Paul has always been passionate about helping others achieve their goals. Paul identified that he could help pickleball players improve their skills and game. Utilising his extensive background in sports coaching & teaching, along with his understanding of human kinetics, he can coach pickleball players to achieve new heights.

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My coaching background comes from decades in sport science and coaching rather than a pickleball-specific certificate.

I believe in being upfront about that. I don’t yet hold a formal pickleball coaching certification. I am planning to become a DUPR coach in early 2026, and as soon as a recognised pickleball governing body offers a coaching course on Vancouver Island, I’ll be on it.

In the meantime, the qualifications and experience I bring to the court are what truly shape how effectively I can help you improve.

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Why I’m Qualified to Coach You.

Before I ever picked up a pickleball paddle, I spent 25+ years coaching sport and 30+ years in education, helping people & businesses learn, move better, and perform with confidence.

My formal qualifications include:

Degree in Education

Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)

College Diploma in Sports & Education

Master’s Degree in Marketing – which means I’m obsessed with clear, simple communication, not jargon

Qualified Step Aerobics Instructor

Personal Training qualification (CIMSPA)

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Over the years, I’ve coached:

Indoor Hockey up to the equivalent of provincial level

Badminton at the regional level for U18S

Soccer for:

Leicester City Football Club – U18 fitness

Derby County Football Club – U11 skills and drills

In the summer of 2025, several of my pickleball students competed in the Senior Summer Games in Nanaimo and collectively brought home 2 gold medals and 2 silver medals.

Locally, I’ve coached over 100 pickleball players in Nanaimo and the surrounding areas.

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My Pickleball Journey: When the Body Slows, the Mind Levels Up

I’ve been playing pickleball for 5+ years, and coaching it for the last two and a half years.

Before a serious health incident, I was training hard with national-tournament goals in mind. The life-threatening episode put me in the hospital for over a month, which left me with permanent muscular nerve damage and changed what my body can physically do.

Today, I’d describe my standard as senior 4.0+, with a skill set that, without the health limitations, would realistically sit around 4.5+.

I don’t hide the fact that my body isn’t what it once was. But my mind has never been sharper. That shift pushed me to dive even deeper into:

Patterns of play

Human kinetics and movement efficiency

Game strategy and shot selection

How to play smarter, not harder, especially as we age

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I understand what it’s like when your body has limits, and I coach you to build a game that is effective, sustainable, and kind to your joints.

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How I Coach: Analytical, Encouraging, Structured, Patient… and Fun

My coaching style in five words:
Analytical, encouraging, structured, patient, fun.

Students often tell me they appreciate that I explain “the why, not just the how.” You won’t just be told what shot to hit; you’ll understand:

Why that shot in that situation

What patterns led to it

How to adjust next time when the rally looks different.

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What I offer:

2-week Intro to Pickleball series for newer players

4-week beginner and intermediate clinics, grouped by rating

Weekly small-group sessions (2–4 players) for focused, tactical work

Drill homework so improvement continues between sessions

Video analysis (where helpful) to break down movement, positioning, and patterns

Mindset coaching drawn from my younger days playing semi-professional soccer

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During the summer, I typically spend 6–10 hours per week coaching on court, and I keep my own knowledge current by working with my own vertical/online coach and studying high-level coaching concepts.

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Whom I Work Best With

I’m a great fit for:

3.0–3.5 recreational players who feel stuck and want structure, clarity, and a path forward

Players aiming for 3.5+ and tournament play who need strategy, patterns, and smarter decision-making

Small groups who want to learn and improve together

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Common frustrations I help with:

“I feel like I’m stuck at the same level.”

“Everyone tells me different things—who’s right?”

“I get injured or sore more than I’d like.”

“I don’t see the patterns in rallies; things happen too fast.”

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My focus is big-picture coaching: when to speed up, when to slow down, how to build points, and how to stop doing bad shots well and start doing the right shots, on purpose.

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Rooted in Community, Focused on Your Longevity

As an active member of the Nanaimo Pickleball Community and other pickleball communities on Vancouver Island, I’m deeply involved in local pickleball roots and committed to growing the level of play in our community.

Pickleball Evolved exists to help players:

Understand the why behind their game

See and use patterns of play

Develop smarter, more sustainable pickleball they can enjoy for years

If you’re ready to play smarter, not just harder, and you like the idea of coaching that blends education, human kinetics, and real-world game strategy, I’d love to work with you.

 

Paul Friend is not just coaching pickleball; he is nurturing a community of players who appreciate the sport as much as he does, fostering a rich, supportive, and skilled pickleball environment in Nanaimo.