Episode 8: Pickleball Royalty: A Queen's Court of Stephanie Lane

 

The Nashville Pickleball Queen Shares Her Passion for Growing the Sport

Stephanie Lane, regarded by many as the "Queen of Nashville Pickleball," sat down with host Caitlin Miller to discuss her decades-long career playing and coaching pickleball across the country.

Stephanie Lane exudes enthusiasm and passion for pickleball. As one of the sports biggest ambassadors over the past decade, she has traveled coast-to-coast to coach players and teach new coaches. She still plays competitively at the highest levels while serving on national committees shaping the future of the blossoming sport. Her effusive optimism comes through in waves during her interview on the Kitchen Talk: Pickleball Edition podcast with host Caitlin Miller.

1. 0:43, How did you get into training other people to become pickleball coaches?

Lane traces her coaching origins back 30 years to her career as a physical education teacher. She broke down sports skills for students throughout her career. When Lane discovered pickleball coaching certifications through the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association (IPTPA), she dove right in. The IPTPA course opened her eyes by starting lessons at the non-volley zone line with a soft grip instead of serves. This allows beginners to start rallying right way. She realized this was a "major turn" in her teaching career. Lane now gets to teach other coaches best practices for success.

2. 1:19, What were some of the things you learned about how to train others?

Initially, Lane thought lessons should start with serves to begin points. Through IPTPA training, she learned the optimal approach is to start at the non-volley zone line with dinks. This allows beginners to develop soft grips and ball control before introducing more advanced shots. Starting with serves makes players squeeze the paddle too tight. When later trying to learn dinks, they struggle releasing grip pressure to delicately place dinks. This foundational, sequential way of building skills revolutionized Lane's entire teaching methodology.

3. 2:18, Traveling all over the country

Lane beams describing adventures traveling across the United States teaching pickleball. She calls workshop and clinic participants the "cream of the crop" people leading active lifestyles. Lane met wonderful people from coast to coast, building lifelong friendships bonded by their shared love of pickleball. Her motto became "make the ball bounce." She teaches control grip pressure and placements to sustained longer rallies. Players often smack balls aggressively like tennis initially before adjusting to pickleball's nuances. Lane still loves journeying to new places teaching all levels of players.

4. 3:58, Pickleball Club Facilities

Seeing dedicated pickleball courts and facilities sprouting up nationwide amazes Lane. She recalls only makeshift operations early on, with portable nets and taped lines on basketball or tennis courts. Now even small towns build dedicated indoor venues enabling year-round play. The days of cramming pickleball play into shared gymnasiums dwindles as the sport's popularity fuels permanent infrastructure investments. Still, major cities like Nashville lack adequate courts and complexes to meet exploding demand. But new facilities keep opening as acceptance accelerates.

5. 4:50, An Advocate for pickleball courts in Nashville

With Nashville pickleball desperately needing more places to play, Lane actively advocates for adding courts. Waiting 13 years already, she tirelessly meets with decision-makers to highlight benefits that could make Nashville a pickleball destination. She believes building awareness with influential people about how pickleball positively impacts lives should eventually spur action. Veterans of the local pickleball community persist in their missionary zeal despite slow progress thus far.

6. 6:10, Pickleball Journey 2022-2014

Lane stumbled upon pickleball in 2011 after initially learning about it in college but dismissing pickleball as a children's game. An athletic director's organization offered local pickleball play, prompting Lane to give it another try. Quickly bitten by the pickleball bug, she devoted herself to entering tournaments. In 2015 legendary player Kyle Yates needed a tournament partner upon turning 18. They unexpectedly gelled beautifully, with Lane leveraging her competitive collegiate tennis experience. She learned doubles strategies from teammate Nicole Hobson. Lane respected pickleball pioneers Dave Weinbach, Wes Gabrielsen and others who welcomed her rapid progression through the sport.

7. 8:25, Finding People To Play Pickleball

In pickleball's early days, few locals played the niche sport. Lane and Hobson claimed public tennis courts using painters tape to mark pickleball lines boundaries. They approached skeptical tennis players while introducing this unknown activity. But pickleball's infectious fun and inclusivity organically grew local interest. Even lacking dedicated venues, true devotees persist playing driveway pickleball. The sport sells itself through joyful experiences.

8. 9:19, PickleRoll

While exhibiting at a tournament, Lane discovered PickleRoll modular tile courts mimicking dedicated pickleball surfaces. The portable rollout court tiles installed easily on her concrete patio enabled playing at home without needing to find public places to play. This portability offers solutions for temporary courts nearly anywhere with a flat hard surface while still allowing play with regular outdoor balls. Lane forged an early sponsorship relationship with the fledgling PickleRoll startup company based in Knoxville, Tennessee.

9. 10:30, More courts nationwide

Asked about expanding portable PickleRoll tile courts facilitating future growth, Lane eagerly confirms their coming proliferation. She expects the convenience, standardization and flexibility for setup/teardown making PickleRoll courts popular options for tournaments, clubs and recreational play. Dedicated pickleball courts remain the gold standard but portable solutions provide expedient interim options to supplement permanent locations.

10. 11:24, PickleRoll: Buy or Rent

Lane isn't sure about rental availability but knows PickleRoll offers purchases. With modular 4 x 8-foot sections interconnecting, scale adapts based on available space. While challenging moving large assembled courts, smaller installations work perfectly fine elevating play on driveways or garage slabs. Still easy to disassemble and store, PickleRoll delivers functional durability facilitating fun.

11. 12:09, Playing on Stephanie's PickleRoll outdoor court

Host Caitlin Miller vouches for nearly identical play on Lane's backyard PickleRoll court compared with dedicated pickleball courts. The validates PickleRoll as a legitimate alternative when lacking courts to meet exploding demand for places to play pickleball as it soars in popularity.

12. 12:26, Other sports embracing pickleball, too

Seeing other professional sports teams and stadiums incorporating pickleball thrills Lane. Fans exploring venues stumble upon pickleball, quickly getting hooked while enjoying lively entertainment between main events. Nashville's pro soccer team Nashville SC and AAA baseball team Nashville Sounds both hosted pickleball activities in recent years. Athletes from other sports flocking to embrace multi-generational fun basically sells itself.

13. 13:44, How has pickleball changed your life?

Lane fondly recalls forging incredibly meaningful friendships playing pickleball over the past decade. She calls fellow players mostly retired competitors from various sports now reveling playfully in pickleball's community. Lane believes pickleball's inclusive, aspirational culture builds connections while cutting across divisions plaguing society. She sees the sport continuing growth trajectory helping unite America thanks to shared joyful experiences bonding differing people.

14. 14:54, Fun for everyone

As an elementary school physical education teacher, Lane starts instilling basic paddling skills building future pickleballers. She tells host Caitlin Miller nobody exists unable to enjoy pickleball at some meaningful level. Kids as young as 4-years-old learn basics maturing eventually perhaps into accomplished competitors like 17-year-old phenom Anna Leigh Waters ranked #1 professionally. But purely recreational play proving health benefits, fun and friendship keeps most satisfied. Lane constantly witnesses disabled, injured or elderly players discovering renewed quality of living through this life-changing sport.

15. 15:22, Pickleball Hall Of Fame Nominating Commitee

Lane serves on the Nominating Committee of the Pickleball Hall of Fame, helping recognize founders and contributors growing the sport she loves. Fellow Hall of Famer Dave Weinbach actually founded the institution to preserve pickleball history. Candidates face strict criteria for earning selection committee approval to join the Hall’s exclusive distinction. Seeingpickleball progress as a serious sport with proper record-keeping and milestone celebrations heartens Lane about its staying power and establishment as a major athletic and recreational endeavor.

16. 16:49, How the game has changed over the years

Early on, aggressively hammering shots frequently won points before fine-tuned control and strategy elevated play. Now professionals carefully construct points rather than impulsively smashing returns forcing errors or quick kills. Lane herself overcame tennis instincts by developing touch placing shots to move opponents out of position. She preaches maximizing rallies through intelligent placements – speed wins games, finesse wins tournaments. pickleball rewarded raw athleticism initially; skill and tactics later separated top-tier players rather than solely power and quickness.

17. 17:46, NCAA Sport

Lane absolutely expects eventual sanctioning of intercollegiate varsity pickleball by the NCAA. She notes fledgling competition in some regions as momentum builds. Her now college-aged daughter once even inquired about the prospects of pickleball scholarships after hearing discussions around other sports. Lane envisions a logical progression where NCAA acceptance accelerates high school and middle school team formations. As passionate coaches expose younger kids to pickleball through physical education programs and youth sports, many will choose to pursue it seriously entering higher levels of organized play. The pipeline looks primed as evidenced by standouts like Anna Leigh Waters claiming championships as a teenager.

18. 18:56, PE Curriculum

An elementary school physical education teacher, Lane incorporates age-appropriate pickleball activities into classes. While kindergarteners use balloons instead of balls, they get paddles figuring out hand-eye coordination without formal scoring. Older kids then apply paddling motions to balls over low nets in scaled fun. So exposing students sequentially builds skills potentially motivating later mastery. Lane wants kids future-ready meeting school programs accelerating play as the sport booms.

19. 19:36, Favorite place to play

With incredible scenery and ideal weather, Lane names St. George, Utah as a favorite pickleball destination. Enthusiastic local players she met early in her pickleball journey embodied the welcoming spirit making the game so enjoyable. St. George boasted numerous public courts allowing free open play without making reservations or payments. Evening lights enabled staying out late enjoying beautiful surroundings and the region's magnificent recreational options beyond just pickleball. Tournaments there proved special thanks to new friendships and the awesome community supporting visitors.

20. 20:32, Utah

Lane highlights Utah as an early pillar growing pickleball on local levels. Their city parks led the way installing public dedicated courts well before most other regions. Contrasting this infrastructure during pickleball's initial West Coast boom compares with East Coast scrambling for makeshift court rentals in warehouses. So Utah facilitated broader introductions and structured play opportunities helping ignite popular interest building momentum.

21. 21:25, Favorite memory competing

Winning her first national singles championship in 2012 rates as Lane's standout competitive pickleball memory for sentimental reasons. Her brother and biggest athletic motivator growing up had recently passed away. Looking skyward after securing that victory in Arizona, Lane thanked her brother for instilling her with a fierce determination to win in his honor. It meant everything overcoming tennis tendencies by that point to emerge victorious in her newest sporting pursuit.

22. 22:19, Upcoming tournaments

Now a top senior pro, Lane always plays the USA Pickleball National Championships and US Open. She looks forward to partnering with legend Tony Roy as she continues Mount Rushmore-level status through taking tournaments seriously. Lane enjoys the Hybrid Doubles combining ambulatory and wheelchair athletes. If her services get requested again, she would happily return supporting that cause advancing opportunities for disabled players. As a true pickleball disciple, Lane feels grateful playing prominent roles in big events furthering growth of her beloved sport.

23. 23:21, US Open

Lane fondly recalls competing at East Naples Community Park, the US Open venue, before dedicated infrastructure got built. Originally housing a skatepark and tennis courts, players contended with suboptimal temporary solutions to facilitate competing there. Current owners securing the Open rights invested properly accommodating world-class talent rather than gamely making due amid imperfect conditions. Now the US Open stands out as exceptionally well-run - a model event on a spectacular campus.

24. 24:10, Kyle Yates - taping courts

Host Caitlin Miller confirms Lane's memories working with Kyle Yates using painter's tape marking improvised courts themselves when traveling to tournaments in the early days. Before fame and fortune invigorating professional pickleball today, humble grassroots ambassadors passionately pioneering the sport handled all operational minutiae while proselytizing play. Their dedication delivered pickleball from obscurity to today's booming popularity.

25. 24:54, Playing with your daughter

Ruefully, Lane admits her increasingly serious daughter surpassed mom's talents already at just 18. They sometimes played together in earlier years when both participated more recreationally. But now with her daughter focused on competitive rankings while Lane plays senior events, they rarely share court time. Still, Lane's glowing pride radiates discussing her daughter's accomplishments thanks to early encouragement and their shared lifelong immersion in sports.

26. 25:34, Back In The Day: Finding Partners For Tournaments

In pickleball's early years with most top players living far apart, tournament partners struggled scheduling meaningful practice sessions. Competitors united the night before events scrambling to rebuild chemistry and strategize. Bonds formed traveling the national circuit together regularly but long gaps existed between tournaments. Still, lasting shared lifestyle passions fostered close friendships despite limited on-court reps.

27. 27:21, Is big money changing the game?

Lane acknowledges upsides and downsides when big sponsorship money flowed recently into elite pickleball. While the professionalization allows some to earn livings advancing play standards, it inevitably alters dynamics. Expecting Ben Johns to socialize playing rec games seems unrealistic now given his wealth-generating status. Less mingling across skill levels occurs as more segregate chasing lucrative prizes and rankings. Still, Lane accepts evolution realizing every sport changes with increased opportunities breeding specialization.

28. 28:11, Juniors

Teaching kids energizes Lane given her lifelong career as a physical education instructor. Seeing youth enthusiasm for pickleball today after early Total Pickleball Academy sessions years ago heartens her about ensuring generational sustainment. Now a defined path exists for juniors to hone games adapted to their developing physical and cognitive abilities. So as young standouts emerge through coaching pipelines, pickleball fortifies firmly into the future.

29. 28:48, Nashville Pickleball Queen

Caitlin Miller praises Lane as a natural teacher with infectious enthusiasm. Travelers far and wide learn from Coach Lane before playing better upon returning home. Miller dubs Lane the Nashville Pickleball Queen for tireless dedication promoting growth of local play opportunities. Lane graciously accepts the moniker after 13 years immersed establishing pickleball in an underserved region now poised to boom. She remains focused on raising awareness to shape promising destinies for current and future Nashville pickleballers.

Summary:

The Nashville Pickleball Queen Shares Her Passion for Growing the Sport profiles pickleball ambassador Stephanie Lane's enthusiastic quest to spread her love of the sport. A physical education teacher by trade, Lane started playing pickleball in 2011 after initially learning about it back in college. She quickly dove headfirst into competition and coaching.

Now regarded by many as "The Queen of Nashville Pickleball," Lane has spent over a decade promoting the sport locally and traveling the country teaching players and certifying coaches. She serves on national committees shaping pickleball's future and continues competing at the highest levels, including at the prestigious U.S. Open.

In her interview on the Kitchen Talk: Pickleball Edition podcast, Lane radiates positivity discussing pickleball's explosive growth. She started coaching through the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association, which taught her an optimal learning progression beginning with ball control skills before introducing more advanced strokes. Lane then began traveling nationwide, meeting wonderful people and forging lifelong friendships in the close-knit pickleball community.

A fierce advocate for adding more pickleball facilities in Nashville to meet demand, Lane also formed an early sponsorship relationship with PickleRoll. Their portable tile courts provide functional pickleball surfaces almost anywhere with a hard flat surface. Lane continues entering tournaments, often combining with wheelchair athletes in the Hybrid Doubles format she loves.

As pickleball popularity snowballs, Lane passionately ushers it into schools. An elementary physical education teacher, she incorporates age-appropriate paddling skills building future generations of players. Lane serves on the Pickleball Hall of Fame Nominating Committee, helping recognize those growing the sport she adores. She admits mixed feelings about recent infusions of big money on the professional level but focuses optimism on grassroots development.

Host Caitlin Miller dubs Lane the Nashville Pickleball Queen for tireless dedication. Lane graciously accepts that moniker, remaining focused on raising local awareness to shape promising destinies for current and future Nashville pickleballers. Through boundless enthusiasm and selfless commitment to sharing her joy of playing pickleball, Lane indeed serves as true royalty and an exemplary ambassador.

Time Code List

1. 0:00 Introduction
2. 0:43 How did you get into training other people to become pickleball coaches?
3. 1:19 What were some of the things you learned about how to train others?
4. 2:18 Traveling all over the country
5. 3:58 Pickleball Club Facilities
6. 4:50 An Advocate for pickleball courts in Nashville
7. 6:10 Pickleball Journey 2022-2014
8. 8:25 Finding People To Play Pickleball
9. 9:19 PickleRoll
10. 10:30 More courts nationwide
11. 11:24 PickleRoll: Buy or Rent
12. 12:09 Playing on Stephanie's PickleRoll outdoor court
13. 12:26 Other sports embracing pickleball, too
14. 13:44 How has pickleball changed your life?
15. 14:54 Fun for everyone
16. 15:22 Pickleball Hall Of Fame Nominating Commitee
17. 16:49 How the game has changed over the years
18. 17:46 NCAA Sport
19. 18:56 PE Curriculum
20. 19:36 Favorite place to play
21. 20:32 Utah
22. 21:25 Favorite memory competing
23. 22:19 Upcoming tournaments
24. 23:21 US Open
25. 24:10 Kyle Yates - taping courts
26. 24:54 Playing with your daughter
27. 25:34 Back In The Day: Finding Partners For Tournaments
28. 27:21 Is big money changing the game?
29. 28:11 Juniors
30. 28:48 Nashville Pickleball Queen

The Nashville Pickleball Queen's Court

1. What organization did Stephanie Lane teach coaching certifications for?

a) Association of Pickleball Professionals

b) USA Pickleball

c) International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association

d) National Pickleball Coaches Council

2. Where did Lane say she starts beginner lessons?

a) At the non-volley zone line

b) With serves

c) At the baseline

d) With dinks

3. What does Lane's motto of "make the ball bounce" refer to?

a) Practicing drop shots

b) Learning spin shots

c) Controlling placements in rallies

d) Smashing returns

4. What portable pickleball court product did Lane partner with early on?

a) QuickCourt

b) Court In A Box

c) Roll-N-Play

d) PickleRoll

5. Where did Lane say she incorporates pickleball into elementary school classes?

a) History

b) Gym

c) Math

d) All core subjects

6. What first sparked Lane's passion for competitive pickleball?

a) Watching it at the Olympics

b) Beating her brother

c) Getting a medal at Nationals

d) Learning tennis strategies

7. Lane said small PickleRoll tile courts work well for what type of installation?

a) Permanent professional courts

b) Driveways and garage slabs

c) Gymnasium floors

d) Grass fields

8. What position does Lane serve in regarding the Pickleball Hall of Fame?

a) Vice President

b) Selection Committee

c) President

d) Nominating Committee

9. Why did Lane say the sport inevitably changed once big sponsorship money entered?

a) Rule changes

b) Pressure on top athletes

c) Less mingling across skill levels

d) More people competing

10. What word does Lane use to describe pickleball participants she has met?

a) Eccentric

b) Neurotic

c) Elite

d) Cream of the crop

11. Where did host Caitlin Miller say she played on a portable PickleRoll court?

a) Stephanie's backyard

b) A trade show

c) Her condo complex

d) A country club

12. What local Nashville sports team hosted a pickleball event Lane discussed?

a) Titans

b) Grizzlies

c) Sounds

d) SC

13. What does Lane credit for unplanned early tournament partnerships working well?

a) Creative strategies

b) Raw talent

c) Coincidental chemistry

d) Frequent practices

14. Who did Lane say “make do” amid imperfect conditions early on at the U.S. Open site?

a) Her brother

b) Commissioner

c) Competitors

d) Owner

15. How does Lane describe the typical pickleball community personality?

a) Hypercompetitive

b) Overbearing

c) Reclusive

d) Inclusive

Answer Key:

1. c
2. a
3. c
4. d
5. b
6. c
7. b
8. d
9. c
10. d
11. a
12. d
13. c
14. c
15. d

Ode to the Pickleball Queen

Oh listen my friends as I spin quite a tale, about the fair Lady of Nashville Pickleball, Stephanie Lane.

This PE teacher turned pro has a pickleball flair, With paddle in hand, watch out if you dare!

A traveling disciple far and wide she did roam, spreading the good word wherever she did roam.

See Stephanie knew that this game was so swell, she had to share it, she had to tell,

About pickleball's joy found by one and by all, whether pro or novice to play recreational ball.

Well this ambassador had national dreams, of growing this sport to best-it's-ever seen.

So Stephanie taught coaching all over the place, starting players out with some rallying space.

"Make the ball bounce!" became Stephanie's creed. Control those grips, placements at their need.

Then this advocator, she forged along
Securing sponsorship deals before too long.

With PickleRoll modulars, why courts can now be built, transforming driveways and concrete slabs if you will.

Our gal Stephanie knows keeping kids is a must, So pickleball curriculum in schools is a plus.

Teach paddle skills to the juniors coming aboard,
They'll carry this sport torch without getting bored.

For all Stephanie's contributions over the years, She got nominated to the Pickleball Hall Of Fame, my dears!

Ambassador, teacher, and player supreme, Make Stephanie Lane Nashville's pickleball queen.

Unrelenting passion helper this sport come alive, Here's to the lady who helps the pickleball hive thrive!

Yes Stephanie Lane is the sport's number one fan, Let's hear three cheers for the Nashville pickleball clan!