Paul has always been passionate about fostering achievement in others, Paul identified he could help pickleball players improve their skills and game. Utilizing his extensive background in sports coaching & teaching and his understanding of human kinetics, he can then coach pickleball players to achieve new heights.

Introduced to the sport as an alternative to tennis, Paul has embraced pickleball not just for its accessibility but as a platform to apply his robust academic background, which includes qualifications in Soccer, Badminton, Human Kinetics, Indoor Hockey, and Physical Education.

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Paul had his mind set on National Tournaments, and was training and being coached with those goals in mind. Unfortunately, a life-threatening health incident put him in the hospital for over a month, and meant that he had to reevaluate his pickleball journey. Now he wants to take the knowledge he gained from that journey and give back to the community, to share his knowledge with others. 

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Paul is motivated by a desire to transcend traditional skills-based pickleball coaching and instruction and develop big-picture-based pickleball instruction. His approach is rooted in his academic expertise, particularly in identifying patterns in human movement. By teaching pickleball players to recognize these patterns, Paul enhances their understanding of the game, making it easier and more enjoyable. His philosophy is to develop players holistically, emphasizing the importance of understanding when and how to apply skills in game situations.

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As an active member of the Nanaimo Pickleball Club and various other Pickleball groups on Vancouver Island, Paul is deeply involved in the local pickleball community. He is committed to elevating the sport through a progressive coaching plan that helps players achieve their best pickleball.  Pickleball Evolved aims to increase the number of advanced players (4.0 level and above) in Nanaimo and Vancouver island.

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Paul's professional development is ongoing; he invests hours each week learning from other coaches, peers and mentors, testing new patterns and strategies. This commitment ensures that he stays at the forefront of coaching innovation, continuously enhancing his teaching methods and strategic insights for his students.

Paul Friend is not just coaching pickleball; he is nurturing a community of players who appreciate the sport as much as he does, fostering a rich, supportive, and skilled pickleball environment in Nanaimo.