It was two days of swift feet and sharper reflexes as the Pickleball Certification Weekend lit up the island with an energetic mix of high-level coaching, team spirit, and a fresh taste of what just might be Anguilla’s next sporting frontier.
Held from July 18–19 2025, the certification weekend was hosted at the Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club’s Entertainment Park, home to no fewer than eleven professionally lit pickleball courts, the largest complex of its kind in the entire Caribbean. But this wasn’t just about fancy facilities. It was about learning and growing under the guidance of some of the sport’s finest.
At the heart of it all was Bill Riddle, whose friendly but razor-sharp style brought structure, inspiration, and plenty of practical know-how to every minute of the two-day training. Riddle, with over 35 years of racquet sports experience under his belt, holds certifications with the PPR, IPTPA, and USPTA, and currently serves as a Coach Developer – a role that sees him nurturing and certifying the next generation of coaches.
“This weekend isn’t just about testing. It was about equipping you with what you need to succeed as a pickleball coach,” Riddle told the group during Saturday’s session. And indeed, he delivered. The sessions were dynamic, fast-paced, and deeply interactive, just like the sport itself.
Things kicked off Friday afternoon with the Serve Dink Play course – four hours of motion, theory, and a touch of humour as participants learned to translate their tennis instincts into pickleball precision. The group, made up of visiting pros, aspiring coaches, and notably, the coaching team from the Anguilla Tennis Academy (ATA), quickly took to the court.
Riddle wasted no time breaking down the fundamentals. “Pickleball might be new, but the principles of good coaching still apply,” he reminded them. Participants rotated roles—player, coach, observer—as they explored the art of dink shots, punch volleys, grip changes, and those sneaky rolling spins that keep opponents guessing.
The on-court energy was tangible. Coaches from the ATA—who are more used to forehands and single-handed backhands—adjusted their stance, reshaped their strokes, and practiced segment-by-segment progressions with focus and flair. “This is real-time teaching,” said one participant, wiping sweat from her brow. “You’re learning how to teach while you’re being taught.”
Unlike the previous evening’s playful exploration, Saturday’s session saw the participants expected to demonstrate their teaching ability in a mock group lesson—managing time, drills, communication, and clarity, all in eight tight minutes.
“This part,” Riddle explained, “is like a little performance. You’re coaching, yes, but you’re also managing a group, showing confidence, clarity, and progression.”
Each participant had to deliver a full, mini-coaching session—including a brisk dynamic warm-up, skill drills, and clear instruction—while the others played the role of students. Dinks were lifted. Balls were rolled. Some volleys were smacked with intensity. Feedback was immediate, and everyone, from rookies to seasoned tennis coaches, walked off court a little more confident—and a lot more curious about where this game could go.
What made this weekend even more meaningful for Anguilla was the inclusion of the ATA coaching staff. The Academy has positively impacted over 6,000 young people across the Caribbean since its inception in 1996. Now, with this new certification, their coaches are not only expanding their repertoire but also opening doors for local youth to step into a whole new sport.
Before wrapping up, Riddle took time to explain the full benefits of being part of the Racquet Sports Professionals Association (RSPA). The certification wasn’t just a paper to hang on the wall—it came with resources.
“You’re now a member of the RSPA,” he told the group. “That means job boards, educational support, coaching tools, equipment discounts, even insurance opportunities if you’re working abroad.”
He also hinted at even bigger things to come. “I think after this weekend, we’re going to be doing a lot more with the Caribbean.”
As the weekend wound down with an afternoon Pickleball Camp for Aurora’s resort guests—where newly minted coaches got to put their skills into live action—it became clear: this was more than just a training event. It was a new beginning.
