Top 8 coaches for Pickleball lessons near Westport, MA

Bio: James Crosson has had the prestigious honor of being selected out of 300 participants to become one of the 60 certified coaches by DUPR’s exclusive coaching program. James is registered as National Professional Pickleball DUPR coach, a National Pickleball Professional with the International Registry of Pickleball Professionals, A National Professional with the International Coaches Institute, A professional with the RPPk Registery of Pickleball Professionals, and has worked with the Tyson McGruff coaching program to deliver excellence in all categories of coaching Pickleball. For over 8+ years James has become an avid Pickleball player, and his love for the game is only exceeded by his passion for teaching others how to improve in all aspects of their Pickleball game! From teaching beginners to excel quickly into the Pickleball world, to teaching advanced techniques and strategies to already established players to improve on their game, there is nothing James won’t be able to show you! James is extremely personable to make you feel comfortable in your learning process, and his methodology is that learning Pickleball should be a fun experience instead of feeling like a chore. James is an all-around athlete and has a strong tennis background from 6 years at the Newport Tennis Hall of fame. He fell in love with Pickleball, and was the founder of the very successful Fall River Pickleball Group. James is very competitive and is constantly playing in Pickleball tournaments against some of the best players in the Rhode Island and Massachusetts area. To ignite your passion in beginning your Pickleball journey, or to overcome the obstacles holding you back from being the best Pickleball player.

Bio: I’ve been playing for over 3 years and since then, I’ve learned a few things that will make you grow much faster in this amazing and addicting sport. How to properly move, how to hit dinks, how to drive and when to drive, if you really want, I can even teach you how to dive for balls (though, I don’t recommend it.). I can teach you how to play for recreational play or how to change your mindset to play for competitive tournaments.

Bio: My career has afforded me many opportunities to coach students of all ages and abilities in pickleball, tennis and squash. I have enjoyed meeting great people and sharing my passion to improve their skills and enjoy the many fantastic benefits of exercise and competitive fun!

Bio: If you are thinking about learning to play the fastest growing sport in the nation, but are hesitant to begin, read this short bio of our most popular Rhode Island instructor, Coach Phyl. Her experience and coaching style can help to ease your concerns. Hello and welcome! I’m Coach Phyl, and I am so glad you’re here. Let me tell you a little about why I love to work with beginning pickleball players. Pickleball is life, and I mean that literally. I took up the sport just as the Covid pandemic was shifting into high gear. It was the one thing I could do, despite my advanced age, while lockdown was beginning to happen all around me. It got me off the couch and moving, which I believe saved me from losing my mind, my passion for life, and my muscles, such as they are. It was kismet. I quickly recognized how similar the movements and strategies were to a game called Ace King Queen that I had played as a child. I loved and missed that game. Pickleball felt almost like finding it again. I fell in love with it immediately, not only for the game itself, but also for the social void it filled. Pickleball has brought many wonderful people into my life while providing me with a fun way to stay active during my “golden” years. I am filled with gratitude for all that it gives me, and I want to share these benefits with as many people as I can. We will have fun while you learn and practice new drills and skills. Pickleball is a multi-tiered sport that can be played by just about anyone. There is no better way to learn the basics than through in-person coaching. My teaching style is relaxed and non-confrontational. You will learn the rules of the game, proper warm-up techniques, paddle basics, a variety of strokes, serving options, targeting, timing, and the importance of drilling, with a few advanced strategies thrown in for good measure. As I like to say, just do it! There's no time like the present, so join me. See you on the court! Speaking of courts… While I am willing to travel to other courts, I encourage you to choose the courts at the John H. Chafee Sports Complex at 450 Hope Road in Western Cranston. These courts are well maintained and easy to get to. I love playing there, and I think you will, too. That said, if the weather calls for rain or otherwise is not in a cooperative mood (think wind, intense heat, snow, etc.), then a good choice would be the private indoor court at Open Table.

Bio: Peter embarked on a pickleball journey in July 2023 following a period of personal challenges. Introduced to the sport by a friend, pickleball quickly became a cornerstone of Peter's life, facilitating a remarkable 37-pound weight loss and reigniting a sense of passion and purpose. With a strong foundation in tennis, soccer, and ping pong, Peter seamlessly transitioned to pickleball, now leveraging this experience to help newcomers jumpstart their own love affair with the sport, promoting health, happiness, and community along the way.

Bio: A New Jersey native that moved to the South Shore MA area over 12 years ago. Steve is a consummate ‘educator’ that loves teaching at all levels, having worked as a professor at Rutgers University, Parks & Recreation tennis instructor, and coach for all of his children’s various sports endeavors. He was trained and certified as a pickleball instructor by PPA pro and current PPR managing director Sarah Ansboury. He also completed the USA Pickleball Youth Development program focusing on specific teaching methods for various age groups. Steve’s coaching philosophy is to ensure that pickleball is SAFE and Fun-Fun-Fun for everyone that picks up a paddle. He adjusts lesson / clinic content to meet the desired goal(s) of the student and does not employ a ‘cookie cutter’ approach. Every student has their own unique background and experiences, some even without any sports background of any kind. Steve is adept at leveraging these things to help student’s learn and improve their pickleball skills.