Today we’d like to introduce you to Randall Bedwell.
Hi Randall, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve loved racquet sports all my life, from tennis and squash to the emerging world of pickleball. I played college tennis and later worked for the United States Tennis Association, helping develop the prototype for what is now USTA Junior Team Tennis.
I’ve spent most of my career working as a tennis pro and teacher, first at the Maryland Farms YMCA in Brentwood and later as head tennis coach at Franklin Road Academy. Those roles gave me hands-on experience in coaching, program development, and youth mentorship. A few years ago, I started the Summer Racquets Camp at FRA, where I introduced a couple hundred kids to pickleball each summer.
During the pandemic, I founded Pickleball Kids USA at the old Dolphin Swim and Tennis Club in Brentwood, where hundreds of kids discovered the sport for the first time. It became clear there was a real need for structured, skill-based youth programs that also teach life lessons like teamwork, confidence, and resilience. That led me to establish the Tennessee Junior Pickleball Association (TJPA), a 501(c)(3) dedicated to serving kids from all walks of life.
Shortly after founding TJPA, I received a grant from the Tennessee Department of Health to author the Tennessee Academic Standards for Physical Education – Pickleball, the first state PE standards for the sport in the country.
In Nashville, we’ve established a strong board of directors that includes Circuit Court Judge Lynne T. Ingram and Circuit Court Clerk Joseph P. Day, both of whom have been instrumental in working with Metro Nashville Public Schools and Metro Nashville Parks and Recreation. We have now provided pickleball training and programming to more than twenty MNPS schools and are rolling out a junior pickleball program with Parks and Rec—the largest junior pickleball initiative in the country.
I’ve also built partnerships with organizations such as the YMCA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and dozens of nonprofits and pickleball clubs across the state. Through the Tennessee Department of Education’s Coordinated School Health program, I travel across Tennessee working with schools, districts, and PE teachers to develop youth pickleball programs. My goal is to make sure kids have access to competitive pathways, professional coaching, and long-term growth—while creating inclusive programs where children of all backgrounds and abilities can thrive.
Overall, we have taught pickleball to over a thousand children in Nashville and surrounding areas and we are just getting started.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the biggest challenges has been getting schools and communities to take pickleball seriously as a youth sport. I’ve had to endure critics saying it wasn’t a “real sport” and that it was just a fad. Convincing educators to include it in PE curriculum required collaboration with the Tennessee Department of Health’s Coordinated School Health program, along with countless elected officials and thought leaders.
Funding, finding venues, and training enough qualified coaches have been constant challenges. Launching the Tennessee Pickleball Specialty License Plate—the first in the nation—required navigating the legislative process and securing the Governor’s signature on the bill I helped draft. Pickleball, however, remains the fastest-growing sport in the country, and I’m proud to be a part of it. Each obstacle has pushed me to innovate, adapt, and think strategically, turning setbacks into opportunities to strengthen programs, expand partnerships, and create systems with statewide impact.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My professional life has been about creating opportunities where none existed. I hold advanced academic credentials, including a master’s degrees in history and education and coursework on my Doctorate in Education, which informs how I design curricula, certify coaches, and structure programs for youth development. From my early days in tennis and squash, I saw the potential for pickleball to be both educational and competitive, and I shifted my focus to building programs that could reach kids across Tennessee.
Through Pickleball Kids USA, I have certified over 250 coaches nationally, focusing on curricula that combine athletic skill with character growth. With TJPA, I build competitive pathways and school-based programs, mentor coaches, and help schools implement leagues that allow players to progress from beginner to competitive athlete. Through Coordinated School Health program, I travel statewide, training PE teachers and working directly with school districts to expand youth pickleball.
My work also includes launching innovative funding initiatives like the specialty license plate and guiding coaches to partner with schools and community organizations. My career blends strategy, education, mentorship, and hands-on implementation, all aimed at building a system that will last far beyond my personal involvement.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that people matter more than programs. You can have the best curriculum or facilities, but without relationships, nothing scales.
Building lasting impact has required trust, collaboration, and persistence. Legislative hurdles, convincing schools to adopt pickleball, and scaling programs statewide have reinforced the need for patience and long-term thinking. For me, success isn’t about quick wins; it’s about creating systems that endure, empowering coaches, and giving kids opportunities that last far beyond a single season. At its core, this work is also about living out my faith—showing up, serving others, and trying to do right by the people placed in front of me.
I measure success by the children who discover their potential, build confidence, and fall in love with a sport that stays with them for life. My approach combines vision with practical execution, creating a model that other states and organizations now look to as a blueprint for youth pickleball.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tnjuniorpickleball.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556161470690
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randallbedwell/
- Other: https://www.tnpickleballlicenseplate.org
