About PREP
Developing Referees — Wherever They Live
The Pickleball Referee Excellence Program (PREP) is an independent coaching and referee-development program designed to help aspiring and developing referees build the knowledge, practical skills, judgment, and confidence needed to officiate well.
By combining structured learning, purposeful practice, focused feedback, and experienced referee guidance, PREP makes meaningful referee development possible even when an experienced trainer isn't nearby.
Our Mission
PREP exists to strengthen pickleball officiating by making high-quality referee development more accessible. We help referees progressively build knowledge, practical skills, judgment, and confidence through a development experience that combines independent learning with meaningful trainer involvement.
Referee development shouldn't depend on where you live.
How We Develop Referees
PREP is built around three principles that work together throughout a referee's development.
Structured Learning
Build knowledge through a clear, progressive learning pathway that helps connect rules, procedures, and practical officiating concepts.
Purposeful Practice
Develop practical skills through targeted drills, match experience, video, and strategically timed on-court practice.
Focused Feedback
Improve through trainer coaching, observations, assessments, video review, and individualized guidance on what to work on next.
Our Trainers & Facilitators
Experienced guidance when it matters most.
PREP draws on experienced referee trainers and facilitators, including USA Pickleball Certified Referees and other experienced officials, to support different aspects of referee development. The appropriate trainer or facilitator is matched to the activity, development need, and stage of preparation.
Experienced Referee Guidance
PREP trainers and facilitators bring practical officiating experience, knowledge of current procedures, and an understanding of the referee development process. Their role isn't simply to deliver information — it's to observe, coach, provide useful feedback, and help each referee understand what to work on next.
This isn't less trainer involvement. It's better use of trainer expertise.
Our Approach to Referee Credentialing
PREP is an independent referee-development program dedicated to building competent, confident, and consistent pickleball officials. Our training emphasizes the fundamental knowledge, practical skills, judgment, and professionalism needed to officiate matches effectively, regardless of organization.
We believe referee credentials should reflect demonstrated officiating competence, not simply completion of a training program. PREP is developing its own Referee Credential based on practical skill development, structured assessments, and demonstrated performance.
Our goal is to establish a meaningful standard of referee competence while allowing referees the flexibility to pursue additional credentials or qualifications offered by individual organizations.
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Wherever you're starting from, PREP can help you understand the development pathway ahead and identify an appropriate next step.