Global Pickleball Coaching Education: Four major leaders in pickleball coaching—Robert Elliott, Mark Renison, Sarah Ansboury, and Dan Santorum—recently discussed the global rise of pickleball and the need for better coaching education. They stressed the importance of working together to improve teaching methods, share resources, and grow the sport in more countries.
The panel noted that as pickleball has become more popular over the past ten years, there hasn’t been enough structure for training coaches and players. They pointed out that this has created a gap in quality instruction, which could slow down progress if not addressed properly.
Meet the Coaching Leaders
Robert Elliott represents the International Foundation of Players Academy (IFPA). Mark Renison is with Pickleball Coaching International (PCI). Sarah Ansboury works with the Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR). Dan Santorum is from the Racket Professionals Organization (RPO).
Each of them came from a tennis background and now focuses on building up pickleball through coaching. They all agree that helping new players learn the right way is key to the sport’s future.
Why Coaching Matters
The group agreed that without trained coaches, many new players receive poor or confusing advice. They said many players today turn to online videos, but not all of them are helpful.
This can hurt a player’s progress and the sport’s image. They believe coaching standards should be the same across all organizations, no matter where players are learning.
Spreading Pickleball Worldwide
Robert Elliott and Sarah Ansboury shared how their groups, IFPA and PPR, are teaching coaches in countries across Asia, Africa, and Europe. They said they adjust lessons to fit the culture and needs of each country. They explained that training local coaches is the best way to help pickleball grow steadily and successfully in new places.
Big Growth, Big Challenges
The panel also talked about some of the problems pickleball faces. These include not having enough courts or equipment to meet growing demand. They said there needs to be one strong plan that brings everyone—players, coaches, and leaders—together. They pointed to the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF) as the group that could lead this effort by creating a shared system for training and coaching.
Future Role of the GPF
The panel supports the GPF’s plan to start an endorsement program. This would help players know which coaching groups are providing quality lessons. They said this kind of teamwork would raise the level of teaching everywhere and make pickleball better for all.
Working Together for Long-Term Growth
Everyone on the panel agreed that if coaching stays a top priority, pickleball can become one of the world’s biggest sports. They said good communication between coaching groups is the only way to handle the sport’s fast growth. They all promised to keep helping new coaches and to make pickleball easier to learn for everyone.
News in Brief: Global Pickleball Coaching Education
Top pickleball coaches Robert Elliott, Mark Renison, Sarah Ansboury, and Dan Santorum are pushing for stronger coaching education and more teamwork between teaching organizations. They say the Global Pickleball Federation could guide global growth. The panel agreed that better coaching will help make pickleball a lasting global sport.
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