Pickleball Study Guide

  • PICKLEBALL

     RULES & SKILLS

     

    I. HISTORY & KEY POINTS OF PICKLEBALL [ Best described as  mini tennis or oversized ping pong ]

       * Great for improving hand eye coordinations and agility.

       * Teamwork is very important in playing doubles.

             PICKLE-BALL was created during the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island – near Seattle, WA. A family invented game in their driveway.  

             The name came from co-inventor, Joel Pritchard. The family cocker spaniel, named “Pickles” kept running off with the loose balls during the games.               Thus Pickles-ball, became Pickle-Ball

      *  Pickleball is great "lead up" game to TENNIS

      *  Pickleball requires good Hand-eye-coordination... and will help improve it as well.

      

    II.   EQUIPMENT [wooden paddles, low nets, plastic balls]

    A.   Do not hit other students with paddles or balls.

    B.   Do not throw paddles or hit balls at ceiling or walls at anytime.

    C.   Do not grab, lean on, jump over, or alter net in any way unless instructed by teacher.

       

    II. COURT LAYOUT

    A.   Boundaries (Sideline, Backline)

    B.   Net 

    C.   Serving Position    (1 foot behind back corner line) (Serve to opposite side)

     

    II. GAME RULES AND SCORING

    A.   Games can be played to 3, 5, or 7 or any desired total.

    B.   Must be serving to score. Serve always begins in corner. Serving diagonal to opponent.

    C.   All serves must be underhand or below waist

    D.   Each team must let ball bounce 1 time after serve before hitting. Alternate corners as points are served.       

    E.   Same person will continue to serve until he/she loses serve.

    F.    If receiving team wins rally, they will serve. (player already in proper corner will serve)

    G.   If ball lands on boundary line, it considered in and counts.

     

     

     

     

    BASIC PICKLEBALL SKILLS

    Skill Area:      Serving / Underhand Hit (Teaching / Assessment)

    Critical Cues:

    1. Face net, feet shoulder width apart, hold ball in front of paddle side of body
    2. Swing paddle backwards (below waist), step forward w/ opposite foot
    3. Swing paddle forward (below waist), drop ball/hit with upward/outward motion to target

       Skill Area:      Forehand Hit  (Teaching / Assessment)   * Use when ball is hit to paddle side of body

     

    Critical Cues:

    1. Face net, turn sideways w/ opposite shoulder to paddle towards net  
    2. Swing paddle backwards (backswing), step forward w/ opposite foot to paddle
    3. Swing paddle forward (keep parallel to floor), strike ball slightly in front of body

    * Follow through to target

    Skill Area:      Backhand Hit  (Teaching / Assessment) * Use when ball is hit to barehand side of body

    Critical Cues:

    1. Face net, turn sideways w/ paddle shoulder forward, step  
    2. Swing paddle backwards (backswing), step forward w/ paddle foot
    3. Swing paddle forward (keep parallel to floor), keep wrist stiff/strike ball slightly in front of body

    * Follow through to target