•
Initial Assessment: Begin by evaluating each player's current skill level, knowledge of the rules, and goals. This will help you tailor the lessons appropriately.
•
Basic Rules: Go over the basic rules of pickleball as needed.
•
Fundamentals: Focus on teaching fundamental shots, including serving deep and returning deep. Emphasize the two-bounce rule.
•
Basic Strokes: Teach the proper technique for forehand and backhand strokes.
•
Live Ball: Incorporate live ball drills to improve endurance and quick reactions.
•
Poaching: Introduce the idea of poaching in doubles play.
•
Cross-Court Dinking and Erne: Teach cross-court dinking and introduce the Erne.
•
Net Play: Focus on controlling the game at the net with aggressive positioning, smart shot selection, and quick reactions.
Intermediate Level Class Plan:
•
Building on Fundamentals: Continue to reinforce the basic strokes and rules, ensuring consistent execution.
•
Soft Game/Kitchen Game: Introduce drops, resets, the transition zone, and basic offensive shots. Focus on the "soft game" or kitchen game, with isolated drills for each.
•
Shot Placement: Work on refining shot placement skills to gain an advantage on the court. Practice aiming for specific areas like the corners, sidelines, and kitchen line.
•
Dinking: Teach dinking strategies that disrupt opponents and create winning opportunities.
•
Volleys: Work on volleys, especially fast volleys at the net.
•
Drills: Start with basic drills like "serve and stay" and "return and run".
•
Transitioning to the NVZ: Teach beginners how to move effectively from the baseline to the kitchen line.
•
Placement: Begin practicing how to place shots effectively to control rallies and cover the court with confidence.
•
Footwork Introduce footwork techniques like split stepping, pivoting, and reaching.
Advanced Level Class Plan:
•
Tailored Instruction: Tailor lessons to the players’ specific needs.
•
Trick Shots: Teach advanced trick shots, including the flick volley, around-the-post (ATP) shot, no-look shot, and the tweener.
•
Angle and Sideline Shots: Focus on refining the ability to hit sharp angles and precise sideline shots.
•
Deception: Teach the subtle skills of disguising shots, using body positioning, paddle angles, and footwork to keep opponents off balance.
•
Third Shot Strategies: Emphasize the use of third shot drops and drives, and when to incorporate these shots into gameplay.
•
Strategic Dinking: Work on refining strategic dinking patterns through repetitive drills and live coaching.
•
Spin and Slice: Provide instruction on generating topspin, backspin, and slice, and practice countering spin shots.
•
Banging Game: Explore the "banging game" with intent and teach techniques to slow it down.
•
Overheads and Lobs: Teach how to use overheads and lobs both offensively and defensively.
•
Resets: Practice resets.
•
Advanced Footwork: Focus on footwork and court coverage for better movement and agility on the court.
•
Fast Action Volleys: Work on improving reflexes, paddle positioning, and reaction time to help handle rapid volleys with control and confidence
Additional Class Options:
•
Shot Placement Clinic: Have players practice aiming at targets during both drills and live gameplay situations, focusing on hitting sharp angles, deep shots, and drop shots.
•
Serves, Returns, and Drives Clinic: Focus on consistency, placement, and power in these areas.
•
Drill/Game Play Clinic: Provide focused drills that target specific aspects of the game, and then incorporate coached game play with live feedback.
•
Speed and Agility: Focus on improving footwork, quickness, and agility through drills.
General Coaching Notes:
•
Drills: Incorporate drills into each lesson, and use isolated drills when working on specific skills.
•
Live Play: Include live gameplay coaching to apply skills learned in drills.
•
Feedback: Provide regular feedback to help players improve.
•
Adaptability: Tailor each lesson based on the skill level and the specific needs of the players.
