Byron Freso grew up in Ghana playing sports at the top level, from volleyball to racquetball. After injuries forced him to stop playing racquetball, he and his wife, Marsha, discovered Pickleball. He has won countless medals as a pro player, is an IPTPA and PPR certified instructor, and is one of the top referees in the game. He was honored with ONIX's first ever Ambassador Emeritus title and serves as Head Referee on the APP Tour.
My coach taught me to focus on being the best player I can be and not worry about being better than everyone else. I still use this advice today, passing it on to other players to help them overcome their anxieties. Transcript: "When I was a young man, I was a pretty good table tennis player. And my coach said to me, stop trying to be better than everyone else. Just try to be the best player you can be. And that resonated with me many, many years. Still to this day, it is an advice that I've taken to heart. And I pass it on to other players to help them overcome the anxiety they face when they're facing someone better than they are. Just be the best player you can be. And that's all I ask of you."
I'm Byron Frasso, a USAPA certified pickleball referee and referee evaluator, as well as the director of referees for the APPTour. I started playing pickleball in 2011 and have been refereeing since 2012. I am an IPTPA and PPR pickleball professional and director of pickleball and tennis at Valencia Del Sol community in Miami, Florida. My areas of expertise is in pickleball rules and refereeing and I am passionate about helping others understand them. Transcript: "Hello, my name is Byron Freso. I'm a USA Pickleball Certified Pickleball Referee and Certified Referee Evaluator. I'm also the Director of Referees for the APP Tour. In addition to that, I'm an IPTPA and PPR Pickleball Professional and Director of Pickleball and Tennis at Valencia del Sol Community in Wymama, Florida. I started playing pickleball in 2011 and have been refereeing since 2012. I have a passion for the sport and want to contribute in my own small way to its growth. My areas of expertise is in pickleball rules and refereeing and I will gladly help anyone understand the rules."