Meet Kelly Shumway | Pickleball PPR Instructor and Realtor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelly Shumway and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelly, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The thought process behind starting my own pickleball coaching business was driven by a combination of personal and professional factors. I first discovered pickleball at an interesting time in my life when I moved to Arizona and didn’t know anyone. To add to this, both of my kids went off to college at the same time, and I was suffering from empty nest syndrome. To top it off, COVID-19 hit and made meeting people incredibly difficult.

Pickleball became a way for me to connect with people and form new friendships. I quickly fell in love with the sport and began playing regularly. As my skills improved, I realized that I had a passion for coaching and helping others improve their game.

Starting my own coaching business allowed me to combine my love for the sport with my desire to help others. I wanted to create a space where players of all skill levels could come together to learn, improve, and have fun. Through my business, I am able to provide personalized coaching and instruction, organize clinics and events, and create a welcoming community for pickleball enthusiasts.

Overall, my personal experiences and love for the game were the driving forces behind my decision to start my own pickleball coaching business. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my passion with others and help them improve their skills and enjoy the sport as much as I do.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the USA. I started out as an enthusiest myself and out of boredom due to Covid it was one of the few things that was always open. I went from playing once a week to twice a week to quickly 7 days a week and sometimes even twice a day as Covid progressively got worse. I giggle when I say I accidently got good but it is the truth. If you dedicate that kind of time to anything you will quickly become proficient which is what happened to me. I naturally have a desire to help others, likely from my 25 years of being a Realtor and when others wanted to learn the game I found myself eager to help. I watched how happy it made people and was on the receiving end of some pretty spectacular feedback. After my first clinic several participants sent me messages about how much fun they had and it absolutely warmed my heart but one in particular stood out and had me sobbing. She sent me a text and told me that her husband left her two years ago for his office assistant after 20 years of marriage and she found herself raising her 3 children alone. Attending my pickleball clinic was the first time she left her house socially in two years and she said it was the most fun she had had in years and was incredibly thankful she stumbled across my post on social media. That message spoke to my heart in a massive way and had me crying. There are times where purpose and passion fall in line and in that moment I knew I could be the vessel to teach others the love of the game, foster new friendships and promote a healthy lifestyle of fitness and joy among others and I love every minute of it!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Hmmm my ideal itinerary would be Monday-Sunday, pickleball from 8am-12, followed by lunch at Isabella’s Kitchen or my absolute favorite Indian Restaurant called Namaste. I would want to show them the beauty of Scottsdale with a hike and maybe even a hot air ballon ride, followed by some line dancing at Harold’s in Cave Creek. Shopping in Keirland or Fashion Square is a must and I have yet to find a steak house I didn’t like so Mastro’s or Dominics would be at the top of the list.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
In my story, there are two people who deserve recognition and credit for their role in helping me start my pickleball coaching business. The first is Robin Wargo Barnes, who was the little pebble that started this ripple effect. She invited me to play pickleball with her group of girlfriends without even knowing me, simply because she knew I was new to the area and didn’t have any local friends. Her act of kindness was a great lesson in itself and without that first pebble or act of kindness, this journey or story wouldn’t have a beginning.

The second pebble in my story goes to Bret Tayne, who was part of a pickleball group and invited me to play early on in my learning process. Bret and his wife Roz later built two gorgeous courts at their home and graciously let me use their courts to teach newcomers to the game of pickleball. This was instrumental in launching my business as having private court access is near impossible. I will forever be grateful for Robin, Bret, and Roz for their kindness, generosity, and support.

These two individuals were instrumental in introducing me to the game of pickleball and helping me form connections within the local community. Without their support and encouragement, I may not have pursued my passion for coaching and started my own business. Their kindness and generosity are a testament to the spirit of pickleball, which is built on community, friendship, and inclusivity.

Website: www.teachmetopickle.com

Instagram: kelly_shumway_

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/kelly-shumway-1689436

Facebook: www.facebook.com/kelly.shumwaymacdonald

Image Credits
All my photos