SAHUARITA, Ariz. — If you look up the word “Passion” in the dictionary, I’m quite sure S.N.A.P. Pickleball Coach Kathy Palese’s picture would be there. She is an instrument being used in divine ways to change lives, bring joy from depression, and help people fall in love with pickleball. I am blessed to be one of those that was lucky enough to be paired with her at a Bunco event. I didn’t even know what pickleball was at that time. Now that I’m completely addicted, the rest…is history!

All that Kathy does comes from the heart! She impacts whatever community she is in for the better. She was a Chair of the City of Bloomington, IL, United Way Campaign for many years. She helped organize the City Administrative Assistants to join a Union. She created and negotiated the first Labor contract between City Management and Admin Assistants. She served on the GVR Board and chaired numerous GVR Committees. She was on the Committee that found the land for the GVR 24 court pickleball complex! (You’re welcome GVR!) Kathy was selected to give a speech at the opening ceremony of that complex due to her involvement in the process.

Kathy started her pickleball journey in 2013. She took to the courts immediately to play and learn as much as she could right away. She worked on her skills for hours each day, which led to her earning medals in numerous tournaments and being qualified for Nationals many times.

As an IPTPA Instructor, Kathy was asked by Quail Creek when they first opened their courts, to assist players in learning the new sport of pickleball. She taught there for 28 hours each week before they established an educational program of their own. This opportunity led to Kathy developing and creating her own curriculum in 2019. S.N.A.P. (Smart. Nimble. And. Purposeful.) was born! Kathy teaches the basic shots, rules of the game, court position and then advances to strategic play techniques. She now has built this program to twelve coaches on her S.N.A.P. Team. In addition to GVR, it is also taught in Montana, Illinois and Iowa. They provide the knowledge and skills that create a solid foundation in which the players can build upon in a fun and safe environment. Her students have achieved such success that Kathy also created Curriculum for GVR Pickleball Club SLP Plus 1 Program and the S.N.A.P. Mindset of a Winner Clinic.

Kathy is the Round Robin Queen. She organizes and coordinates Round Robin tournaments for a variety of groups and skill levels. She utilizes technology to keep everything running smooth. And if you’re lucky enough, she will drop a few golden nuggets of her S.N.A.P. curriculum in between matches to help elevate each player’s game for the next round. She has been the pickleball consultant for friends looking for advice on how to run/organize small tournaments. She offers insight and suggests resources that are needed to make each event a huge success. She will be donating these skills at an upcoming Mother-Son Pickleball Event for Grace Church in April.

Kathy is the most generous person I’ve met. She could demand a lot of money providing her skills to players, but she has blessed so many with her time and wisdom with nothing expected in return. And she often gives away S.N.A.P. swag items out of her pocket as incentives for players to implement the skills she has so graciously taught. She donates to tournaments needing raffle ticket items. She donates her time, her wisdom, her presence. She is one in a million. And as a woman of faith, she lives it out on the court. She told me, “I pray every day when I head out to the courts. I offer my day along with S.N.A.P. up to the Lord for Him to use it for His purpose.”

When asked why she does what she does, Kathy said, “The greatest joy for me as a pickleball coach is to start players out and watch them succeed. I teach players the proper way to play so that I have fun and amazing players to play with and against. Many of the players I have helped along the way, now give me the best and most challenging games of my life. It fills my heart with joy when they beat me at my own game. They are using the strategies and skills that I taught them, and I can’t help but smile when they win the rally.” Kathy continues, “The great thing about the sport of pickleball is most players are willing to help other players improve. I’m nothing special. I’m just one of many who dedicate their time, skill, and knowledge to helping others along their pickleball journey.” We disagree Kathy, you are VERY special! You’ve impacted all of our lives, and we can’t ever thank you enough for all that you’ve done!

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