Geert-Jan van Dijken becomes national pickleball coach

Geert-Jan has been involved in pickleball in the Netherlands for quite some time.
For example, he supports the KNLTB in providing additional training for padel and tennis coaches who want to deepen their knowledge of pickleball. This pathway will ultimately lead to a full-fledged pickleball coaching program, allowing the sport to grow more broadly.

As national coach, Geert-Jan will soon begin forming a team for the European Pickleball Championships,
which will take place from September 19 to 21 in Rome. With his extensive network, his experience as a passionate pickleball player, and his participation in international competitions, he has everything it takes to thoroughly prepare the Dutch team.

“It’s a great challenge to help this beautiful sport grow at all levels.
Elite sport inspires and connects. I look forward to contributing to that with full energy,” says Geert-Jan.

KNLTB Technical Director Jacco Eltingh is enthusiastic:
“It’s fantastic that Geert-Jan is taking on this role. He can be of tremendous value both to our coaches and our elite athletes. This enables us at the KNLTB to take meaningful steps forward with pickleball at an accelerated pace. I hope Geert-Jan’s passion for the sport will inspire all of us and that together we can raise the profile of pickleball.”

More about pickleball
Pickleball is a relatively new sport in the Netherlands and has recently become part of the KNLTB. The sport is a mix of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, and can be played both indoors and outdoors. Pickleball is low-threshold, dynamic, and accessible to young and old alike. The sport is growing rapidly worldwide, and its popularity is also increasing in the Netherlands. That’s why the KNLTB is actively focused on supporting clubs, training coaches, and organizing competitions and tournaments, so pickleball can grow into a full-fledged discipline within the Dutch sports landscape in the coming years.