Having been a pickleball instructor for the past five years, Jean created a pickleball program for Special Olympics in 2023, which has become so popular that athlete registrations have grown from around 30 in the first year, to 80+ in 2024. The number is expected to rise with new programs scheduled to begin in October 2025.
Q When did your pickleball journey begin?
Peter and I started playing in Mexico nearly seven years ago and were immediately hooked.
Q Was there someone who taught or mentored you when you started playing?
Yes, we were very fortunate that a neighbour in Mexico had been a professional tennis coach who had turned to pickleball later in life, and regularly played in the US Masters championship. He took us under his wing and started drilling with us almost daily until we could join an experienced group of players and hold our own. Our passion for pickleball can be attributed to Joe’s unfailing patience and encouragement.
Q When and why did you decide to become an instructor
After Peter and I returned to Calgary in 2019, we saw a need for certified pickleball instructors as more people were being attracted to the game, then hitting a plateau in terms of progress because they hadn’t taken any lessons to improve their technique or really understand game strategy.
Peter and I both certified with the IPTPA, which not only provides an excellent progressive learning methodology for both instructors and students, but also provides comprehensive insurance for all their instructors, which is hugely important for the players you teach or coach.
Q Do you have some good advice for either new players or anyone looking to improve their game?
Yes – drills, drills, and more drills. I can’t stress how important it is to not only play games but find players of a similar skill level that you can drill with – once a week if possible. And not to simply go on court and dink but structure a drill session that provides the most improvement benefits. Peter and I nearly always send students away from lessons with homework drills that will serve to improve their technique, response times, and movement around the court, all of which are fundamental to progress.
Q How did you become involved with Special Olympics?
In 2023, Special Olympics contacted Calgary Pickleball Club to ask whether a program could be created for their athletes. Peter and I responded to a call for volunteers as we’d previously been involved in teaching and coaching special needs athletes in several sports, and I took on the role of lead instructor. We started with one 8-week program in 2023 teaching around 30 athletes. A couple of them came with pickleball experience having played with their parents, but the majority were complete beginners – although they may have participated in other Special Olympics activities.
The response to this 2023 program was so positive that last year the program attracted over 80 athletes, with ages ranging from 13 to 66. Some were returning athletes whose abilities were already known to us, so I asked Special Olympics if I could personally recruit ‘player’ volunteers from among our friends, colleagues, and pickleball students. Our volunteer base grew from 7 to 14, which enabled me to assign one-on-one and two-on-one coaching for the athletes who would benefit from more focused learning.
Q What is different or special about these athletes?
While I also teach a great many people without neuro-divergent challenges, the Special Olympics athletes are truly inspirational in their engagement and determination, and sheer joy when they succeed. Naturally, while the lessons are pickleball-specific in terms of movement, balance, and hand-eye coordination, they must also be tailored to suit individual athletes’ diverse abilities. Every athlete is different, and what you see one week may not still be there the following week.
Gratifyingly, apart from learning to play pickleball, we’ve seen athletes blossom in terms of cognitive functionality, communication, and interpersonal skills, and, perhaps most importantly, increasing self-confidence and their ability to better engage with the world around them.
Q Tell us about the Coach of the Year award?
It was certainly a very proud moment to be recognized from among all the Special Olympics coaches, although I’ve not been alone in this journey. Like they say, “it takes a village”, and I’m aware that I must share this honour with a very dedicated team of volunteers. Alongside the athletes, their commitment has also been an inspiration.
The fact that every volunteer has re-applied to continue with the up-coming programs symbolizes the joy of working with these athletes, and the smiles we see each week light up the courts. This also applies to the family members and caregivers who accompany the athletes when they see the transformations taking place.
For me personally, the creative thinking required every week to ensure that everyone feels included and supported is a gift which has strengthened my appreciation of working as a pickleball instructor with all students of the game.
I recall someone at the end of the first program saying: “You must have taught the athletes so much.” My response: “No! They taught me a lot more than I taught them,” and I think every volunteer would give the same answer.
I would also like to finish by saying that the two up-coming pickleball programs will start mid October 2025 and early January 2026, running for 8 weeks, 2 hours every Sunday morning (11:00-1:00), and I’d be happy to talk to anyone who might want to consider becoming a Special Olympics pickleball volunteer. Tel: (403) 678-7716.
