About Pickleball Coaches Podcast with Mark Renneson
Join the Pickleball Coaches Podcast with Mark Renneson, the President of Pickleball Coaching International and Head of Pickleball Coach Education at Tennis Canada. Hear valuable insights for everyone—coaches, players of all skill levels, and fans of the sport. Dive into key coaching topics, uncover effective strategies, and gather actionable tips to enhance your players' (and your own) performance on the court. Whether you're starting your coaching journey or just love the game, this podcast is your gateway to better pickleball.
Pickleball Coaches Podcast #9 - Is Trash Talking Ruining Pickleball?
In Episode 9 of the Pickleball Coaches Podcast, host Mark Renneson tackles the rising trend of "trash talking" in the professional and amateur game. Are we competing against each other, or striving together? Mark shares three powerful reasons why less is more when it comes to "smack talk" and why acting like "you’ve done it before" is the ultimate power move on the court. Later in the episode, we dive into the Mailbag to answer three critical coaching questions: Motivation (07:18 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKrd1Bkm2Xc&t=438s)): How do you make players care about technique? (Hint: Stop burying the lead!) Player Assessments (10:42 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKrd1Bkm2Xc&t=642s)): Dealing with the "delusional" player who thinks they are a 5.0 but plays like a 3.0. Youth vs. Adult Coaching (14:35 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKrd1Bkm2Xc&t=875s)): The key differences between teaching kids and adults (and why you should stop talking about "perpendicular angles" to 7-year-olds). RESOURCES MENTIONED:
PCI Rating Assessment Tools: Get objective data on your skills.
Coaching Certification: Visit pcipickleball.com (http://pcipickleball.com) to become a certified instructor.
Kids Coaching: Search "Teaching Pickleball to Kids" on Selkirk TV for Mark’s full video series.
WANT YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED? Email us at info@pickleballcoachinginternational.com (mailto:info@pickleballcoachinginternational.com)
4 Nov 2025
Pickleball Coaches Podcast #8 - When NOT to Coach: Silence, Ball Machines, Player Anxiety & Burnout
Coaching isn’t just about what you say—it’s about knowing when to say nothing. In this episode, Mark Renneson tackles three moments when silence helps your players more than feedback, how to decide if a ball machine is worth it (and when it isn’t), what to do when a player melts down in matches but shines in practice, and how many hours on court is too many for a coach without compromising lesson quality.
🎯 What you’ll learn
The 3 situations where great coaches keep quiet
Ball machines: smart uses vs. false confidence
Helping a player who chokes—reframing identity & reducing fear
A practical test for coach workload (so hour 7 looks like hour 1)
Are pickleball coaches just recycling old tennis drills? 🤔 In this episode, Mark Renneson breaks down why pickleball deserves its own approach — from drills and tactics to player communication and session design. Mark shares what he learned at a recent racket sports conference — and why so many so-called “new” pickleball drills are actually 25-year-old tennis drills in disguise. You’ll learn:
The key differences between tennis and pickleball coaching 🎾
How to improve communication with players before, during, and after sessions 💬
The best way to handle refund requests and customer satisfaction 💸
How to make your drills easier or harder for players 🔥
Why adult warm-ups should be handled differently than kids’ sessions 🏃
9 Sept 2025
Pickleball Coaches Podcast #6 - The 3 Biggest Mistakes New Pickleball Coaches Make
In this episode of the Pickleball Coaches Podcast, Mark Renneson breaks down the three most common struggles new coaches face during instructor certification:
Saying & Showing – Why demonstrating a drill while narrating is harder than it looks.
Terminology Traps – How inconsistent language across the pickleball world confuses coaches and players.
Playing & Coaching at the Same Time – Why it’s so challenging for instructors to join in while still giving quality feedback.
Plus, Mark answers listener questions about drills for different skill levels, recording lessons, in-person certification, and how to keep players motivated.
Whether you’re a new instructor or a seasoned coach, these tips will help you deliver better lessons and grow as a leader on the court.
5 Aug 2025
Pickleball Coaches Podcast #5 - Why Great Coaches Should Rethink “Down the Middle” Serve Returns
Coaches, it's time for a rethink. In Episode 5 of the Pickleball Coaches Podcast, Mark Renneson challenges one of the most common pieces of coaching advice: returning serve down the middle. 🚫 Is it really helping your players? 🤔 Should we still be using the “margin for error” argument? 🎯 What if we’re just feeding the other team’s best player over and over again? Mark breaks down why this strategy might be outdated, offers smarter alternatives, and walks through critical dos and don’ts when teaching new players in their first 20 minutes on court. From rally-building to safety tips, from technique pacing to using throw pickleball, this episode is a must for anyone helping beginners fall in love with the game. 📌 Topics Covered:
Why “down the middle” returns fail
Strategic return placement in mixed and equal skill matches
The “Black Hole” return drill
6 mistakes to avoid with beginners
What to focus on in your first 20 minutes
Throw pickleball: your new favorite tool
16 Jul 2025
Pickleball Coaches Podcast #4 - Top 10 Things Pickleball Coaches Can’t Stand
In this episode of the Pickleball Coaches Podcast, Mark Renneson breaks down his Top 10 Coaching Pet Peeves—from late arrivals to paddle ball rollers and everything in between. 🎯 Whether you're a coach, a player, or somewhere in between, this episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at what REALLY drives coaches crazy—and how to be a more respectful, effective, and safe participant in any pickleball learning environment. 💡 What you'll learn: The #1 safety mistake players make in clinics (without even realizing it) Why hitting “just one more ball” could literally be dangerous How good coaching is like storytelling—and how interruptions ruin it The right (and wrong) way to toss a ball back to your coach 🔥 Coaches and players alike: this one’s full of insight, laughs, and a few uncomfortable truths. 👂 Have your own coaching pet peeve? Send us a voice note or email at info@pickleballcoachinginternational.com (mailto:info@pickleballcoachinginternational.com)
Mark Renneson explores why demonstrating drills is essential for pickleball coaches, providing insights on effective techniques and common pitfalls in this instructional episode.
16 Jun 2025
Pickleball Coaches Podcast #2 - Managing Different Skill Levels During Group Lessons
Mark Renneson explores how pickleball coaches can effectively manage group lessons with varying skill levels by prioritizing tactics and planning effective private sessions.
3 Jun 2025
Pickleball Coaches Podcast #1 - The Role of Coaches in Player Development
Mark Renneson introduces the Pickleball Coaches podcast, exploring the critical role coaches play in player development, addressing teaching challenges, and sharing practical tips to engage students in unique environments.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 8 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
4
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
Contact Pickleball Coaches Podcast with Mark Renneson
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Pickleball Coaches Podcast with Mark Renneson?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
