In Episode 9 of the Pickleball Coaches Podcast, host Mark Renneson tackles the rising trend of "trash talking" in the professional and amateur game. Are we competing against each other, or striving together? Mark shares three powerful reasons why less is more when it comes to "smack talk" and why acting like "you’ve done it before" is the ultimate power move on the court. Later in the episode, we dive into the Mailbag to answer three critical coaching questions: Motivation (07:18): How do you make players care about technique? (Hint: Stop burying the lead!) Player Assessments (10:42): Dealing with the "delusional" player who thinks they are a 5.0 but plays like a 3.0. Youth vs. Adult Coaching (14:35): The key differences between teaching kids and adults (and why you should stop talking about "perpendicular angles" to 7-year-olds). RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• PCI Rating Assessment Tools: Get objective data on your skills.

Coaching Certification: Visit pcipickleball.com to become a certified instructor.

• Kids Coaching: Search "Teaching Pickleball to Kids" on Selkirk TV for Mark’s full video series.

WANT YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED? Email us at info@pickleballcoachinginternational.com

Coaching isn’t just about what you say—it’s about knowing when to say nothing. In this episode, Mark Renneson tackles three moments when silence helps your players more than feedback, how to decide if a ball machine is worth it (and when it isn’t), what to do when a player melts down in matches but shines in practice, and how many hours on court is too many for a coach without compromising lesson quality.

🎯 What you’ll learn

The 3 situations where great coaches keep quiet

Ball machines: smart uses vs. false confidence

Helping a player who chokes—reframing identity & reducing fear

A practical test for coach workload (so hour 7 looks like hour 1)

In this episode of the Pickleball Coaches Podcast, Mark Renneson breaks down the three most common struggles new coaches face during instructor certification:

• Saying & Showing – Why demonstrating a drill while narrating is harder than it looks.
• Terminology Traps – How inconsistent language across the pickleball world confuses coaches and players.
• Playing & Coaching at the Same Time – Why it’s so challenging for instructors to join in while still giving quality feedback.
• Plus, Mark answers listener questions about drills for different skill levels, recording lessons, in-person certification, and how to keep players motivated.

Whether you’re a new instructor or a seasoned coach, these tips will help you deliver better lessons and grow as a leader on the court.