Dorset Pickleball Coaches
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Welcome to our page of qualified Pickleball Coaches in the Dorset area. Whether you are new to the game or looking to improve your skill, you can rest assured that all coaches listed here are covered by the PickleballENGLAND guarantee.
This means they have all:
- Passed Workshop Assessment
- Passed the Rules & Workbook Exam
- Passed the written reflections assignment
- Enhanced DBS
- Passed Safeguarding in Sport Training
- Passed First Aid Training
Level 1 Coaches
Graham Coles, Bournemouth, Poole, Ferndown & Surrounding Areas
Level 1 Qualified
Graham is a true all-round sports enthusiast with a passion for tennis, badminton, rugby and football. After discovering pickleball, he quickly developed his skills and has since achieved both
his Pickleball Leaders Award and Level 1 Coaching Qualification.
He enjoys sharing his knowledge with club players and is a strong advocate for making the sport accessible to all, encouraging new players to give it a try. Graham leads Dorset Dinkers’ club coaching sessions with a focus on helping players improve, building their confidence, and
enjoying their progress in a supportive environment.
Specialising in introducing new players to the game, we offer beginners courses to get brilliant at the basics. In addition, we offer improvers sessions, tailored to work on elements of the game
you wish to focus on and improve. Please reach out if you want help getting started, or improving your game.
Simon Jennings, Bournemouth, Poole, Ferndown & Surrounding Areas
Level 1 Qualified
My goal is to help people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds kick-start their pickleball journey — and to share a brilliant sport that’s easy to get into, whatever level you want to reach.
I’ve been coaching squash since I was 19, working with everyone from juniors right through to professional players. Over 40 years of coaching has shaped my approach – covering technique, mindset, training, and (most importantly) making sessions enjoyable and confidence-building.
And I’m still learning every day…
Pickleball entered my world three years ago. I remember thinking, “This looks fun…” and it didn’t take long before it became a real part of life!
I currently support the Poole and Bournemouth Pickleball Club, running junior sessions as well as adult beginner group sessions across the Poole, Bournemouth and Ferndown area (and surrounding Dorset venues).
Sessions typically cover the fundamentals (rules, scoring and etiquette), safe and effective technique (serve, return and groundstrokes), footwork and court positioning, doubles tactics, and plenty of coached match play—so you improve quickly and enjoy the game from day one.
Want a bit more focus? I offer 1-to-1 coaching, small-group sessions, and structured beginner courses. Sessions are typically 60 minutes (with options for longer), and I’m happy to tailor them for complete beginners, improvers, juniors, or adults.
My aim is simple: to help you feel confident, understand how the game works, and be ready to step into club sessions and social play comfortably.
I’m a qualified Level 1 Coach and fully insured (Public Liability with Pickleball England). I’m also safeguarding trained, Enhanced DBS checked, and First Aid certified — so you can relax knowing sessions are fun, safe, and positive. If you’re new to the sport, I can provide paddles and balls for your first sessions, and I offer weekday evening and weekend availability where possible.
To start your pickleball journey (or take the next step), get in touch to ask about availability, venues and pricing—and we’ll find the right session for you.
Kirsty Miller, Bournemouth, Poole & Surrounding Areas
Level 1 Qualified
Dorset Dinkers Pickleball Coach, Kirsty Miller, is based in Bournemouth, Poole and the surrounding areas. Kirsty endeavours to create opportunities for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to be inspired to participate in pickleball.
Her sessions are fun, friendly, inclusive and welcoming – whether you’re a regular player or have never picked up a paddle before. Players are the heartbeat of clubs; Kirsty offers several sessions for both adults and juniors throughout the week and is keen to promote the mental, physical and social benefits of the game and to grow this fantastic sport.
With a background as a top junior badminton player in England, plus her 20 year badminton teaching career, she brings her coaching expertise and competitive edge to pickleball after spotting it while running her badminton sessions. Her decision to dive into the sport, followed by earning her Pickleball England Level 1 Coach qualification,
demonstrates her commitment to learning and sharing the love of the game. Whatever the motivation, it is very rewarding to see people of all abilities on court and focusing on the enjoyment and intrinsic value of playing pickleball.
Private lessons are a fantastic way to improve and develop the areas of the game that you would like to work on and each session can be tailored directly to your needs and level. Players benefit from the opportunity to have one- to-one learning, but in addition, sessions could include your badminton partner or a friend so that you can develop your doubles games together.
Qualified Level 1 Coach, Full Public Liability with Pickleball England, Safeguarding trained, Enhanced DBS, & First Aid Certified ensuring a fun, safe & positive environment for players.
To start your pickleball journey or to attend any sessions please contact Kirsty below or check out Dorset Dinkers Pickleball
Steve Richardson, Dorset
Level 1 Qualified
After a 40-year playing and coaching career in semi-professional football came to an end, I looked for another sporting challenge to fill the void. Initially I decided to replace football with tennis, but after representing my local David Lloyd club in tennis I stumbled across Pickleball and immediately became hooked to this amazing sport.
In a short time, I became a multiple doubles winner in competitions throughout the south, as well as a semi-finalist in the English Seniors Open, and a quarter finalist in US Open Seniors in singles.
Since gaining a level 1 qualification, I have coached both juniors and seniors, with one of my students who had never played Pickleball before going onto to become a singles runner up in the Nationals within a year of picking up a paddle.
Along with coaching private clients, I have coached the Junior Section with Dorset Pickleball Club. I am a full-time firefighter and recently became responsible for overlooking the Pickleball section of Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service.
I am passionate about promoting the sport, and the many benefits that accompany Pickleball. If you are just starting out on your Pickleball journey and just want to compete against friends, or looking to take on the best, it would be great assist you in achieving your goals.
IPTPA
Pickleball England also recognise the INTERNATIONAL PICKLEBALL TEACHING PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION (IPTPA) qualification. As acknowledged in the Club Instructor workbook some of the concepts in our curriculum are based on IPTPA.
PickleballEngland provides the coaching insurance for IPTPA Coaches listed on the IPTPA website (click button below). Since this is a dynamic list, we can’t list everyone on this page. We also don’t have visibility for which coaches have all the above evidence.
Other Qualifications
If you have another pickleball qualification (including IPTPA) and want to be listed on this page, we do require that you meet the guarantee on the top of the page. We have a low cost conversion option to be recognised by PbE. Email coaching@pickleballengland.org for more information.