Pickleball Coaches Podcast with Mark Renneson

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...

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...

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...

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 i...

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 strat...

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 pickl...

In this episode, Mark shares a real-world coaching experience that highlights a shockingly common oversight even experienced coaches make—failing to demonstrate drills. This episode dives deep into why clear, effective demonstrations are critical for coaching success, how to structure them, and what coaches should avoid at all costs. What you’ll learn: Why “saying” is never enough—show your drills...

Welcome to Episode 2 of the Pickleball Coaches podcast! In this episode, Mark Renneson discusses the importance of prioritizing tactics over technique in pickleball coaching, how to manage different skill levels in group lessons, and effective planning for private pickleball lessons. He also addresses the challenges of determining pricing for lessons and shares a quick tip on focusing on spaces ra...

Welcome to Episode 1 of the Pickleball Coaches podcast! In this episode, Mark Renneson from Pickleball Coaching International (PCI) introduces the new podcast specifically for pickleball coaches. He discusses the nuances of coaching in pickleball, understanding player psychology, the role of silence in coaching, and the various opportunities available for coaches (including coaching opportunities...