GPF Launches Program to Elevate Pickleball Instructing in a Global Coaching Revolution
by Joe James
What’s the score?
The Global Pickleball Federation (GPF) has officially launched its Coaching Endorsement Plan, a new initiative to standardise coaching practices and certify pickleball coaches worldwide.
Regarded as an essential step in advancing professionalism in the sport, the initiative aims to set global coaching standards that align with pickleball’s swift growth.
This initiative, spearheaded by leaders from Canada, Australia, Ireland, Egypt, and the United States, aims to ensure high standards of coaching training and high-quality, affordable, and sustainable delivery to players.
The program follows strict criteria outlined by the GPF and offers worldwide certification. It focuses on beginner and grassroots levels and offers both online and in-person education.
The criteria will also give coaches teaching skills, safety protocol and inclusive coaching methods.
Endorsements from the GPF regarding four major organisations have followed the major announcement.
The International Foundation of Players Academy (IFPA), Pickleball Coaching International (PCI), Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR) and Racket Professional Organisation (RPO) make up the quartet.
Endorsed coaches will benefit from a listing in the GPF global coach network and recognition as global-level instructors.
Hit it deeper!
The GPF Coaching Endorsement Plan is a bold step toward global consistency in its pickleball education. With 63 member nations and a mission centred on driving accessibility and professional development, the GPF are committed to legitimising the sport further.
To deliver on that promise, the GPF has partnered with four leading coaching education providers: The International Foundation of Players Academy (IFPA), Pickleball Coaching International (PCI), Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR), and Racket Professional Organisation (RPO).
These partners offer a mix of online certification, in-person workshops, and structured resources designed for coaches at every level. Where the PCI may be seen as more practical, the PPR has a vast global network, the RPO is high-performance-focused and led by industry veteran Dan Santorum and global pickleball icon Collin Johns, whereas the IFPA is driven by a dedicated global pickleball certification.
Coaches who complete endorsed programs receive certification at the Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced levels. They also receive perks like GPF-branded certificates, international recognition, and access to a global coaching network.
The timing is in keeping with the rise of the game globally. For a flavour of where pickleball stands, in India, player numbers have risen by 400% in just over three years. In Nigeria, over 25 new clubs have opened since 2022, while South Africa is piloting its first national coaching course.
Vietnam, which joined the GPF in 2023, now has coaching hubs in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Here in Europe, demand is picking up. Germany saw a 70% increase in registered players last year, and Ireland is fast-tracking coach development through GPF-linked pathways.
Meanwhile, across the pond, USA Pickleball reported a 30% rise in certified coaching applications in 2024. Pickleball England also published data detailing a 120% rise in pickleball leaders.
The World Pickleball Verdict
GPF’s Coaching Endorsement Plan is a practical and necessary move. With participation exploding in countries all over the world, including India, Vietnam, Brazil and Nigeria, for example, minimising the risk of the sport outgrowing its infrastructure is key. Focusing on raising the coaching bar is one thing, making sure there’s a universal bar is another, and thankfully, the GPF is doing just that.
By endorsing established organisations like PCI, PPR, and RPO, the GPF has avoided the trap of building a new system from scratch but rather chose to hone in and build on the solid foundations it already has in pickleball’s ecosystem. Instead, it’s created a global framework that gives credibility to coaches, consistency to players, and a clear path for federations looking to grow the sport responsibly.
The benefits go beyond the certificate. Coaches will now be visible on an international scale, with GPF-backed legitimacy that opens doors in both grassroots programs and elite development. For countries like South Africa and Ireland, where national programs are just getting started, that kind of structure is a game-changer.
The challenge will be access. In lower-income regions, online certification can be a barrier. But if the GPF leans into local partnerships and subsidised pathways, this program could lay the groundwork for a more inclusive and professionally driven future, further cementing pickleball’s ever-growing international presence.
With Olympic ambitions on the table, coaching can’t be left behind. This plan gives pickleball the tools to scale with intent, not just momentum.