PICKLEBALL LESSONS
For the Fall/Winter of 2018/19, the SCF Pickleball Club is introducing a series of four modules designed to take players from a beginning level through to an intermediate level. The names for the modules are:
The numbers 2.0, 2.5, etc. refer to traditional skill rating levels in pickleball. Level 3.5 represents a strong intermediate player.
Each module consists of four 1½-hour lessons—one lesson per week for four weeks. The skills taught and developed in each module are intended to align with those set out for each skill level by the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association (IPTPA). The IPTPA is dedicated to the teaching of pickleball skills and to establishing uniform standards throughout the USA and Canada for rating players’ skill levels. Our Club holds a Club Membership in the IPTPA. For further information about the IPTPA and player skill ratings, click on the “Skill Ratings Info” link under the “Programs” tab of this website.
The IPTPA provides one of two alternative pathways for a player to become officially rated or, in pickleball jargon, “hard-rated. (The other pathway is to compete in officially sanctioned tournaments, which a majority of players choose not to do.) In the fourth and final lesson in each module, your coaches will conduct a simulation of the assessment process that a Certified Rating Specialist (CRS) from the IPTPA would carry out in a formal rating assessment. If you do well in this simulation, you should be ready to undertake a formal IPTPA Rating Assessment if you choose to do so.
Up to 10 players may register in the offering of a particular module. A module will have the same 2 volunteer coaches (from the ranks of our intermediate and elite players) for all 4 lessons in the module. The group will be assigned to the same 2 courts at the Sage Courts for a lesson on each of 4 consecutive weeks. If you register, do your very best to attend all 4 sessions. Many of the drills and all game play depend on having an absolute minimum of 4 players on each of the 2 courts. If 9th and 10th players are registered in a module, they will be rotated into the drills and game play such that all players get equal attention and time.
The following table illustrates a hypothetical plan for the first set of modules beginning in early November. Depending on the demand from players and the supply of coaches, there can be 3X10 = 30 players doing Module 1, 3X10 = 30 players doing Module 2; 2X10 = 20 doing Module 3, and 20 doing Module 4. But understand that you must not switch between modules at the same level from week to week—stay with your original group at the same time on the same court for all 4 weeks.
- Module 1: Beginning Pickleball
- Module 2: Advancing from 2.0 to 2.5
- Module 3: Advancing from 2.5 to 3.0
- Module 4: Advancing from 3.0 to 3.5
The numbers 2.0, 2.5, etc. refer to traditional skill rating levels in pickleball. Level 3.5 represents a strong intermediate player.
Each module consists of four 1½-hour lessons—one lesson per week for four weeks. The skills taught and developed in each module are intended to align with those set out for each skill level by the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association (IPTPA). The IPTPA is dedicated to the teaching of pickleball skills and to establishing uniform standards throughout the USA and Canada for rating players’ skill levels. Our Club holds a Club Membership in the IPTPA. For further information about the IPTPA and player skill ratings, click on the “Skill Ratings Info” link under the “Programs” tab of this website.
The IPTPA provides one of two alternative pathways for a player to become officially rated or, in pickleball jargon, “hard-rated. (The other pathway is to compete in officially sanctioned tournaments, which a majority of players choose not to do.) In the fourth and final lesson in each module, your coaches will conduct a simulation of the assessment process that a Certified Rating Specialist (CRS) from the IPTPA would carry out in a formal rating assessment. If you do well in this simulation, you should be ready to undertake a formal IPTPA Rating Assessment if you choose to do so.
Up to 10 players may register in the offering of a particular module. A module will have the same 2 volunteer coaches (from the ranks of our intermediate and elite players) for all 4 lessons in the module. The group will be assigned to the same 2 courts at the Sage Courts for a lesson on each of 4 consecutive weeks. If you register, do your very best to attend all 4 sessions. Many of the drills and all game play depend on having an absolute minimum of 4 players on each of the 2 courts. If 9th and 10th players are registered in a module, they will be rotated into the drills and game play such that all players get equal attention and time.
The following table illustrates a hypothetical plan for the first set of modules beginning in early November. Depending on the demand from players and the supply of coaches, there can be 3X10 = 30 players doing Module 1, 3X10 = 30 players doing Module 2; 2X10 = 20 doing Module 3, and 20 doing Module 4. But understand that you must not switch between modules at the same level from week to week—stay with your original group at the same time on the same court for all 4 weeks.
Below are links to Player’s Guides and Coach’s Guides for each module. Each Player’s Guide contains instructional materials for all 4 lessons in the module. You will gain more from your on-court lesson if you read the materials for the lesson in advance. Re-reading the materials in the days after a lesson will refresh and consolidate the lesson’s content, and remind you to employ the appropriate shots, strategies, positioning, etc. in your everyday play.
The Coach’s Guides lay out lesson plans for coaches. These should be regarded as guidelines/suggestions. Coaches may employ their own ideas for teaching a skill or conducting drills.
Player’s Guides
Link to Pickleball Essentials pdf
Link to Player’s Module 1 pdf
Link to Player’s Module 2 pdf
Link to Player’s Module 3 pdf
Link to Player’s Module 4 pdf
Coach’s Guides
Link to Coach’s Module 1 pdf
Link to Coach’s Module 2 pdf
Link to Coach’s Module 3 pdf
Link to Coach’s Module 4 pdf
The Coach’s Guides lay out lesson plans for coaches. These should be regarded as guidelines/suggestions. Coaches may employ their own ideas for teaching a skill or conducting drills.
Player’s Guides
Link to Pickleball Essentials pdf
Link to Player’s Module 1 pdf
Link to Player’s Module 2 pdf
Link to Player’s Module 3 pdf
Link to Player’s Module 4 pdf
Coach’s Guides
Link to Coach’s Module 1 pdf
Link to Coach’s Module 2 pdf
Link to Coach’s Module 3 pdf
Link to Coach’s Module 4 pdf