full schedule and changes in times/dates. Unexpected activity cancellations may happen based on school and athletics needs.
Pickleball
One of the fastest growing sports in the country
We offer opportunities for all levels of play: open gym, tournaments and lessons. Our Open Play format is designated All Level, Beginner, or Competitive. We will do our best to have a minimum of six courts available for all scheduled dates during peak indoor season .
You must have an account in ActiveNet to register for all Open Play dates/times. Pre-registration is required for Open Play.
- Open Play activities are included with a Full PAC membership.
- Non-PAC member players or Track-only members are charged a day pass fee of either a senior ($5), adult ($7) or youth ($5) rate, when they pre-register to play.
- Day passes are non-refundable less than 24 hours prior to play and are not refunded in the event of a no-show. You may call or email the PAC office for cancellations - pac@stillwaterschools.org or 651-351-8037. You may also withdraw via your online account until 11:59 p.m. before the day of play.
2024-25 indoor open play season begins Oct. 14. Court reservations are available beginning Sept. 7.
Open Play registration opens seven days prior to day of play at the following times:
8 a.m. for Stillwater School District Residents
12 p.m. for Stillwater School District Non-Residents
- Open Pickleball Expectations
- Pickleball Court Reservations
- Adult Lesson Info and Prerequisites
- How to Sign Up for Open Play
Open Pickleball Expectations
Bring friends or pair up with someone at the courts. Game experience and knowledge of the rules is encouraged in order to participate in open pickleball. Participants must comply with posted house rules. Pickleballs are not provided during Open Play. You should bring your own paddle but the PAC does have ones that you may borrow.
Pickleball Open Play
Open Play follows a weekly schedule during the school year and is subject to change based on school needs and closings. Open Play sessions fall under the following headings:
All Level Play
Beginner/Advanced Beginner <3.5
Intermediate/Advanced 3.5+
General Rules:
- Pickleball Game Rules - www.usapa.org
- Waiting players will place their paddles in the paddle holders and rotate onto the courts in groups of 4.
- One paddle permitted per person.
- If there are less than 4 people waiting, remaining players may determine who will stay on the court and who will sit out.
- When a game is complete, immediately exit the court. If you wish to play again, put your paddle in the paddle holder and wait for your next turn.
- All player(s) must rotate if others are waiting.
- Players should play during the session that is aligned with their skill level.
- No single games, drilling or lessons during court times. Games are played to 11, win by 2.
- Regardless of score, all games should end at the end of the session time.
- Players are asked to help set up and take nets down
Etiquette:
- Begin each game by acknowledging the other players and introducing yourself if you don’t know them.
- Before serving, make sure that the receiver is ready and facing you. Then call the score.
- If a ball is going towards another court, do not chase it onto the court. Yell “Ball on Court”, and let the other people stop playing and retrieve the ball.
- If a ball lands in your court from another court, pause your game, look where it needs to go, make eye contact, and throw it directly to the person.
- Do not walk behind or across a court that is in active play.
- If the ball is out, and it’s on your side, call it out. If it’s close, give the benefit to your opponent.
- If you or your partner step into the kitchen on a volley, call it on yourself.
- Never ask for, or accept, line calls from spectators.
- Never leave a game without acknowledging the other team.
Pickleball Court Reservations
Rent a pickleball court for an hour or more. Pickleballs and net are provided. Rentals will be available for registration one month in advance. Each reservation must be made online and cancellations must be given a 48 hour notice. There will be a $5 cancellation fee. Cost $20 per hour per pickleball court. There are no senior discounts. Dates and times of rental availability will be posted online on the 15th of the month prior.
- Private court reservations include up to eight participants per court.
- Courts can be reserved for two hours maximum.
- Court reservations are not to be used for private tournaments or lessons, unless designated by PAC staff.
- New in 2024-25 - The person reserving the court, must be a PAC member. The reservation will cover all participants in the group with or without an active PAC membership.
- Check in with the PAC staff is required upon arrival and all players must provide a photo ID for our visitor management process.
Adult Lesson Info and Prerequisites
Do you want to improve your pickleball game? Individual or small group private lessons will help your skills, strategy and rating level. During the one-hour session, participants will be coached through skill repetition and drills specific to improve your pickleball game.
Beginner - The beginner course will introduce pickleball rules, body positioning, footwork, drills and doubles game strategy. Drills and strategy will focus on serves, returns, drop-shots, and dinks. Participants should bring their own paddle or borrow one from the PAC.
Prerequisites: None
Advanced Beginner - Improve your basic skills and strategy in this series of classes. Participants should bring their own paddle.
Prerequisites:
- Understands the rules of pickleball
- Gets in at least half of all serve attempts
- Gets at least half of return of serves deep and to middle of opponent's court
Intermediate -The intermediate lessons will drill spin serves, drop shots, footwork, dinks, fast action at the net, and defensive techniques, with an emphasis on winning doubles strategy. Participants should bring their own paddle.
Prerequisites:
- Understands the rules of pickleball
- Gets in at least 75% of all serve attempts
- Gets at least 75% of return of serves (ROS) deep and to the middle of opponent's court and gets forward to capture the kitchen line on most of their ROS's.
- Occasionally performs successful third shot drop shots. (Success is defined as a third shot drop shot that is not returned or can only be dinked back)
- Can perform at least 5 dinks in a row without placing the dinks in the net, out of the court, or popping them up.
How to Sign Up for Open Play
There will be a red arrow and link when the site opens for Registration. (This is the same as the Signup Genius process).
Registration will open two days prior to the day of play. Access is open as follows:
- School District residents: 8 a.m.
- School District non-residents: 12 p.m.
All customers will be able to SEE the Activity, but may not have access to register based on their residency status.
- Day Pass players will need to pay before check out.
- All pre-registered spots will be held for the duration of the session. (If you are late, we will not give away the spot)
- You can cancel your reservation up until 11:59 p.m. the day before the day of play, from your ActiveNet account. Choose "Transaction and Payment History" to find your activity reservation. Refunds are granted for cancellations up to 24 hours in advance of the day of play. Refunds are not given for no-shows.
Tournaments
January: Cabin Fever Tournament
Stillwater Area Public Schools Community Education Department is hosting the Cabin Fever Classic Pickleball Tournament on Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19, 2025 at Stillwater Area High School in the Pony Activity Center which features 10 indoor pickleball courts.
Location: Stillwater Area High School Pony Activity Center, 5701 Stillwater Boulevard North, Stillwater, MN 55082. Enter Door 11 W by the Pony Stadium entryway
Dates: Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19, 2025
Cost: $30 per player for the first event, $5 for each additional event, tournament t-shirt included in fee.
Tournament Format: The tournament format will consist of a minimum of 3 pool play games followed by single elimination tournament play (best 2 of 3 games) based on pool ranking. If pools are uneven we may alter to more pools games with limited teams advancing to bracket play. All games are officiated by the individuals playing and must make their own calls. This is an unsanctioned tournament.
Men’s and Women’s will play Saturday, January 18. Women's Competition will begin between 8am-11:00am and the Men's competition could start between 9:00am-1:00pm depending on the number of registered teams.
Mixed Doubles will play Sunday, January 19. Start times vary between 8am-1pm depending on the number of registered teams.
Competition in men’s, women’s and mixed will be offered at 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, divisions. Mixed will also have 50+ divisions. Teams are self-ranked according to USAPA criteria.
Tournament Director has the right to reclassify and combine divisions if necessary due to number of teams.
Registration:
Registration Link - Click Here
Registration opens October 28th, 2024 and will close Jan. 5, 2025 at 10 AM.
Each player needs to have their own separate online registration and payment.
The first registration should be $30. You can register for the second event by going into the new event and selecting the $5 registration fee.
There is a $5 processing fee if cancelled before January 5th, 2025.
There is no refund after January 5th, 2025 as t-shirts and brackets will be created and modifications to the brackets must be made.
Tournament Director:
Pete Heldstab
heldstabp@stillwaterschools.org
651-351-8454
July: Lumberjack Days Tournament
When: July 2025
Where: Stillwater Area High School Pony Activity Center, 5701 Stillwater Boulevard North, Stillwater, MN 55082. Enter Door 11W by the Pony Stadium entryway.
Cost: $35 per player for the first event, $5 for each additional event, tournament t-shirt included in fee.
The tournament format will consist of a minimum of three pool play games (11 points win by 1), followed by single elimination tournament play based on pool ranking. Tournament play will consist of the best two-of-three games (11 points win by 2). All games are officiated by the individuals playing and must make their own calls. This is an unsanctioned tournament.
Men’s and Women’s play Saturday. Depending on the number of teams registered for men’s and women’s play will dictate the start times of each tournament. The goal is to maximize court time for pool play for each level and gender will be dictated based on registrations.
Mixed Doubles play Sunday. Depending on the number of teams registered for mixed play will dictate the start times of each tournament. The goal is to maximize court time for pool play for each level and will be dictated based on registrations
Competition in mixed, men’s and women’s will be offered at 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 divisions, As well as 50+ divisions in mixed. Teams are self-ranked according to USAPA criteria.
Tournament Director has the right to reclassify and combine divisions if necessary due to number of teams.
Register online: TBD
- Each player needs to have their own separate online registration and payment.
- The first registration should be $35. You can register for the second event by going into the new event and selecting the $5 registration fee.
- There is a $5 processing fee if cancelled.
- There are not late refunds as t-shirts and brackets will be created and modifications to the brackets must be made.
Tournament Director
Pete Heldstab
heldstabp@stillwaterschools.org
651-351-8454
October: Dink or Treat
Stillwater Area Public Schools Community Education Department is hosting the Dink or Treat Pickleball Tournament Saturday, October 26th and Sunday, October 27th, 2024 at Stillwater Area High School.
The Pony Activity Center will host this tournament with 10 indoor pickleball courts.
Location: Stillwater Area High School Pony Activity Center 5701 Stillwater Boulevard North, Stillwater, MN 55082
Time and Dates:
The times of each tournament will be based on the number registered for each tournament. Women will start as early as 8AM and Men will start at 10:30AM or later on Saturday. Mixed 2.5, 3.0, 2.5 (50+), and 3.0 (50+) divisions will start as early as 8AM and 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 and 3.5 (50+), 4.0 (50+) will start 10AM or later on Sunday.
Men's Doubles 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 & 4.5+ Saturday, October 26th, 2024
Women's Doubles 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 & 4.5+ Saturday, October 26th, 2024
Mixed Doubles 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5+ Sunday, October 27th, 2024
Cost: $25 per player, $5 for each additional event.
Tournament Format: The tournament format will consist of a minimum of 3 pool play games (11 points win by 1), followed by single elimination tournament play based on pool ranking. Tournament play will consist of either one game up to 15, win by 2 or best 2 of 3 games (11 points win by 2). All games are officiated by the individuals playing and must make their own calls. This is an unsanctioned tournament.
Tournament Director has the right to reclassify if necessary due to number of teams.
Players classify themselves based on their own experiences. Please use this assessment sheet to classify you and your partner. USA Pickleball Rating Assessment Sheet
Maximum number of 16 teams per division. A waiting list will be accepted and if there is enough teams and space, additional teams may be allowed.
Championship teams will receive championship medals.
Registration Link : https://stillwater.ce.eleyo.com/course/6460/fall-2024/fall-pickleball-tournament
Registration is open August 5th, 2024 and will close Monday, October 21st, 2024 at 10:00 AM, or until each division is full.
Each player needs to have their own online registration and payment. Fees are per player.
The first registration should be $25. You can register for the second event by going into the new event and selecting the $5 registration fee.
There is a $5 processing fee if cancelled before Oct. 21st, 2024.
There is no refund after Oct 21st, 2024 as brackets will be created and modifications to the brackets must be made.
Tournament Director:
Pete Heldstab
heldstabp@stillwaterschools.org
651-351-8454
Softball League
Men's and Co-Ed Softball Leagues are available to post-high school adults. The season typically begins in early May and ends in August. Click on the link to the right for more information and to register.
2024 Men's Champions - Schmelz Countryside
2024 MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP - #1 Schmelz Countryside - 23 over #3 Skeet Squad - 11
2024 Co-Ed Champions - Fiesta!
2024 Co-Ed Championship - #1 Fiesta! - 8 over #2 MadCapper - 5
Tennis - Lessons
Stillwater Area Public Schools Community Education Department offers adult group tennis lessons and private lessons during the summer.
Signing up for lessons online is quick and easy with Eleyo
Adult Volleyball - Open Play
Join us for Adult Open Volleyball at Stillwater Middle School. Open Volleyball is for everyone at all skill levels. Teams are formed on a first come, first serve basis, and rotate throughout the evening. In efforts to support the open social aspects of the activity, we do not allow teams to show up and only play together. This is not a league and new players always welcome!
Adult Open Volleyball
Thursdays from 7:15-9:45 p.m.
Stillwater Middle School
523 Marsh Street West, Stillwater MN 55082
There are two ways to pay for open gym participation in volleyball:
-
Purchase a monthly PAC membership. This will entitle you to participate in any open gym section of any sport and may apply for healthcare reimbursement.
- $6 walk-in fee or $4 senior citizens fee.
At the door if space allows, we accept cash, credit card and Apple/Google pay. NO COINS!
Registration opens at 10:00am on the Friday before each week.
Registration
How To Create an Account on ActiveNet
Step 1. From the toolbar on the right, choose "Sign Up or Access Your Account".
Step 2. This will take you to the ActiveNet page. Choose the yellow box that says "Sign In/Up"
Step 3. If you are a member, you already have an account. If you have never signed in this way, you will need to log in with your email and choose "Forgot Password" to create a password.
If you are not a member, you will need to choose "Join" at the bottom of the box.
Once you have an account, you can see the Activities and Calendar features. Players will pre-register for open play times directly on these pages
How To Pre-Register on ActiveNet for an Open Play Time
Find to the date you wish to play in the choices below
There will be a red arrow and link when the site opens for Registration.
Registration will open two days prior to the day of play. Access is open as follows:
- School District residents: 8 a.m.
- School District non-residents: 12 p.m.
All customers will be able to SEE the Activity, but may not have access to register based on their residency status.
- Day Pass players will need to pay before check out.
- All pre-registered spots will be held for the duration of the session. If you are late, we will not give away the spot.
- You can cancel your reservation up until 11:59 p.m. the day before the day of play, from your ActiveNet account. Choose "Transaction and Payment History" to find your activity reservation. Refunds are granted for cancellations up to 24 hours in advance of the day of play. Refunds are not given for no-shows.