I’m passionate about helping you improve performance

Meet Jeff

After training and competing in pickleball since 2019 and recently obtaining my Level 2 NCCP pickleball coaching certification, I decided to start Elwood Pickleball coaching in an effort to help pickleball players of all ages and abilities improve their performance in a safe, encouraging, positive, challenging, and predictable environment that fosters growth, autonomy, self-belief, excellence, and fulfillment.

By combining my last 5 years of pickleball training and competition experience with 20 years of tennis coaching experience, I strive to be the best coach I can be for my students by recognizing the uniqueness of each individual and by continuously learning and reflecting on my experiences and abilities.

Coaching Highlights:

  • Currently an independent coach working in Ottawa, ON

  • Current Course Facilitator for NCCP/Pickleball Canada Level 1 and Level 2 coaching certification program.

  • 20 years of total tennis coaching experience at all levels.

  • 14 years of coaching experience in both Private and Public tennis clubs including roles as a Club Professional, Junior Tennis Director, and Junior Tennis Camp Director.

  • 10 years of High Performance junior tennis coaching experience including roles as Academy Coach, Head Coach of the Ontario U12 Provinicial Training Center program (Ontario Tennis Association), 8 x U12 Team Ontario Coach at Canadian Junior Nationals, U12/U14 National Coach/Touring Coach at Tennis Canada’s National Training Center (Toronto), and 2 x Coach of Canada’s U14 Boys Team at ITF World Junior Tennis Team Competition Qualifying.

  • Travelled internationally as a touring coach with many top Canadian junior tennis players.

  • Course Facilitator for Coach 2 High Performance tennis coaching certification course (Tennis Canada)

  • Developed and role modelled in a series of tactical training videos for use in Tennis Canada’s Coach 2 coaching certification program (2010).

  • Developed and presented “U12 Development” presentation at 2010 Tennis Professionals Association conference.

  • Assisted in the creation of a 3/4 court and 1/2 court Progressive Tennis Talent ID curriculum and pilot program for Tennis Canada (2010).

Pickleball Competition Highlights:

  • Represented the Prairie Pronghorns for the 2024 season in the Canadian National Pickleball League. Also represented the Southwestern Ontario Brewers of the CNPL in 2023 as the 19th overall pick.

  • 2 x Men’s Open Doubles gold medallist in the 2023 Pickleball Ontario Provincial Tour Series and Men’s Open Doubles silver medallist in the 2023 Provincial Tour Series.

Guiding Values

Commitment - I will strive to maintain a high level of commitment to my students so that they can receive the best coaching experience. This means I am committed to:

  • Ongoing professional development and continuous learning.

  • Ongoing reflection and evolution of my abilities and experiences as a coach.

  • Putting my students first and asking for feedback.

  • A high level of professionalism .

  • Giving my best effort at all times.

  • Adhering to my coaching philosophy (see below) and guiding values.

Excellence - I will strive to deliver the best coaching experience to my students by striving for excellence with my own coaching abilities, actions, and choices while also helping my students strive for the same. Striving for excellence means:

  • Being fully engaged and present during training sessions.

  • Communicating clearly and concisely when setting expectations and defining outcomes and processes.

  • Role modelling behaviours and actions that I believe are important for students/players.

  • Providing a challenging yet safe, positive, and rewarding training experience.

  • Employing modern coaching methodology and internationally accepted best practices in training sessions with students.

Respect - I will strive to treat all individuals with respect. This includes students, coaches, players, referees, and organizers within the pickleball community. When it comes to respect for my students, this means being appreciative and considerate of the time and effort they have decided to dedicate to the game of pickleball.

It also means:

  • Actively listening to my students and being attentive, non-judgemental, and empathetic.

  • Honoring commitments to my students.

  • Communicating constructively by communicating with enthusiasm, care, and clarity.

  • Valuing diversity by valuing student’s differences in experience levels, perspectives, opinions, and backgrounds.

  • Being open and honest with students

  • Valuing the time and effort students put into their training sessions by making the most of each session.

Coaching Philosophy

My coaching philosophy is to make a positive impact on people through the sport of pickleball by taking a learner-centered approach and providing positive experiences to students in a safe, encouraging, positive, challenging, and predictable environment that fosters growth, autonomy, self-belief, excellence, and fulfillment.

I believe a learner-centred approach leads to students taking more responsibility and ownership over their training and performances which leads to higher levels of self awareness, decision-making skills, and problem solving skills, ultimately leading to more consistent and higher level performances. A competent, confident, and autonomous athlete is more likely to stay motivated and engaged in their training while experiencing a greater sense of achievement. 

I strive to be the best coach I can be by recognizing the uniqueness of each individual and by continuously learning and reflecting on my experiences and abilities. By following my guiding values of Commitment, Excellence, and Respect I hope to help students and athletes be the best they can be,

Coaching Methodology

To learn more about the coaching methodology I employ with my students, click here: