Lessons & Clinics

“I’m certified as a Level 1 pickleball instructor with the Coaching Association of Canada’s National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP). I’ve been playing pickleball since 2019, and I play at the 4.0+ level with the Nanaimo Pickleball Club (NPC). My passion is to help other players progress through the ‘pickleball plateau’ that is often encountered around the 3.0 rating level. The struggle is real and I’m grateful to all the players who provided advice and encouragement on my journey.”

• New Member Orientation
• Private lessons
• Small group (2-4)
• Video coaching
• Skills Assessment (2.0, 2.5, 3.0)

greg.esplen@gmail.com
250-961-1811 · Website: in progress

“Josh Struthers is a dedicated pickleball coach committed to helping players of all levels elevate their game. With an impressive 20-year background as a national-level high-performance squash coach, Josh brings a wealth of elite-level athletic expertise and coaching knowledge to the pickleball court. Whether you are completely new to the sport or an intermediate to advanced player looking to sharpen your competitive edge, Josh provides a player-specific focus tailored to your unique goals. He excels at breaking down the technical aspects of the game, ensuring you develop a solid foundation, while simultaneously teaching the sophisticated, higher-level strategies required for doubles pickleball. His coaching philosophy centers on personalized development, helping you identify and refine the specific shots and tactical decisions that will make you a more consistent and dangerous opponent. Explore new strategies with Josh, master your shots, and fall in love with the game of pickleball.”

• New Member Orientation
• Private lessons
• Small group (2-4)
• Larger group (5+)
• Video coaching
• Skills Assessment (2.0, 2.5, 3.0)

bigpointpickleball@proton.me
204-951-3901 · Website: none yet

“I have been training individuals who wish to learn to play pickleball for 11 years, first as a volunteer and then in 2019, I established a small business under the name ‘Dr. Pickleball’. I offer six levels of training each offering a graduating scale of skill development and I have done so with over 1500 players. Many of these players (1500) have returned and have taken some or all of the training courses that I offer.”

• New Member Orientation
• Private lessons
• Small group (2-4)
• Larger group (5+)
• Skills Assessment (2.0, 2.5, 3.0)

leemacdonald1951@gmail.com
250-714-3307 · Website: N/A yet

“Have been playing pickleball for almost 2.5 years, 4.35 DUPR. Previously played college basketball; I have 5 pet ducks. Have been coaching various levels of pickleball for 1.5 years. I have experience coaching large group clinics (up to 16 players), one-on-one coaching, and gameplay assessments ranging from 3.0-4.25. I enjoy teaching footwork, court positioning, strategy (how to play against bangers, slowing the game down) gameplay breakdown, and technique on shots (topspin, backspin, swing path, etc.). DUPR certified; if you do not have a DUPR rating, I can provide you an assessment and give you an initial DUPR rating.”

• New Member Orientation
• Private lessons
• Small group (2-4)
• Larger group (5+)
• Video coaching
• DUPR coaching
• Skills Assessment (2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5)

pat.poc25@gmail.com
780-902-9821 · Website: none yet

Paul Friend is the founder and lead coach of Pickleball Evolved, providing fun, knowledgeable coaching for beginner, developing and intermediate players in Nanaimo. He is an NCCP-certified pickleball instructor and DUPR-certified coach, has taught close to 500 players, and brings a professional teaching background and postgraduate teaching qualification (PGCE) to his coaching.

That teaching background helped shape a founding principle of Pickleball Evolved: good coaching isn’t just about demonstrating a shot, it’s about helping players understand how and why things work so they can apply what they learn in real games. Paul helps players connect footwork, court position, timing and shot selection with the decisions they make on court.

Whether you’re new to pickleball, looking to become more consistent, or trying to make better decisions under pressure, the goal is to help you understand the game and become a more confident, smarter player. Pickleball Evolved offers individual and small-group coaching, Skills & Drills and KLINIKS in Nanaimo.

Learn more than the shot. Learn the game.

• New Member Orientation
• Private lessons
• Small group (2-4)
• Larger group (5+)
• DUPR coaching
• Kliniks (Skills & Drills, a weekly session over 4 weeks)
• Skills Assessment (2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5)

paul@pickleballevolved.ca
250-885-2260 · pickleballevolved.ca

“Pete and Anna have been playing Pickleball for 11 years and coaching for seven years. Pete’s DUPR is 4.687 and Anna’s 4.33. They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to every tutorial. In 2018, they were honoured by the City of Nanaimo by being nominated for Sport Partners of the Year, and were awarded a certificate of congratulations and a medallion for the Civic Sport Merit Award from the Nanaimo City Council and the Parks and Recreation Commission. But they feel their biggest attribute is the personal satisfaction and joy they get when shepherding players to a more rewarding and satisfying Pickleball experience. And because Pickleball is always evolving, we keep up with the latest trends, techniques, strategies and ways to play smarter. We’ll help to build your skills, understand the game and have a lot of fun along the way. In addition, Pete holds a physical education/kinesiology degree from the University of Calgary. This gives us a unique perspective on human movement and how it may apply to Pickleball.”

• New Member Orientation
• Private lessons
• Small group (2-4)
• Larger group (5+)
• Video coaching
• Skills Assessment (2.0, 2.5, 3.0)
• POW (Pickleball Our Way — their coaching name)

annaoct@hotmail.com
pickleballourway.weebly.com