Train the Trainer Part 11

Train the Trainer Part II

Pickleball for Beginners

This is the second lesson that trainers/instructors would use to instruct beginning players. As with all good teaching, instructors should review what was taught in lesson 1 and mix review with new strokes. Always follow instruction with practice.


Safety Reminders


• Ask the students “What are the safety procedures?” and then reinforce their importance.

o Do not run backwards

o Be careful running forward to get that low bouncing ball

o Calling “ball on court”

o Walking behind courts where play is ongoing



Etiquette Reminders


• Introduce yourself to your partner and opponents if you do not already know each other

• Always come up to the net and congregate each other on a good game

• Always treat everyone with dignity and fairness


Pickleball Strokes



Forehand

• Ask them to show you the ready position? Stress to them the need to always be in the ready position except when serving.

• Demonstrate the correct way to make a forehand shot using Mo’s approach

o Ready your paddle back into position to stroke the ball with your left hand keeping the paddle level.

o Step toward the ball with your left foot and make contact with the ball opposite the spot that you planted your foot.

o Point your left shoulder at your target.

o Keep your left hand out in front of your body with your palm facing the ground at the same height as your paddle and this will help keep you balanced.

o Watch the ball make contact on you paddle.

o Keep a firm wrist and pretend you are hitting four balls lined up in a row during your follow through. Follow through in the direction of your target.

o When hitting a low forehand shot bend your knees with your right knee as close to the ground as possible and then stay down all the way through the shot.

o Quickly return to your ready position.

• Spend five minutes having them practice the forehand by hitting back and forth across the net to a partner on the other side (two players on each side would work as well). Have them count the number of times they successfully get the ball across the net. Encourage them to hit to the other person’s forehand so they are learning placement as well as execution.


Backhand


• Demonstrate the correct way to make a backhand shot using Mo’s approach

o Run to a spot where the ball will be waist high or as close to waist high as possible in your ready position.

o Set your feet in a closed stance position (side by side) pointing your right shoulder and looking over your right shoulder toward your target then step with your front foot toward your target.

o Bend your knees on low balls and keep your head and body down all through the shot and follow through.

o Paddle face should be perpendicular to ground.

o Paddle head should start below the flight of the ball (low to high).

o Contact point should be out in front of the spot you plant your front foot.

o Keep a firm wrist at contact and you will be more consistent.

o Watch the ball hit your paddle.

o Make a long follow through in the direction of your target. Pretending that you are hitting four balls in a row will help.

o Quickly after your follow through get back to your ready position for the next shot.

• Spend five minutes having them practice the backhand by hitting back and forth across the net to a partner on the other side (two players on each side would work as well). Have them count the number of times they successfully get the ball across the net. Encourage them to hit to the other person’s backhand so they are learning placement as well as execution.


Dinks

• Explain what a dink is (a soft shot which lands in the NVZ). Note that a shot which lands outside of the NVZ may be a soft shot but is not considered a dink by definition.

• Demonstrate how to make a dink

o Remember if your follow through does not extend to the top of the net; the ball is unlikely to go over the net.

o Never step into the non volley zone with both feet. If a ball should bounce close to the net in the NVZ, keep one foot planted outside the NVZ line and lunge forward like a sword fighter. Tip the ball over the net into your opponents’ NVZ and quickly recover with both feet outside your NVZ line.

• Using only one ball have the students practice dinks for five minutes, making sure that they hit to each of the players.

• Make sure that they move out of the NVZ zone after making each dink and resume the ready position.

• Have players practice the dink game at the non volley line. Remember, step in with one foot, and step back out.



Volleys


• A volley is a quick punch of the ball at the non volley line. The stroke is quick and like a boxer’s punch. Sometimes referred to as a half volley because the stroke is shortened.

• Demonstrate

o Always be in the ready position when waiting for the ball. Coaches teach two possible positions of holding the paddle; out in front pointed at the net and perpendicular to the ground with the non paddle hand on the paddle the same as in forehand and backhand shots. A more recommended ready position is to hold the paddle on the backhand side parallel to the net and with the non paddle hand steadying the paddle face. Show how much more court space you can cover staying on your backhand and the paddle is already back for quicker reaction. At the non volley line reaction time must be split second and so having the paddle back saves time

o Do not swing at your volleys; punch them!

o When volleying, keep elbow in tight in front of your hip with paddle head above wrist for better ball control. Never drop the head of the paddle on low shots. You must keep skin wrinkles on your wrist at point of contact.

o Bend your knees on all low shots. Your back knee should almost be touching the ground. Stay down all the way through your shot and keep your head down and eyes looking at the ball’s contact point long after ball has been hit.

o When you strike the ball, you should point your front shoulder in the direction you want the ball to go and open or close the face of the paddle to set the angle of the paddle. Keep a firm wrist and extend your arm from only the elbow joint, using a jab motion. Setting the angle of the paddle and the jab motion are two completely separate motions. First aim the paddle early. Then jab from the elbow joint.

o To help students teach students to use a “punch’ or “jab” stroke, the instructor may wish to line students up with their backs to a wall if indoors or to a fence if outdoors. As students practice the punch shot they cannot bring the arm back too far because of the wall or fence. This acts as a mental cue to remind them of a short punch stoke

o Always make contact with the ball as far out in front of your body as you possibly can for more power and more control of placement.

o After the point of contact, keep your eyes focused on the contact point during your follow through.

o Return to the ready position quickly after each volley.

o The harder you hit your volley the faster you must return to the ready position.

o If you don’t have time to step to the ball, at least turn your upper body and point your front shoulder in the direction you want the ball to go. If you don’t have time to turn your shoulders, then from the ready position keep a stationary wrist with paddle parallel to the net and block the fast shot over the net.

o After each volley move forward one step toward the non volley zone. Stay about 12 inches from the no volley zone line so that you have space to step to the ball when volleying.

o The basic difference between an overhead and a volley is the height at which the ball is when you make contact with it. If the ball is below the highest point at which you can reach it with the center of your paddle, you should use a volley shot. If it is above that point, you should hit an overhead shot. On too low a shot you will not be able to fully extend your arm and will probably put the ball in the net.

• Using one ball have beginners practice either hitting or throwing a ball to the other person across the net to either the forehand or backhand at the right height for a volley. The person hitting or throwing the ball should tell the person where they are going to hit or place the ball, forehand, backhand or at the player. Switch roles after every 5 throws.

o An alternate way would have the instructor on one side of the net and the four students on the other side with the instructor hitting to each student in turn varying the height of the ball.

• In this practice make sure that the students observe the NVZ rules and continue to instruct them on the proper way to make volleys.


Lobs
• Explain to the students what a lob is: A shot that sends the ball high overhead and deep, either catching the opponent off guard or forcing the opponent back to the baseline.

• Demonstrate and explain how to make a lob.

o Keep your head steady and your eyes on the ball.

o The lob shot is made with an open face paddle in order to achieve the desired loft.

o From the ready position turn toward the side where the ball will come.

o Start your backswing as you move into position and shift your weight to your back foot.

o Swing through the ball as you step into the shot.

o Contact the ball in line with your front foot.

o Continue to follow through quite high, with your paddle following the trajectory of the ball.

o As your weight shifts to your forward foot, bring your back foot forward and move toward your next position.

o The ideal lob is high enough to clear the opponent’s extended arm, paddle, and leaping ability. However, it is important when lobbing to remember that there is only 15 feet between the NVZ line and the baseline—a relatively small target area. (If you are playing outdoors, you must be constantly aware of the wind, what direction, how hard, constant or gusting. Build this into all your shots but be very aware of it if you are going to hit a lob.)

o The lob shot looks the easiest to make but requires the most practice. Most players are not good lobbers. The lob shot is what the pros call a low percentage shot and therefore should be used only when necessary. It takes practice and perfect execution to get high and still land it in. However, it is very effective and can be executed easier indoors.

• Have the students practice making lobs for five minutes, positioning all four at the baseline with you on the other side of the net and bounce or hit the ball to them in turn and have them lob over you at the net.


Overheads


• Explain to the students what an overhead is: A rapid downward shot made with the paddle extended over the head at maximum height.

o The difference between an overhead and a volley is the height at which the ball is when you make contact with it. If the ball is below the highest point at which you can reach it with the center of your paddle, you should use a volley shot.

• Demonstrate and show the students how to hit an overhead (have one of the students hit some lobs to you)

o Never hit an overhead shot unless the ball is high enough.

o You should hit the ball at the highest point you can reach on the center of your paddle or you must take a volley shot.

o When hitting an overhead shot, point your shoulder and your finger of your left hand up at the ball until just before you contact it.

o Keep your head up until ball is long gone.

o Hit the overhead shot at your opponents’ feet wherever they are standing. (Really emphasize to players that although some players at the competitive level like to smash the ball at their opponent this is not something that should be done on purpose. Good players will be able to return a hard shot at them so it is better to place it at their feet or to the open court. If you are playing a weaker player, they may not be able to react quickly enough and injury could result. Although the rules award a point for hitting an opposing player with the ball, this is not the correct strategy and just plain bad sportsmanship.)

• Have the students practice making overheads for five minutes, with each one taking turns as you hit some lobs to them and instructing them as they practice.


Serve


• Ask the students to tell you what the serve mechanics are and remind them if they do not remember.

o Underhand below the waist

o Paddle has to be vertical

o Keep at least one foot on the ground

o Both feet behind the baseline

o Standing between the side line and center line



• Have the students practice their serves for five minutes

o Two students on each side of the net

o Use two balls

o Have them serve to each other catching the ball and serving back

o Rotate them half way through the time so they get practice serving from both the left and right side

o Walk around and observe each student providing help and suggestions where needed



Return of Serve



• Techniques

• Never try for a pure winner.

• Do not make an unforced error. Keep the ball deep, slow and low to the opponent’s backhand.

• Slow to give you plenty of time to set up at the no volley zone line. Once in a great while, when ahead, hit fast return of serve for a change up when you feel your opponents will least expect it.

• Place the return down the middle, slightly closer to the back hand player. Both opponents may think the other will take the shot.

• Wait for the serve 12" or more behind the baseline so that the ball will bounce in front of you, not at your feet for a difficult shot. If your opponent has a very fast and deep serve, you may have to wait about 3 feet behind baseline.



• Return of Serve Drill



o Have the students practice their return of serves for five minutes

o All four students on one side of the net taking turns from the right and left hand box

o Instructor on the other side of the net hitting serves to the students for them to return, making sure they hit both forehands and backhand returns



Positioning Drill



Place two students on each side of the net at the baseline. Instructor gives the ball to one student and says you serve. Then all of the other students should move into the correct positions. Ball is served, returned, everyone moving up to the net. Everyone returns to the baseline and the instructor randomly selects another student to serve and the process is repeated. Spend about five minutes on this drill or until everyone has the process down and quickly moves to their correct positions.



Playing a Game



Once these steps are completed then have them play a game trying to use each of the different strokes during the game. Keep them focused on practicing the strokes rather than winning the game. Continue to stop play and provide instruction and positive reinforcement. Remind them to watch their partners and call faults on each other.



If you see foot faults or serving faults during the games, immediately call it to their attention and explain what they did wrong. Remember to stop their play if you see that they are not watching their partner when serving, receiving serve, or volleying at the NVZ line. Also stop play if you see them not being in the ready position. Use a light hearted manner to help them to keep score. If you see them having difficulty in serving or using any kind of stroke, wait until the current point is over to discuss the appropriate techniques. Students are usually quite appreciative of your help, but this does vary. For those who don’t seem to want help, approach them and ask if you may make a suggestion.



Please keep in mind that these are beginners, not intermediates or advanced players. We need to treat them like beginners. However, it is our responsibility to show them the correct way to play and assist them in learning the correct way.