January 25, 2023

Contents

  • Arizona Winter Trip Update
  • BBAC News and Events
  • IPTPA Teach-the-Teacher Workshops
  • Tip of the Month: Your Most Important Resource
  • Coach Mark Website
  • Coach Mark Schedule
  • Coaching, Program, and Court Access Fees
  • Redesigned Coach Mark Newsletter

Arizona Winter Trip Update



Every day is busy at pickleball courts in sunny Arizona!

Greetings from Arizona! Coach Mark has been here since November 19 working on his skills and tournament performance. He’s planning to leave for the PNW on March 1. It’s been a fun 2 1/2 months so far!


Here’s a quick recap of pickleball activities to date and plans for the final month of Coach Mark's 2023 winter trip:

  • Competed in two singles and one mixed doubles tourney events (winning gold, silver, and bronze medals).
  • Playing with a talented team of 4.5 men in the Arizona Players Pickleball League (APPL).
  • Playing on a regular basis with a great group of 4.0-4.5 men who love to dink and drop at Sun City Festival in Buckeye, AZ.
  • Scheduled to play nine tourney events in February, including three mixed, five singles, and one men’s doubles event (two of these events are at the Southwest Regionals tournament in Mesa on February 28 and March 1).
  • In the process of delivering 60+ coaching and IPTPA ratings sessions to support the skill development and performance improvement goals of clients at two amazing pickleball venues (Sun City Grand and Westbrook Village).
  • Practicing with pro Jordan Briones to learn the strategy, shots, and movement needed to win singles tournaments at the regional/national level.
  • Practicing with two great mixed doubles partners and three highly skilled players who love singles pickleball.

Coach Mark will update results from February tournament events in the next issue of Coach Mark News.

BBAC News and Events


The outdoor courts at BBAC are scheduled to be resurfaced and repainted in April.


You are invited to join Coach Mark and the team at BBAC to help build community through pickleball!

IPTPA Training and Testing Center

In September 2022, the Birch Bay Activity Center (BBAC) became an official Training and Testing Center of IPTPA, the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association. At the same time, Coach Mark was named an IPTPA Director.


With this designation, BBAC joins a select group of organizations in the U.S. as host of an IPTPA Training and Testing Center. What this means for BBAC and players in our region (on both sides of the border) is access to a variety of IPTPA programs and services delivered by Coach Mark. These include the IPTPA Skill-Level Rating System, Level 1 and 2 Coaching Certification Programs, and the Junior Development Program.

Coach Mark Programs and Services for 2023

A full schedule of programs and services has been planned at BBAC for 2023. The schedule starts on March 12 and 26 with Workouts with Coach Mark as well as on March 12, 19, and 26 with Introduction to the Game of Pickleball.


In addition, these other programs and services will be offered on a monthly basis:

  • Private Coaching Sessions with Coach Mark
  • Coached Gameplay and Keep It Simple Strategy© Sessions
  • Skill Checks and Development Planning Sessions
  • Coach Mark Skill Rating Prep Sessions
  • IPTPA Skill-Level Rating Sessions
  • Pickleball Camps for Juniors (starting June 2023) 

You can check out the full slate of programs and services at this link on the BBAC website:


https://bbbparkandrec.org/coach-mark-programs-and-services/


Additional information is available on the Coach Mark Pickleball website at this link:


https://coach-mark.com/services/

IPTPA Teach-The-Teacher Workshops

Are you interested in becoming a certified pickleball coach? Or maybe, a better “skills and drills” session leader with your local club?


If so, the IPTPA Level 1 Teach the Teacher Workshop may be right for you. This one-day program is for players with a minimum 3.0 skill rating interested in coaching newcomer or novice players.


Two sessions of the IPTPA Level 1 Coaching Certification program have been scheduled at the Birch Bay Activity Center for June 24 and 25, 2023. You can register online for the “Blaine Washington Teach the Teacher” Workshop at http:// www.iptpa.com (scroll down to the bottom of the home page of IPTPA's website).


Contact Coach Mark directly if you have any questions. 

Tip of the Month: Your Most Important Resource



Coach Mark and Coach Kathy Pederson taking a quick break during one of their frequent drilling sessions.

If you're serious about improving pickleball skills and performance, then there's one resource you must develop and nurture. No, it's not your paddle. Or your shoes. Or your fitness and agility.


Yes, these are valuable resources - among many - that you need to get right and/or improve. But, I think there's an even more important resource. It's your drilling partner! Yes, you read right - your drilling partner.


Why do I think a drilling partner is your most important resource? If you look up the definition of resource in Wikipedia, it says: a resource is a source or supply from which a benefit is produced and provides some utility.


If you recruit and build a team of dependable and committed drilling partners, you will create a valuable resource (or asset) for skill development and performance improvement. In addition, this team will have many different talents you can utilize to address weaknesses or enhance strengths. And since we're talking about developing win-win relationships with like-minded players who may become good friends, you will offer something of value to them too. In sum, everyone benefits out of strong drilling partnerships.


However, finding the right drilling partner or building a strong drilling team is no easy task. You will need to "tryout" players to see if there's a good match (or fit). Not everyone who plays the game and sport of pickleball is dedicated to putting in the hours needed to practice and refine the mechanics, movement, or mindset required to play at a higher level of skill or competition. In fact, some players find drills boring. I've encountered a few of these folks and it doesn't take long to see a look of boredom (or disgust) on their faces. These are the people who will not become reliable or sustainable partners. Be nice and thank them, but don't try to fit a square peg into a round hole!


Obviously, finding the right drilling partners with the right mindset is critical. But what about the drills or drill games you and your partners will be using to develop skills and improved play?


This is the one of the reasons why I designed The Coach Mark Workout Series© on my website (www.coach-mark.com/coach-mark-workout-series). With the drills and drill games in the Series, you now have access to a wealth of resources to help you develop the control, consistency, and confidence required for the next level of skill and/or competition. And remember, you have four versions of the drills in The Coach Mark Workout Series©. That is, you can use these drills (plus the 0-60 Drill Game) in two down-the-line and two cross-court formats to improve directional control and placement.


So, I'd like to challenge you in 2023 to develop your most important resource - your team of drilling partners. Use their strengths and talents as well as The Coach Mark Workout Series© to take your game to the next level. You'll look back at your team of dedicated partners at this time next year with gratefulness and thankfulness.


Here's one drill and video from The Coach Mark and Coach Kathy Workout©:

Coach Mark Website

While in Arizona, Coach Mark has reviewed and updated each section of the Coach Mark Pickleball website (www.coach-mark.com). Check it out, especially the Services and FAQ sections. Coach Mark will add a scheduling feature to the website this March to streamline the process of scheduling (or if needed) cancelling sessions. 

Coach Mark Schedule

Coach Mark will be back at the Birch Bay Activity Center on Sunday, March 5 for regularly scheduled coaching sessions with clients. And, coaching sessions begin on Monday, March 6 at Semiahmoo Resort for Health Club members who play pickleball (per standards of the coaching agreement with Columbia Hospitality).


The 2023 Outdoor Season starts on Saturday, April 1 (fingers crossed)! In February, Coach Mark will be contacting clients who completed his survey last fall in order to find the right days and times for weekly or bi-monthly coaching sessions (private or small group). 

Coaching, Program, and Court Access Fees

Coach Mark will be keeping his per hour coaching fee at $40 (plus tax) in 2023. However, the court access fee at BBAC will be going up slightly to $5 per hour. This fee is per session and is divided by the number of players on court. The court access fee does not apply for BBAC-sponsored programs like the Intro class, Junior Camps, or Workout with Coach Mark sessions (and note, there has been a slight increase in these fees too).


These modest increases in court access and program fees will help support BBAC’s annual operating budget and enable this innovative community recreation center to deliver on its mission to support the entire Blaine and Birch Bay community. 

Redesigned Coach Mark Newsletter

You may have noticed a few changes to the design of this newsletter. First, we’ve moved our hosting service from MailChimp to Constant Contact. Constant Contact offers more tools for design of a quality newsletter and tracking of information required to manage a client-focused pickleball coaching practice. Second, we’ve shortened the name of this publication to Coach Mark News. We hope you enjoy the contents of each and every Coach Mark News!

Mark Livingston

"Coach Mark"




Thank you for your dedication and commitment to skill development and performance improvement. And thank

you for being a Coach Mark client and loyal promoter.


I sincerely appreciate the privilege and opportunity to help you learn and grow as a pickleball athlete!