He’s only 16!

🏓 At just 16 years old, Mackonner Dy is already turning heads across the pickleball world.

In this episode of Kitchen Conversations – A Pickleball Podcast, I sit down with one of Canada’s brightest young pickleball talents for an honest and inspiring conversation about competition, discipline, faith, family, and what it really takes to chase a dream.

Despite his incredible accomplishments—including winning Canadian National Championship gold, earning a spot in the Canadian National Pickleball League (CNPL) with the Vancouver Owls, and competing against some of the best players in North America—Mackonner has a refreshingly humble perspective on success. In fact, you’ll hear why he doesn’t yet consider himself a “professional” pickleball player.

This conversation goes far beyond pickleball. It’s about mindset, resilience, personal growth, and why enjoying the journey matters just as much as winning.

🎙️ In this episode we discuss:

🏓 How a 10-year-old discovered pickleball during the pandemic
 🏀 How basketball helped shape his game
 🥇 Winning Canadian National Championship gold
 🇨🇦 Being drafted by the Vancouver Owls in the CNPL
 🎯 What it actually means to be a “professional” pickleball player
 🧠 The importance of mental toughness and confidence
 🙏 How faith helps him handle pressure and competition
 📚 Balancing homeschooling with elite-level training
 🌎 Why Asia may become the future powerhouse of pickleball
 💪 Training, nutrition, sleep and recovery for young athletes
 ❤️ Why pickleball is one of the most welcoming sports in the world

Whether you’re brand new to pickleball or a seasoned tournament player, you’ll find plenty of inspiration in Mackonner’s maturity, humility and outlook on life.

🔗 Follow Mackonner Dy

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mackonnerdy

🌐 DUPR Profile: https://dashboard.dupr.com/players/mackonner-dy

🏓 Canadian National Pickleball League (Vancouver Owls):
 https://www.cnpl.ca

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#Pickleball #MackonnerDy #CNPL #CanadianPickleball #KitchenConversations #VancouverOwls #PickleballCanada #JuniorPickleball #PickleballPodcast #PickleballLife #MentalPerformance #SportsPsychology #AthleteMindset #CanadianAthletes #RoadToPro  

And that wraps up this episode of Kitchen Conversations.

If you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves the game as much as you do.

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That’s where these stories really come to life.

You’ll also find links and show notes in the episode description.

Until next time…

more than dinks, drops and drives…

these are stories from behind the paddle.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Hey, welcome to the podcast. Welcome to Kitchen Conversations. He's only 16. 16 years old, it seems like a lifetime ago. I'm sitting here talking today at 59. 16 just seems like well, and it was, I guess, decades ago. Who am I kidding? Anyhow, this is a very fascinating young pickleball player. He is a Canadian pro, although he'll argue he's not a pro and he'll explain exactly why he feels that way. But I want you to keep in mind his age as you listen to the maturity and the conversation that we had recently with McConnor Dye here on Kitchen Conversations. Well, McConnor Dye, welcome to the podcast. Welcome to Kitchen Conversations. And let me start by thanking you for taking a little bit of time. I can only imagine what your schedule must look like at this point in your life. I mean, what a what a tremendous story you've got in the sport of pickleball. And I'm just uh excited to sit with you today and talk about that for a few minutes. So thank you. Thank you for being here.

SPEAKER_00 0:50

Yeah, thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_02 0:52

Yeah, it's quite a story. I mean, your name came to me kind of out of the blue. Uh, and then I started doing some research. And the more I look, the more interested it became. And uh I just uh yeah, I mean, at the age of 16 to be doing what you're doing in the sport of pickleball is just uh it's beyond remarkable. So congratulations on all of that. I would um, if you're okay, I'd like to break today's chat down with you into kind of three different rallies. Uh, I've had some luck doing that, uh, McConnor. And I think uh rally number one, I'd love to hear a bit about what you've done in sports beyond pickleball to kind of get you to where you are today. And then in rally uh two, I'd like to talk about pickleball. How did you kind of evolve into that sport? Did it find you or did you find it? Did you maybe specifically go looking for that? So I'll lead you into that conversation in a couple of minutes. And then rally three, I mean, we're very interested in where you are and where you're heading and kind of what do you see your future looking like in the in the sport of pickleball going forward? So that aside, can we start with having you give us a bit of background on your sports career? Uh, and I guess also if you don't mind, where are you in life today with schooling? And what are you looking at as far as that? How do the how do school and sport intersect today? And how seriously are you taking this opportunity to be a professional pickleball player? So why don't you start with a bit of your background in some of the sports that you've done?

SPEAKER_00 2:08

Um, so I was uh I would a jack of all trades. I played a multitude of sports when I was younger. Um I played a little bit of tennis. I'm not gonna say I was very good at it, but you know, I I could hit I could hit the ball a little bit in that. I played a little bit of table tennis with some friends. Um I played a little baseball before, obviously, or played hockey a little bit as well. Um but I think the biggest thing was I played a lot of basketball. As a Filipino Chinese, uh, basketball was a big thing for me. I used to play that a lot. Um so that would be my main sports background. Do I regret not having a tennis background? Maybe just a little bit. Um, but you know, basketball was fun, and I think some of it translated. Yeah, which is good. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 3:02

It's interesting. I talked to uh a gentleman the other day who played a lot of high-level volleyball. He's a top-level coach here in Ontario, a gentleman named Cam Taylor, Taylored pickleball. You may have heard of Cam's name at one point, but he was a big volleyball guy, and that's what my boys did, uh, McConnor. Both boys played basketball and volleyball. Um, but he was the first person to say to me that, you know, there's this misconception about pickleball that if you don't come from a racket background, whether that be table tennis or babington or tennis, that you might struggle a bit. But he said there are definitely some things that he brought into the game from volleyball from the defensive side, you know, as far as footwork goes and that sort of thing. And, you know, I think about basketball, and I'm sure that there are things within that game that that help you today. Would you agree?

SPEAKER_00 3:41

I agree. I totally agree. I think my feet are a little bit faster because of basketball. Right. I think I work better as a team because of basketball. Um and I think that helps all around. Obviously, my skills aren't as good, but that's something you can learn over time. You can't learn other things, um, such as co-work or or or teamwork. That thing takes, I feel like, your lifetime, or if not longer. Like I'm still learning so many things.

SPEAKER_02 4:12

Sure. Well, part of the reason I want to draw you into that conversation, uh, McConnor, was you know, I think there's people listening to the podcast, I hope at least, that are thinking about trying the game of pickleball. And one of the questions I'd asked other podcast guests was, what do you think is something that holds people back? You know, the fear, if you will, of getting into the game of pickleball, because, you know, for me, it's a game that's changed my life. And uh the goal of the podcast, quite frankly, is nothing more than to inspire one person, you know, per episode, if we can, to come out and try this game. And I think the fear of saying, gee, you know, I've never played table tennis, I'm not a badminton guy, I haven't done tennis, I'm I'm not gonna be any good at it. So I love when I meet someone like you. I love the chance to talk to Cam Taylor, and I love the fact that we're talking basketball, we're talking volleyball. And yet I think there are some transferable skill sets within almost any sport uh for you to come into the game. But I'd also go a step further, and I'd love your insight in this. But I think pickleball and the growth and the popularity globally, McConnor, of the game is rooted in the fact that two people who have no sports background can actually step onto a court with a couple of paddles and a ball. And let's be honest, 20, 30 minutes, you know, I guess we could say they are technically playing pickleball. They may not be scoring, they may not be dinking, but they're they're hitting the ball back and forth across the net. And I think it's one of the greatest parts of this game.

SPEAKER_00 5:30

I totally agree. Um, and you mentioned like what should people what would people fear about having to come and play pickleball? There's absolutely nothing. There's absolutely nothing to fear. Um sure you might be not so good at it, but that's not what pickleball is about. It's not being always winning, it's not all about always winning or losing, it's not about being good at it. It's about having fun, and I think at any level that is possible. Right? Um I mean you could fear injury, I guess, but at the same time, almost every other sport is more dangerous. But the most I've gotten injured was a ball to like my thigh. That's it. Right? There and then and I'm playing a lot. I'm playing really really intensely every day of the week. And I still got got some minor injuries here and there, but it's not like if you played recreationally, these won't happen, right? So even injury is not something I would greatly fear. So you have no reason not to play, and I would just encourage you to rant a few paddles, get on the court for a day, one one hour, just try it, you know? And if you don't like it, that's fine. We're not gonna judge you for that. But um, I believe everybody has the ability to play pickleball and at the same time have fun and like it.

SPEAKER_02 7:00

Yeah, well, listen, you speak wise beyond your words. And I'm not the first guy to probably tell you that. You're a pretty inspirational young man. I just, you know, the parent of two boys, I tell you, when I meet someone like you, it inspires me. And I just love what you just said there. And uh, you know, the funny thing is we do fear what we don't know. And I think there's a sense of perhaps getting onto a pickleball court, maybe in a social play, going out to your local club, McConnor, and and and embarrassing yourself. And I think, you know, you really have to get over that because the other thing I would add, and I know you'll echo this, is that some of the nicest, most amazing people I've ever met in my life, I've met through pickleball. And there's a social aspect to this game that I think you and I would have a hard time defining for someone that hasn't played. You and I could describe the game, you know, it's a wiffle ball, it's a paddle, it goes to 11, the score is confusing. Um, but beyond that, it's really difficult for me at least to articulate the social benefit of a game of pickleball. It's amazing, absolutely amazing. I agree. Yeah, so it's difficult.

SPEAKER_00 7:54

Yeah. It's off the charts. Like the amount of people you meet is just different. Like, I don't know any other sport um that does that. I mean, at least from my background, even basketball, yeah, you could like go on to a local court and pick up basketball, but you're not really like connecting with them, you're just playing basketball. But pickleball, all of a sudden, you're going to play, and then when you gotta get off the court and wait for another one, you're talking to 20 people. It's just wild.

SPEAKER_02 8:31

It is, isn't it? And I think the length of the game, McConnors, is is part of that reason because you know, you're in, you're out. Uh, and and depending on the score. I mean, I've had games, I don't hate, you know, I hate to admit, but I've had games that lasted five minutes, uh, you know, 11-0 against. So those games don't take long. If you're into the wrong game, all of a sudden it's over before it begins. And uh, and I think that's part of it. I think the chance to get in, mix it up with some people perhaps you've never met, have a fun game, get out, talk, get to know each other. It's terrific. So so, all that said, how how did you start this game? Who was the person or who got you involved? Do you remember the very first time someone said to you, you should try pickleball? I'd love to hear that part of your story.

SPEAKER_00 9:09

I know at first my friend started playing it. And so I gave it a try for like five minutes with my dad. And then I guess my dad ended up liking it because he decided to get some paddles. Um, and then and then we started playing, and this was back in 2020, so I've been playing for six years now. Um, that was back in 2020 during COVID. And so pickleball was you could only play sports with your immediate family. And my family didn't want to play basketball or tennis or anything else, so it was it became pickleball. So that's what we were playing for quite a while. And it was just asked over and over again. And if I'm being completely honest, I did not enjoy it because because it was super repetitive, it got a little bit too easy, a little bit too uncompetitive, right? So it I was lacking that like it was lacking sport, that sport aspect to it. It just became a recreational game, you know.

SPEAKER_02 10:18

Right, right. Well, you know, I think COVID it COVID was interesting because I think a lot of us pickleball uh fans and players and you know were so passionate about the game today. But I think COVID was actually good for the game, for the sport. I mean, it started as you're well aware.

SPEAKER_00 10:32

Everyone started playing during COVID.

SPEAKER_02 10:34

That's right, yeah, and it just kind of exploded from there, you know. A sport that started back in 1965, sort of, you know, just out south of where you are, down in in Washington State. And yeah, and here we are today. But I think it was sort of just kind of bumping along, bumping along, bumping along, and then all of a sudden Kobe came along. But do you remember beating your dad for the first time? Do you remember that moment?

SPEAKER_00 10:54

Uh uh, not at all. I mean, I I think from the very beginning, like we were roughly the same level, actually. Like because obviously I had the tennis background a little bit, so I could hit the ball. It wasn't like I was completely missing. So I wasn't mad.

SPEAKER_02 11:14

But six years ago, you're talking you're 10 years old at this point, to put it in perspective for those listening. Yeah, we gotta realize there's a 10-year-old playing against his dad. And again, the beauty of the game, there it is. You just said it yourself. It's uh to get out there and be able to, you know, if you will, compete with your dad to be out there and play a game that he's enjoying, you're enjoying, uh, a little bit anyway. You weren't a fan of it, but you got into it, which is great. So what what when did the when did the switch kind of flip? I mean, you started off, you weren't a huge fan, but what was the moment when you said, Okay, this is something I really think I can get into?

SPEAKER_00 11:41

I love this part. Okay. So now again, I'm just playing with family, but this time it's like what, 2022 later on when we're allowed to play with friends. So I'm out with some friends and family, friends and family, family friends, and these two um elderly people, they're above 50, invite me and my dad to play. And I'm thinking, sure, why not? This would be an easy game. So I go over, we play a game, and the score ends up 11-1. In their favor.

SPEAKER_02 12:19

I was gonna say, not didn't go your way. Right.

SPEAKER_00 12:21

Exactly. And we played again, 11-2, not in our favor. Uh-oh. And man, I was just I was not happy.

SPEAKER_02 12:31

You're you're fight- you're fired up. Now you're fired up. Now you're now that competitive basketball side of you starting to surface, you're like, okay, okay, I've had enough of this.

SPEAKER_00 12:40

You can actually get good at this sport. Yeah. So I was like, okay, I'll I'll give it a shot. So I started playing a lot more, playing other people, not just my immediate manager. Sure. And slowly got better and better. I think 2020 end of 2022, I played my first tournament. Um a 3-5, and we ended up winning gold there with my dad. Wow. Nice. And so honestly, just after after those two events, and I was just playing a lot, a lot.

SPEAKER_02 13:18

Like Did you start, did you, McConnor, did you start to see the nuance of the game at that point? I mean, you're so young today, but to go back even to 2022, I mean, we shave a couple more years off your young life, but were you beginning to understand that this wasn't just hitting a ball over a net, that there was more to the game? And I'm talking third shot drops and strategy and setting up the lanes and you know, everything that is pickleball and the reason that we love it so much. But were you recognizing that in the moment, or was it you just sort of laser focused on getting better and winning, or were you already starting to break the game down and think about the strategy behind the game itself?

SPEAKER_00 13:59

I think even before our first 3-5 tournament, like I remember in our first 3-5 tournament, the finals, most of the game was played, or like everyone was really trying to get to the net. Like that was ev all four players' game, which in in 3-5 is actually pretty surprising, if I'm gonna be honest. Um, so yeah, even before that tournament, I'm watching um Ben Johns, Colin Johns, Thomas Wilson, Vivian David, all these guys who used to play a long time ago. I'm watching them, and so yeah, uh just exactly what you said. I was obviously not the best. I hadn't mastered it, and I haven't yet, but I was trying to drop more than I drive. I was honestly I was main focused. I was trying to dink more and I'll try to keep my impatience at bay. But so I was trying, wasn't the best at it, but you know, it's the effort that counts.

SPEAKER_02 15:04

Absolutely. Well, the fact that you were kind of recognizing that, I think at that age, McConnors just a tribute to your the way you're thinking, and uh, and that's going to continue to serve you well, you know, beyond today and into the future for sure. Because I think it's a game that once you appreciate that and you understand the nuance of the game and the intention of the game, and you you're able to bring all those shots into your game plan, uh, it's a totally different game. I talk a lot, you know, I play at a social level. My duper right now, I guess, is sitting at about a 3.7, give or take. It's not particularly accurate because I don't do a lot of tournament play, but that's kind of where I fit into the game. And I just love social play. I've got a couple of groups I play with regularly each week, and then we've got some private games that have kind of developed from that. But uh, you know, one of the things that uh that I just love about the game is the fact that uh it is a strategy game. And it's a game that if you really take your time with you, it's uh there's a lot of thinking out there, you know, and a lot of a lot of planning. And uh nothing feels better than setting up a shot, you know, having a plan, going into a game, having a bit of strategy against the other side of the net and enjoying the outcome of that. So yeah, that's really terrific. So you're going along. When does the whole concept of potentially turning pro start to become a conversation, maybe between you and your family, your dad, your mom, whoever else might be involved in all of that? And tell me about that process because I don't understand that. And I don't think people listening perhaps to the podcast uh would understand the steps that someone like you needs to take and your family needs to take in order to get you from I'm playing at a pretty competitive level. I'm doing some local tournaments, regional tournaments. I mean, 2025 was a big year for you, a huge year, right? You win singles, gold, Canadian nationals. I assume that was the moment. Yeah, a little bit. Yeah. But is that the moment, is that the moment that it kind of the light switch said, okay, let's go?

SPEAKER_00 16:42

No, not not a hundred percent. That nationals was a little bit more of a okay, I can do this, but before that, I think it was in June ish, we played PPA San Clemente. Uh, which is actually happening right now, funny enough. So maybe even before June. Um we decided to play PPA. And before that, you don't just decide to all of a sudden play PPA because you have to fly there, you have to plan all these things. Um, and if you're going there just to have fun, then it really makes no sense. I mean, that's that's obviously a big part of it. Like I wanna go have fun. But this time I wanna I wanna travel to play. And I think that's that's one of the bigger differences with between wanting to play pro and just play for fun. Because I could have stayed here and just played the local tournament, right? There's nothing wrong with that. Um, but I decided to to travel for that, to um invest time, invest money for that, and I think I think that that was definitely where the times began to shift of okay, I can take I'm gonna take this farther. And then Nash knows was I can take this farther.

SPEAKER_02 18:07

Ah, okay. Yeah. So the idea of doing it, the idea of actually having done it now. So the two of those kind of combine, and it's like now I go. So so what happens at that point? Walk me through that process. I mean, how do you technically become a pickleball pro as a Canadian? How does that work? How do you do that?

SPEAKER_00 18:27

This one's a tough one. This one's really tough because every person has a different definition of what a pro is, what a pro player is. And being completely honest, I myself, by my definition, am not a pro.

SPEAKER_02 18:53

Um and I I can explain it in greater detail if you want, but Yes, I'd love you to because I think that those of us on the outside looking in, and if we go to Chat GPT and we go to the Google, I do that on purpose to bug the kids, the Google, uh, I think you're you're being described to us as a pro pickleball player in Canada, but you see it otherwise, which is interesting.

SPEAKER_00 19:17

I see it very otherwise because I I'm I'm gonna throw in just a few definitions on the table right now. Is um you join a professional league, um, like CNPL.

unknown 19:28

Right.

SPEAKER_00 19:29

CPL is a great league. I think we have one of the best levels in Canada. We have the best levels in Canada. I'm not even gonna say maybe, we have the best level in Canada.

SPEAKER_02 19:37

Right, Bar and I'm not sure.

SPEAKER_00 19:38

Some some people define it as that. Some people define it as you have professional tour points. So like you have a few PPA points, you have a few APP points. Some define it as you win a pro professional main draw match. Or a professional qualifier match. Right? And actually Anna Lee Waters said that. She said if you win a qualifier match, you're considered pro. Um, and I find that interesting. Because if we have all those definitions, then honestly, a lot of people are professional. Which I find quite scary. So my definition is very very limiting. Um, but it's if you can make pickleball your your your career, like find you financially support yourself through pickleball, um, and more of like bonuses and not just coaching. I mean coaching is a big part um of being financially stable for a lot of pros who are not Annalie Waters. Right, right. But but you can't just coach and call yourself a pro. You also have to compete, right? And and also earn like from winnings, sponsorships, and at that higher level. So my definition would be just to be supporting yourself um independently financially and and the rest, right? And I think that's a it's I don't I don't there's no right or wrong to this definition, right? Because who am I to say and what's right or wrong? But that's that's my personal opinion, and I'm gonna stick by it.

SPEAKER_02 21:29

I love it. I love it. It's never been explained to me. It's never been explained to me that clearly, and I get it. So the the reality of what you're saying to summarize is you could be considered a pickleball pro in Canada or perhaps beyond by a number of metrics. There's not just one way to say I'm declaring myself a pro and therefore I'm a pro. So interesting. I love that. Thank you. Yeah, that's you know, I think the people listening, Rakan, are gonna find that very fascinating because it it's a really interesting perception of what's happened to you on a very personal level. And uh and I love the way you've defined that. So yeah. And is that the goal? Is that is that fair? Tell me about where you are with school today and and are you what's plan B for you? And or is is pl let me ask, let me ask that a different way. Is plan A to be a pickleball player that can be financially secure? And if so, what's plan B? Where are you with all of that today?

SPEAKER_00 22:21

Right. Um it's it's it's it's it's kind of I wouldn't say that it's like a plan A, plan B. Okay. It's it's like a plan plan A, B. All right, a combo. Right. I like it. Yeah. I know I know a couple players who are not really in school anymore. Like they're kind of in school, but not really. So so they're really like going full pickleball. Right. Like that that's they're just going. They're committing. And I think that has it that that has its advantage that that has its advantages. Um but I'm I'm still I'm still full-time school. And I plan to I plan to finish. And it it gets a little this story gets a little bit more complicated, so I'll keep it simple. Um I'm gonna take three year three years um to finish my school. So that'll give me a lot more time to train, practice, get better. And I'm not gonna say three years is the hard stuff, but three years is like the the border of like I I might go I might continue school after, right? But I'm gonna take pickleball as far as I can. And maybe pass the three years.

SPEAKER_02 23:51

Good. That's good to hear.

SPEAKER_00 23:53

Right, but I don't want to I don't want to commit to pickleball, get really good at it, and then get injured, like I I don't know, like bust my ACL or something, right? And then I'm out for a year or two. Like to me that does not sit well. So I want to continue my education while at the same time playing as much pickleball as possible. So it's it's really like for for every junior I know it's a it's a really big juggling act. Especially sorry, I should clarify that I'm I'm homeschooled right now. Oh, great. Perfect. So it's a little bit easier. Yeah. Um, because if I was at school, I know a few people who still are, and it's really tough.

SPEAKER_02 24:44

It's a grind. It's a grind.

SPEAKER_00 24:46

It's really tough to make it out of trip, make it out of tournaments, be training while still having school is I respect the people who do that.

SPEAKER_02 24:57

Yeah. Yeah, it's a balancing act, isn't it? I mean, time management becomes essential on so many levels for that kind of a lifestyle for sure. So if we park pickleball for a moment, let's just push it over here off camera. Um, what's career path? What's it looking like? What do you, you know, let's assume that pickleball ends up just not being something that you do for the rest of your life, or you end up getting where you hope to get. I mean, hate to be negative about that, but let's just make an assumption. What what are you hoping to do with your career? You got some, you got your eye on something?

SPEAKER_00 25:23

Not completely. Um, but trying to go to college. I don't really know college university, I don't really know which ones to go to yet or what to take. Um I mean I think I think a huge possibility actually is uh college pickleball. Like in America, you see so much more um you see so much more colleges, universities getting into pickleball. Like you have the I I think it's the APP Collegiate League or the MLP Collegiate League. You see these guys, I mean, they're all the they're all in the college and they're all playing pickleball, um, whether it be under scholarships or not. But I think that's uh 100% a possibility, even after three years. Um coaching's another possibility. I I know there's like a great need for coaches, at least from where I'm from, and and my guess is other places as well.

SPEAKER_01 26:29

Yeah, 100%.

SPEAKER_00 26:30

So I think there's so many options on the table, not just not just going to university and like pursuing that as well. I mean, I can go to university and play pick a bowl. I love it. And do so many things there too, right?

SPEAKER_02 26:46

So well, you know, the beauty of being your age, McConnor, is that is that in and of itself, it's just the fact that you're not under any pressure to make those decisions. And I'll tell you, it's a parent of two boys. One went through to become a lawyer, went through all the processes, took all the steps, wrote the Ontario bar, passed the bar, and then decided he didn't want to be a lawyer. So he's really loving what he's doing. Yeah, he's working up in Thunder Bay, Ontario, which is about as far north in Ontario as you can go before you hit the icebergs, and uh loving his life. And we're flying up to see him in a couple of days and celebrate his 28th birthday. No, 29th. He's 28 now. Yeah, so he had a career change. And my youngest went to U, Ottawa, to be uh in sports. Uh he wanted to be in physiotherapy and uh kinesiology, did five years there, and then decided to go to teachers college and he's finishing up his master's now and he'll be in a classroom in September. So, you know, as a parent looking at it, you know, when I look at your age and I think about my own boys who are making shifts and changes in their career paths in their 20s, in their early to mid-20s, you know, it's there's no rush. And so I think it's great that you're taking your time. I love that you, I actually love your answer. I love that you don't have, okay, if this doesn't work, I'm absolutely doing that. I think it's great that you're you're looking at all those options. Yeah. So walk me through a typical week for you. What's a week in your life looking like right now? You're homeschooled, you're pursuing this pickleball thing, whatever that is, and what's a week look like for you?

SPEAKER_00 28:00

So my pickleball is built around my school. Um so if I pickleball, then oh sorry, other way around. My school is built around my pickleball. Okay, so let's say I have like a session at 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. I'm just gonna work earlier and afterwards, before and after. Simple as that. So in that way, that's how I manage school in pickleball. Um, but a regular week would look more like I'll give you a little bit more, a little bit more structure here. So it's it's gonna be at least at least three times drilling every week, right? So we've got um let's say Tuesdays and Friday mornings drilling and then another one random. Um and then we got Thursdays is my in-person school. So I'll I'll have school once a week. Um and it'll and it'll be a full day of school, which would be eight nine, eight, two, three. So so but it's just one day, and so it's not not a huge deal. So that takes about a little time there. Um, and then like I said, another drilling sesh here and there. And then we got games with whoever wants to play, preferably the higher level the better. But I'm good to just have fun as well, right? Just pop by a local park and just hit some balls. That's completely fine. I mean, that's all pickleball is about. And then I've got some um cross cross-training with um like some climate metrics, which which is also really good. Trying to stay healthy on and off the court. So doing planetrics with a trainer on Tuesdays and also working on it myself two other times a week. So that'd be three times a week.

SPEAKER_02 30:09

Right. Oh, that's great. How important is nutrition and sleep to you right now as an athlete? As a as you know, and again, I'm careful with the word pro athlete, but let's just say advanced athlete in a sport of pickleball. Do you focus a lot at this point? I mean, again, your age is playing to your credit. Uh, you hit my age, you got to pay more attention to that sort of thing. But are you focusing on nutrition and sleep as part of your foundation for being successful in pickleball?

SPEAKER_00 30:32

I think I think I totally am because right now I've got two guys on my team who are helping me, and they're and they're both doctors. One of them is actually a naturopathic doctor. So he's he's big on nutrition, he's big on sleep. Um, so I've adopted a newer sleep schedule. I used to sleep from 12 a.m. to 10 a.m. That was my old sleep schedule, and it it had to change when I met them. So it's now 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.

SPEAKER_02 31:08

Okay. Well, I've got good news for you. You're a perfectly normal teenager. That first sleep schedule. You're per there's nothing wrong with you. You're absolutely perfectly normal. That's what I'm saying. Yeah, well, I love the naturopath. I've worked with one for five years, both my wife and I. And uh, we believe a hundred percent in what they do and what they preach. And so good on you. That's great. So it's important. You're you're focusing on that, which is good.

SPEAKER_00 31:32

And then he's at the same time building nutrition plants, um, all of that. So trying to stay all healthy off the court, which is I think important in the long run. I think right now I might not feel it as much, but definitely my body can't, with the amount that I'm playing, my body will definitely take a toll somewhere along these ears. And I think keeping it healthy will will just guard myself against that. So I think it's super important.

SPEAKER_02 32:03

Well, that's a physical side, which is great and certainly important. How do you manage the mental side of the game? Do you struggle with that? I mean, are you the kind of player, McConnor, that struggles mentally, or do you just find a way to work through the bad moments? Because I've you know, I had a couple games this week where, you know, my problem is inconsistency and it probably doesn't exist at your level. At least, you know, it's your your bandwidth of inconsistency, I would assume, is much narrower than mine. But I struggle mentally. You know, when I get down on myself and I'm having a bad morning, boy, it's a bad day. And I can't, I just don't have that switch to be able to say, let it go and pick up, you know, I just yeah. So I'm curious, how do you manage the mental side of the game? And how important do you think that is in being successful at the level that you play at?

SPEAKER_00 32:42

I think it's the most important thing on the court. I mean, I think it's the most important thing paired with skills. I mean, let's look at Ben John's. He is the best right now because of his mantle. He's not the most skilled player in the world. His two-hand backhand ding is not phenomenal. Right? But what makes him the best is just in that tough moment, it's up here. Like he he he knows like I can win this game. He knows he goes into every game knowing that he can win. And then their opponents at the same time come into that game going, how do I beat Ben Johns? How do I beat Ben Johns? Uh can I can I beat Ben Johns? Right? So up here it's super important that um that you have that mental side. And I think I mentioned I have two people on my team, and I think we're working really greatly on that. Um I think one really important thing um about I think one really important thing that they mentioned was, and I think you mentioned as well, is people fear the unknown. Right? So on the court, you don't want to be thinking of oh, am I gonna win this or not? Right? Or how is my partner gonna play? Um, how are my opponents gonna play? What's gonna happen in this next point? You don't want to think of the things that you don't know. Um because that it's that just adds unneeded pressure, unneeded stress, and you're just gonna get tight and play worse. That's just how it's gonna work. So for me, what what I've been told is to think of the things that you do know. And for me, that that really is that whether I win or lose, that's God's plan. Um I think I just gotta lift that up to him and play my best, play my best out there, but the results and outcome come from him, and there's nothing I can do about that. I can play my best. So that's something I am sure of, right? I go on to the court and I'm trying my best to win, of course. Like I don't want to lose. That's not in my nature, but I am I am prepared, not prepared. What if I do lose, I know that is part of his plan, right? So another thing is what do what else do I know? I know that I've been training a lot for this, right? I can I can go back to how much I've been training on and off the court, right? Mentally. I'm working on I'm working on a book called Complete Learn Honor. Right? It's it's a mental mental game. It's a tennis book, but it translates very well to pickleball. Right? So all these things, these are things that I'm sure of and things that I can use. So I think that was one of the one of a very big thing that a lot of people have told me. Because I've talked to professional football players, professional golf players, professional field hockey players. Right. And the one thing all the all of them tell me across the board is if you don't got it in your mental, it's not gonna work. All that's which is across different sports, and for them, that's the most important thing at at the highest level of their sports. So I think it's super important in that way.

SPEAKER_02 36:38

Yeah, I love that you're able to extract that already and to see that. I remember what you know, golf was kind of my game. If I had a game of Connor, it might have been golf. I might have had a hope in golf at one point. That ship has sailed. But I remember Jack Nicholas, a name you may or may not know, but Jack was, you know, and still is a record holder for, you know, number of major tournaments won ever. And uh Jack uh was quoted at one point about talking about being at the driving range prior to the tournament starting, walking up and down the range. And he he said publicly, I never played against a full field because there were guys on the range that looked at me, and just the way they looked at me, they had already conceded to me. Like they, they just knew I can't beat Jack Nicholas. And I think Tiger Woods and golf went through a similar phase where guys were so intimidated by his talent and his determination and his mental capacity that, you know, they just they gave up before they they hit their first tee shot. And so I think it's kind of what you're saying here is, you know, control what you can control, rely on the knowledge that you have. You know you've done this, this, this, and this to prepare for that and just go with it. And whatever happens, happens. I love it. I just what great insight. Thank you. Because I think that's where a lot of people listening to the podcast might benefit uh in this podcast specifically, is to understand that, maybe take that, and you can take that into a social setting. It doesn't need to be a competitive game. But if you're having a rough patch on a Tuesday morning, just hey, I, you know, I can control this. I can't control the other side of the net necessarily. So let's just get out there and have a good time. So I just love that. That's great. Thanks for sharing that. Love all of that. Really terrific. Let's talk briefly about the CNPL. You were drafted, you're on the Vancouver Owls, interesting team. Uh, tell me a bit about that experience and how's that going and how much of your day, week, month is that taking up right now for you?

SPEAKER_00 38:17

Um it's not taking too much time because I mean, my partner, our my partner, my male partners is the male players on our team is Armonji, Amoji, Eugene, Mack, and myself. And we all live in Greater Vancouver. So we're all playing together somewhat regularly, and it's I wouldn't call it a team practice because none of the girls are there. So it that I just count that as uh a regular play session. So it doesn't take too much of my time, but in terms of events, um, I think that's really big um in terms of time because it's always on a weekend, and and I and I'm really excited for this season. I think all the teams are have great players, and I think we're all really closely matched this time. Um and you mentioned how was my experience about being drafted. Drafted, yeah. What was that like?

SPEAKER_02 39:22

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 39:24

It was something because last year I tried out, and I thought I played great, and I was a little bit bummed not to be drafted last year. Um I but this year when I saw that I was drafted, I was like, I was really excited because this was something I'd been working on. Right? Last year I didn't, so next year I want to be. Right? So when I got drafted to Vancouver Albs with with people I know, which is lot which I really like. I mean, I know Armand, I know Eugene, I know Tim, I know Anna, these girls, I mean, all these guys, like I know them really well. So I love I was really excited, really pumped that I was drafted to this particular team and just the league in general, right? It it put me a step forward into the into the pro scene, right? Right. Of course.

SPEAKER_02 40:22

Yeah. Yeah, it's great. I mean, I think the league, and for those listening, CNPL, Canadian National Pickleball League, there's eight teams. Uh the league's growing, it's really gaining a lot of traction on social and beyond. And I think it's something that we need to pay more attention for. Again, it's a relatively new league. I believe it started in 2023, and uh, I think you know, we now have ownership of all eight teams. So, you know, to make it onto that, it's not a big roster. I mean, we're only talking eight teams across the entire country. So, you know, I want to make that point uh on your behalf because um getting drafted is great. Are you the youngest player in the CNPL? Do you hold that title at this point? You must be close.

SPEAKER_00 40:57

The youngest male player.

SPEAKER_02 40:58

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 40:59

That's fair. Yeah. Stevie, I don't know how to pronounce her last name. Stevie's a great player. She's younger than me. Um props to her. She's she's a great player. But I I I take I think I take the award for youngest male player.

SPEAKER_02 41:16

Yeah, another notch in your pro belt, just to say it's another thing you can talk about down the road. You know, the great thing about history, McConnors, no one takes it away from you. Once you've done something and been the first to do it, you know, I was at one point the youngest male player in the Canadian National Pickleball League. I don't care if you live to be 150, no one will take that away from you. You know, you held that record for whatever amount of time you did, so good on you. Uh, yeah, I've had a chance to talk to Brett Shapley. Of course, he's involved uh, you know, with uh a bunch of the league stuff. And I'm talking to Ricky at Toronto United, and I've talked to the Kalamoda family as well, and Matthew, and of course, he's pretty legendary within the CMPL and within the league and within pickleball in Canada. What a what a great kid and what a great family, and an honor to have talked to him and his mom and two sisters. And uh, so it's really, really amazing. So, well, listen, I'm mindful of the clock. I've already taken up more time than I thought I wanted to, and but the conversation is just so engaging. So I'm sorry to have done this to you, but I appreciate that. As we wrap things up, you know, where where do you see the game going? Um, you know, it's interesting for me as a 59-year-old talking to you as a 16-year-old and so inspired by your story and so taken by your passion. Um, what do you what are your hopes for pickleball? You know, not even just maybe here. I think, you know, the explosion of pickleball coming out of Asia, I mean, it's phenomenal. I've talked to a guy, I think probably two months ago, McConnor, who has predicted that the number one male and number one female player in the world will come out of Asia within the next three years. That's the prediction. And so what's interesting is you mentioned some of the names in, you know, Ben and Annalie and and some of the others. But what are your thoughts on all of that? Where do you see the game heading on a more global level? And are you optimistic about it?

SPEAKER_00 42:53

I'm totally optimistic. I was just in Asia back in April, uh, the beginning of April and late end of March. And man, people should see it there. It's crazy. Especially in the Philippines, Vietnam, China's really getting into it, where else? Malaysia, all these places. It's huge. They have, I mean, compared to the Canadian scene, we have what 45 million people in this country and the Philippines alone has like 300 something. Put it put it into the numbers game. Um, but I think another big thing is there are courts.

SPEAKER_02 43:44

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 43:45

I know courts in at least in Vancouver, I'm not sure about uh where you are, but the lack of courts is a huge thing. Yeah. Uh lack of Public and private courts. In in Vietnam, at least, and and in the Philippines, from what I know. In Vietnam, there's like a court everywhere. Like I was just walking down the street to get to a restaurant, and I just all of a sudden hear and I'm like, what on earth? Am I imagining things? Am I playing too much? And then all of them I'm hearing it's in my head. And then I just turn I turn to the right and I see four courts. Wow. And they're and they're nice chords. Like they're outside, but they have like a retractable roof and everything. In the Philippines, same thing. This was just and I was there three, three years ago. Two, three years ago, and I said I used to say, uh, yeah, I play pickleball. And then and then people would go, sorry, what's that? And now you go to you go now. Now I went this March and I played pickleball. Oh, I play too. Or like um you open the replay app, which is which is like just an app to find courts. There's just courts everywhere. There's like everywhere. And they're always full as well. So I think I see so much growth in Asia. It's gonna be huge anyway. Um that that prediction of in three years the top woman and top male would be the number one. I would give it a little bit more than three years. A little bit more than three years. But I I think the players there are so good right now already. Their training is so much more intense than what we have in North America. And I think there's so much more support in Asia. They've got so many more sponsorships. Like I met up with a bunch of juniors in Vietnam, and all of these guys, they're they're they're their gear being their gear is being sponsored, their training is being sponsored, all this stuff. Like they're being supported so much. Right? And I and I think that will that will help with the growth of the sport even more because people people are investing in these players, not just juniors, right? These juniors, these juniors, to be honest, they just play pickleball now. I mean, obviously school, but their tournament fees are paid for, their training is paid for, all these stuff, right? So they're bound to become really good eventually, because there's just so much more support there.

SPEAKER_02 46:45

Yeah, the infrastructure's there, the culture's there, it's really starting to bubble up, and there's a lot of attention, a lot of eyes. Vietnam, I'm glad you mentioned that because that this gentleman had just been to Vietnam and echoed exactly what you're saying. The quality of play, the quality of facilities, the quantity of facilities, McConnor are just phenomenal. He he came back, he was just gobsmacked, you know, and he's out of the UK. He's a fellow I met through the podcast who's got a Facebook group page called Senior Pickleball Tips. So Patty has got uh nearly 140 some thousand people that follow him on the Facebook group, but he's talking about the explosion specifically in Vietnam and just how phenomenal it is. So yeah, we'll keep an eye on it. And I think you've made a great point there. You know, the more support that the players are getting, the evolution of that game and the speed at which it evolves is going to be really something. So, well, listen, final question: who's your pickleball hero today? Who do you look up to? Who do you think is somebody that you'd like to model yourself after? I mean, at 16, you must have some role models, you must have people that you kind of you look to. I mean, you're inspiring me today. You're going to inspire a lot of people that listen to this podcast, uh, and you should be really proud of all you've done. But who is it in your books that you look up to and somebody that you really held, you know, perhaps in high regard in the game of pickleball?

SPEAKER_00 47:52

I'd say number one is I give credit to my parents, and then I mentioned two people on my team, um, Dr. Sean and Dr. Jeff. I think they've helped me so much, and I think I look up to them in their support and as well as their their professionalism and their again, their mental like Dr. Sean used to be a professional football player, and and they and he just his mental game, right? Um, it's pretty tough out there. And just another like their support, their support for me has been huge. Like, that's another thing I look up to them is their their support, uh, how they're giving back to right.

SPEAKER_02 48:45

They believe in you, they see something here. They yeah, they want to be part of it. And that's who reached out to me was Dr. Sean. You know, he got emailed out of the blue and asked me if I would, and boy, was I ever you know thrilled. I mean, that was the best email I've had in a month. Well, probably in two months. It was yeah, you'd wake up to an email like that and then to figure out who you are, and then combine the two. Yeah, it was just a great morning. Best cup of coffee I've had in a long time. So I owe him a debt of thanks for connecting the two of us today. So yeah, I love your reflection. Well, listen, you're an inspiring young man as a parent to two boys, McConnor. I gotta tell you, your parents must be so proud of you. And you carry yourself in such a way that it's well beyond your years. And I know I'm not the first guy to tell you this, and I can tell you I won't be the last to tell you this. So congratulations. Uh, you're just a great story, and I am so honored and touched that you were willing to give me a chance to share a bit of this. And uh, it's been a pleasure getting to know you a little bit this afternoon. So thank you for being here. Thank you for being on the podcast.

SPEAKER_00 49:39

Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_02 49:40

Appreciate it. Good luck with everything you've got going on. And one final favor. Uh, I'd just kind of like to loosely stay in touch with you and your team as this progresses over the next little while. And if you'd be so generous as yeah, maybe down the road when things develop a bit more, maybe you've defined your direction a little bit more, and I'm sure you'll have lots of insight into how that's developing. I'd love a chance to maybe connect, even if it's for a shorter bit of time, but maybe a catch up conversation at some point on the podcast would be appreciated. So thank you again for being here.

SPEAKER_00 50:09

I love that.