Robert Kilmister

Since retiring in 2022 I have taken up playing Pickleball with the Wyre Forest u3a (University of the third age) in Kidderminster.  I had played tennis and table tennis previously but I very quickly came to really enjoy Pickleball.

In August 2024 I entered the English Open Championships over 65 category 3.0- 3.5 level and won a bronze medal despite having suffered a tear to my calf muscle in game 3. I am sure we would have won the gold medal had I not suffered the injury.

After this competition I was really interested in doing some coaching.  I completed two courses run by Pickleball England which is the body which operates the sport in the UK.

The first was to coach complete beginners and I completed that course in September 2024 and I have since completed several training sessions for u3a.

These were so successful that I was asked to do a further course course so I could coach up to intermediate level.  I completed this course on 4/11/24 and successfully passed all three levels which were, practical, online timed test of knowledge and coaching skills plus an online written piece on an actual training session using the Gibbss' reflective cycle.  I passed all these to gain a level one coaching certificate.

I am now coaching regular sessions for Wyre Forest u3a which are every other Tuesday for 3 hours using two courts.  There are 92 members and we want to enable all of them to have coaching opportunities.  These sessions are in very heavy demand.  I also still introduce all beginners to the group.  I do not charge u3a but they pay all my expenses including court hire, balls and equipment.