John MacKeen
NCCP Level 2 Pickleball Coach | PCI Rating Assessment Certified | VIP Coach with CSIA
About Me
With years of experience in developing beginner to intermediate pickleball athletes, I’m certified at NCCP Level 2 and officially recognized as a PCI Rating Assessment Coach. As a VIP Coach with the Canadian Sport Institute Atlantic (CSIA), I bring a strong foundation in safe, ethical, and athlete-focused coaching.
Certifications
- Courses Completed:
- Mental Health in Sport
- NCCP Coaching Athletes with a Disability
- NCCP Creating a Positive Sport Environment
- NCCP Emergency Action Plan
- NCCP Make Ethical Decisions (MED) Online
- NCCP Sport Nutrition
- Safe Sport Training – Decision Makers
- Safe Sport Training – Direct & No Direct Athlete Contact
- Understanding the Rule of Two
- Professional and certified teachings
ARTICLES
Coach’s Corner
Pickle ball
Where Every Paddle Tells Story
My First Paddle Every player remembers the paddle that started it all. For me, it was a basic composite paddle—nothing special, but it changed everything. I still remember stepping onto the court for the first time, unsure and curious. That paddle helped me discover a sport that builds community, tests skill, and creates joy.
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Lesson & Coaching Packages
Coaching & Lessons Overview Whether you're new to pickleball or working toward competitive goals, my coaching sessions are tailored to your skill level and learning style. Each session blends instruction, practice, and play to help you grow with confidence.
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Where Every Paddle Tells a Story
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Courses by better pickleball coaching team
- 1 Competitive Play for Dupr, Tournament and league play
- 2 The Pickleball System
- 3 Follow the X
Instructor with TMT Coach
never too late to learn
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John MacKeen
John is a certified NCCP pickleball coach and VIP coach with the Canadian Sports Institute Atlantic. Through clinics, school programs, and player development sessions, John helps players of all ages improve their game and love for pickleball. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to elevate your skills, his goal is to make learning fun, focused, and inclusive.
Stay connected here for coaching updates, articles, and local pickleball news.
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Certified NCCP Level 2 & PCI Rating Assessment Coach. VIP Coach with Canadian Sport Institute Atlantic. Developing beginner to intermediate pickleball athletes with a focus on safe, ethical coaching.
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Staying Back While Your Partner Is at the Net Is Selfish
STOP BEING SO SELFISH! 🔥
Let’s not pretend this is complicated.
You’re standing on the baseline. Your partner is at the kitchen line doing the work, taking balls, creating pressure, actually playing pickleball.
You? You’re back there, admiring the scenery. Guarding the fence line like it’s Fort Knox. Waiting for something “safe.”
That’s not strategy. That’s hesitation dressed up as patience. Your partner knows it.
1. Pickleball Is a Team Sport, Act Like It
Here’s the deal: when one player is at the net, the team is trying to move forward together.
Why? The net is where points are controlled.
Not the baseline. Not the middle. The net.
When your partner gets there and you don’t follow?
You’re saying one of two things:
“I don’t trust you.”
“I don’t trust myself.”
Neither of those helps you win.
A good partner doesn’t spectate. They close the gap.
2. You’re Giving the Other Team Exactly What They Want
Let’s say your partner is at the net and you stay back.
Now what happens?
The other team gets:
Space
Time
Angles
Congratulations, you’ve made their life easier.
They can:
Drop short and force your partner into awkward defense
Drive past you because you’re sitting deep
Pick you apart one shot at a time while you play solo defense in the backcourt
It’s like playing doubles with half a brain and hoping the scoreboard feels bad for you. It won’t.
3. Fear Is the Real Reason You’re Staying Back
Let’s call it what it is.
You’re not “strategically patient." You’re uncomfortable moving forward.
The ball comes faster
Mistakes feel more visible
You can’t hide behind “I just like to play safe”
If you’re afraid of the net, you’re volunteering to lose from the back.
At higher levels, staying back isn’t safe. It’s predictable. Predictable gets punished.
4. How to Move Up Without Getting Burned
This is where most players mess it up, they either rush forward like they’re late for a flight, or they never go at all.
You don’t do either. You move intelligently.
Move up after a controlled shot, not a reckless one
Approach with your paddle up and ready (not dragging like it’s your emotional baggage)
Communicate with your partner, let them know you’re coming
When you get there?
Hold the line. Don’t drift back out of fear.
5. Respect Your Partner Enough to Be a Threat
Here’s the part that stings a little.
Your partner didn’t work to get to the net so you could stand 10 feet behind them watching. They worked to win.
Winning in doubles requires both players to:
Be engaged
Be aggressive when appropriate
Be in position to apply pressure
When you stay back, you’re not just hurting yourself.
You’re dragging your partner into a defensive war they didn’t sign up for.
That’s not teamwork. That’s burden shifting.
If your partner is at the net, you have one job:
Get there.
Not eventually.
Not “when it feels right.”
Now.
Every step you take forward:
Reduces your opponent’s options
Increases your control
Makes you harder to beat
If this felt a little uncomfortable, good. Comfort doesn’t win matches. Action does.
🔥WIN MORE. FAST. ... See MoreSee Less
Pickleball IQ Advantage | Pickleball Nation HQ
www.pickleballnationhq.com
Win more pickleball doubles matches with this powerful guide featuring game changing tips and strategies.re to get started!
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How to Hit a slice .
Let’s be honest: hitting every single ball hard is not going to make you a better player, but adding variation to your game will.
Sometimes, the most annoying shot to deal with is the one that just... stays low and barely even bounces. That’s the magic of the slice.
First, What Is a Slice in Pickleball?
In pickleball, a slice—or backspin shot—is made by swinging the paddle in a downward motion, which puts reverse spin on the ball. This causes the ball to travel slower, stay low after the bounce, and skid toward your opponent, making it tough for them to attack.
While everyone’s out there practicing their Erne or lining up a cheeky Nasty Nelson, don’t forget: mastering the slice (and knowing your pickleball rules) can win you just as many points—quietly and efficiently.
✅ Grip:
Use a continental grip for better control and natural slice mechanics.
✅ Paddle Angle:
Angle the face of your paddle slightly upward—this helps apply that crisp backspin.
✅ Swing Path:
Start your swing high
Follow a high-to-low trajectory
Keep your wrist and elbow locked
Use your shoulder to drive the motion, not your wrist
✅ Follow-Through:
Keep it low and forward toward your target. You’re not trying to hit a winner—you're placing a ball that’s tough to attack.
When Should You Use a Slice?
According to Bobbi, here are the best times to use a slice:
When pulled wide or in a defensive position
To reset the point and buy yourself time
To mix up your spin game and keep opponents guessing
To force a low bounce and make their next shot tougher ... See MoreSee Less
First, What Is a Slice in Pickleball?
In pickleball, a slice—or backspin shot—is made by swinging the paddle in a downward motion, which puts reverse spin on the ball. This causes the ball to travel slower, stay low after the bounce, and skid toward your opponent, making it tough for them to attack.
While everyone’s out there practicing their Erne or lining up a cheeky Nasty Nelson, don’t forget: mastering the slice (and knowing your pickleball rules) can win you just as many points—quietly and efficiently. ... See MoreSee Less