My Journey as a Pickleball Coach at Atlantic Racquet Centre

When I first stepped into pickleball coaching, the thing that struck me immediately was how quickly people connected with the game. Players were getting into rallies within minutes. They were smiling, laughing, hitting speed-ups they didn’t think they were capable of, and enjoying a level of early success you rarely see in other racquet sports. It was infectious. You could feel the spark from the very first session.

As the group grew, what stood out just as strongly was the mix of people and the energy they brought. Beginners, older adults, experienced racquet-sport players, complete newcomers — all exploring this new and exciting sport together. There’s a real sense of camaraderie. People talk about paddles, balls, rules, strategies, and they do it with curiosity rather than ego. There’s genuine patience and forgiveness for each other’s mistakes, misunderstandings and learning curves. Being part of that community feels special.

But behind the scenes, coaching isn’t as simple as feeding balls and calling drills. One of the biggest challenges is differentiating within the group. Some come in with great hand–eye coordination from tennis or squash. Others are brand new to any racquet sport and sometimes arrive with low confidence despite plenty of natural ability. And on top of that, we now have players shifting from beginner to intermediate, developing their game at different speeds. Balancing all those needs — giving everyone progress, attention, and challenge — is a constant puzzle. It’s a good challenge, but it’s real.

For me personally, pickleball has been a refreshing learning curve. I’ve been coaching for many years across several sports, but this has been a chance to learn a new game from the inside out. The coaching toolkit is already there — planning sessions, giving feedback, supporting player development — but with pickleball, I’ve been able to study the techniques, tactics and nuances of the sport, practise them myself, and then build them into a program that works for everyone. It’s pushed me professionally in a really positive way.

And then there are the moments that make it all worth it. Seeing a player suddenly use a shot we’ve been working on. Watching someone try a tactic in a match that we discussed only the week before. Seeing confidence grow on court. Watching club-night games where the group plays with more structure, more awareness and more intention than they did months ago. The individual improvements matter, but what’s even better is seeing the group develop as a community of pickleball players.

Right now, I’d describe my coaching journey as a mix of pride, enthusiasm and curiosity. I’m proud to be involved with pickleball at ARC. I’m excited about the future, keen to deepen my own tactical understanding, and keen to bring more people into the sport. Most of all, I’m hopeful — hopeful that pickleball keeps growing with the same enthusiasm, the same energy, and the same strong sense of togetherness that makes it such a joy to coach.