OFFICIAL COACHING EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP

IPTPA Level I Coaching Certification

A coaching education partnership between the European Pickleball Federation and the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association, delivered across EPF member countries in Europe.

Collaboration Agreement between EPF and IPTPA, effective 2 July 2026.

About this Partnership

Under the Collaboration Agreement between the European Pickleball Federation (“EPF”) and the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association (“IPTPA”), EPF contributes academic and scientific content to enhance the IPTPA Level I coaching certification. The partnership applies to IPTPA Level I courses delivered in countries where a national federation is affiliated with EPF.

IPTPA continues to independently administer, deliver, and certify all courses under its established certification framework. Certificates issued under this partnership carry the official logos of both organisations.

The Three Components

Online coursework. Self-paced modules covering IPTPA’s core coaching curriculum together with EPF’s contributed science modules: safeguarding in sport, physical fitness for pickleball, motivation and goal setting, core coaching skills, and fundamentals of coaching.
On-court workshop. A practical, in-person session led by a certified IPTPA trainer (Master Teaching Professional).
Final assessment. A written and practical evaluation. Passing it completes the Level I certification and activates IPTPA membership.

Online coursework is paired with in-person instruction — a Master Teaching Professional leading an on-court session

Who's It For?

IPTPA Level I is the entry point for anyone teaching pickleball — newcomers building a coaching career, sport science and physical education graduates, competitive athletes moving into instruction, and experienced players formalising their coaching credentials.

Partnership Leadership

Dr Fatih Dervent

Board Member & Head of Coaching Education, EPF

A pickleball coach and researcher whose work focuses on sport education, Fatih brings this academic and coaching background to EPF’s coaching education efforts across Europe, including the EPF × IPTPA collaboration integrating evidence-based scientific content into IPTPA’s internationally recognised Level I certification.

Miguel Montaño Freire

Head of Education, IPTPA · Master Teaching Professional

Miguel also serves as Secretary General of the World Pickleball Federation (WPF) and is a university professor at Universidad Europea de Madrid, where he leads IPTPA’s international training programs — including the Madrid course featured below.

Featured: University-Accredited Course at Universidad Europea de Madrid

2 ECTS · 20 hours · Hybrid · English & Spanish

Registration Closes: 17th September 2026
Online Course Opens: 18th Septembe 2026
In-person on-court exam: 17 October 2026 — Facultad de Medicina, Salud y Deporte, Universidad Europea de Madrid (Villaviciosa de Odón campus)
Fee: $320 — includes course access, materials, and exam eligibility
Places: minimum 20, maximum 30 (postponed if 20 enrolments aren’t reached by 17 September)

Also Open: Ali Bey Club, Antalya — Alongside the European Open

A second EPF × IPTPA Level I workshop has just opened at the Ali Bey Club in Antalya, Türkiye — held alongside the 2026 European Pickleball Open, hosted by EPF in partnership with PSO Travel and Ali Bey Club Hotels & Resorts.

Hosting a Workshop in Your Country

EPF member federations don’t need to wait for a workshop to appear on the calendar. If no IPTPA Level I workshop is currently scheduled in your country, your national federation can request one directly from IPTPA — a standard workshop runs with a minimum of 10 participants. Submit your club or federation name, country, preferred dates, expected number of participants, and delivery language via the link below:

On-court instruction during a Level I workshop.

Your Pathway Beyond Level I

IPTPA Level I is the foundation of a full coaching career ladder:

Level II — Advanced Teaching Professional. A 1-on-1 engagement with a Director or Master Teaching Professional, combining an observed lesson and a skill test.
Specialist certifications. Certified Rating Specialist (on-court player rating) and Certified Junior Pickleball Instructor (youth coaching), both open to Level I coaches.
Level III — Master Teaching Professional. The university-backed elite tier, currently in development.

Register & Upcoming Workshops

This program is delivered under the Collaboration Agreement between the European Pickleball Federation and the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association, effective 2 July 2026.

Frank Arico

President, European Pickleball Federation

Seymour Rifkind

President, International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association

Questions regarding this partnership may be directed to your national federation or to EPF.