Miri initiative aims to build Malaysia’s pickleball ecosystem

MIRI : A community-driven initiative here aims to turn the growing interest in pickleball into a sustainable sporting ecosystem, creating opportunities for players, coaches, venue operators and local businesses.

The International Academy of Certified Pickleball Professionals (IACPP) will launch its Grow Pickleball Miri Community Workshop Series on November 7, bringing together community members, students, certified coaches and venue operators under a single grassroots development programme.

The initiative, supported and endorsed by Sarawak’s Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development and the state’s pickleball associations, is designed to strengthen participation while creating a more structured pathway for the sport’s development.

More than 80 participants have completed IACPP’s Level 1 Coaching programme to date, providing a growing pool of trained coaches to lead community sessions.

IACPP founder, Farrell Choo said the workshop series was intended to connect these coaches with new players and venue operators, allowing the different parts of the sport to develop together.

“Our Level 1 programme has trained more than 80 coaches to date. This workshop series connects those coaches with the community, students and venue operators, so the sport grows as one ecosystem,” he said.

Connecting sport with economic opportunity

IACPP’s approach centres on the belief that sustainable growth requires more than increasing the number of people playing the sport. It also depends on having trained coaches, accessible facilities and an active network of sporting associations.

Under the programme, community members and students will be introduced to pickleball, while certified coaches gain practical experience leading sessions.

Venue operators will have opportunities to connect with players and coaches, potentially generating demand for court bookings and related services.

The initiative also aims to give government agencies and sporting associations a structured, standards-based framework for supporting grassroots participation.

Beyond encouraging an active lifestyle and bringing people of different ages and backgrounds together, IACPP sees potential economic benefits through increased demand for coaching, court facilities, equipment and sporting events.

“When participation grows, so do opportunities for coaches, venues and local businesses. That is the socio-economic impact we want Miri to demonstrate,” Choo said.

The proposed model links community participation with local economic activity, with growth in the player base expected to support demand for coaching services and sports facilities.

These benefits remain an objective of the initiative rather than measured outcomes at this stage.

IACPP intends for the Miri workshop series to serve as a model that could be extended to other divisions in Sarawak and other states in Malaysia.

The inaugural workshop will be held at Pika!ball Sentral in Taman Tunku, Miri, on Saturday, November 7.

Participation in the community workshop is free. Registration is available at www.iacpp.com/free-workshop, with applications closing on October 31.

The International Academy of Certified Pickleball Professionals PLT is an HRD Corp-registered training provider based in Miri, Sarawak.

It certifies pickleball coaches through its Level 1 Coaching programme and is working to develop an ecosystem framework for the sport in Malaysia.