Available Club Training
TRAINING OVERVIEW
SCTPC offers free classes to members for all levels of play throughout the year. Click on Available Club Training for a description of those classes. For more information on specific dates and times of upcoming classes or on all matters pertaining to training, email our Player Development Team at [email protected].
The Club uses a stair-step approach to training, starting with the basics and working up to supervised game play. This helps develop individual skills, while providing new members with networking opportunities to get to know and play with others at a similar skill level.
To get started, you will need to join the club. Just log into your Sun City Resident Home Page at Sun City Texas Community Association Resident Home (sctexas.org) and click on "Buy/Renew Memberships". Cost is $15. for the year (2023).
AVAILABLE CLUB TRAINING
Note: members must take Introduction to Pickleball and Beginner Training before they can participate in Novice Supervised Play.
Introduction to Pickleball
Description: This 1.5-hour class introduces participants to the game of pickleball, covering terminology, basic rules of play, equipment and court etiquette. By the end of the class, you should be able to engage in a social game of pickleball on the Sun City courts during designated open (non-club) hours. This class is free and open to all Sun City Texas Pickleball Club members. At the end of the session, you will be provided a handout titled “Pickleball Rules in a Nutshell” for future reference. Following completion of this class, you are encouraged to enter the Beginner Training Program. Training is conducted at North Point Courts 14 - 16 during established hours. Minimum of 8 and a maximum of 12 participants in each class.
Prerequisites: This is a physically active game. You must be physically able to walk, run, bend, and reach both vertically and horizontally. Before beginning any new sport, you should discuss it with your doctor to be sure you are fit for participation. You may need to prepare by beginning a regular exercise routine first.
Equipment: Wear comfortable clothing and TENNIS COURT SHOES. If you do not have proper shoes, for your own safety, you will be asked to leave and reschedule your attendance. Please bring water, sunglasses, and a hat. Paddles, pickleballs and qualified instructors are provided for the training.
Beginner Training Program
Description. This 7.5-hour program is designed for those players who have completed the Introduction to Pickleball, but have minimal knowledge of the game and its rules. Experienced Club players are assigned to train, monitor and guide your performance through practice drills and an actual game environment. They will evaluate your weaknesses and work to develop individual skills and rule knowledge. The goal is to help you to more confidently participate in Club Time play, while having fun and enjoying the social aspects of the game. Training is conducted at North Point Courts 14 - 16 during established hours. Minimum of 8 and a maximum of 12 participants in each class.
Before completing the program, you should be familiar and attempt 9 basic shot strokes – serve, return of serve, forehand, backhand, volley, dink, drop, lob and overhead; be able to conduct a short rally with players of equal ability, and be familiar with court positioning in doubles play. The goal is for you to demonstrate the skills commensurate with a United States of America Pickleball (USAP) rating of 2.0.
This course is founded on the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) endorsed book, Pickleball Fundamentals by Mary Littlewood. We have copies available for loan for the duration of this course. Beginner Training is free and open to those Club members who have completed Introduction to Pickleball. The program runs for 1.5 hours over 5 consecutive days (Monday – Friday). An inclement weather day (as required) is scheduled for the Saturday following the last day of class.
Prerequisites:
Must have completed the Introduction to Pickleball Class.
Must be a member in good standing of the Sun City Texas Pickleball Club (SCTPC).
Must be able to commit to attendance at 5 consecutive 1.5 hour blocks of instruction in accordance with the established schedule.
Must be physically able to walk, run, bend, and reach both vertically and horizontally.
Equipment: Wear comfortable clothing and TENNIS COURT SHOES. While loaner paddles are available, players are encouraged to consider purchasing their own paddle.
Supervised Novice Play Program
Description. Supervised Novice Play (SNP) is a performance-based program for members who recently completed Beginner Training. Here you will play games under the guidance of an experienced club member. The purpose is to reinforce your understanding of the rules, court positioning and basic strategies covered in the Beginner Training class. To the extent possible, you will be grouped with others of a similar ability level to gain the best possible experience.
During the first part of each session a coach describes and demonstrates a basic skill for participants to drill during their warm-up. Following this exercise, you will play pickleball games with others in the group. You can expect to play an average of 4 games per session. As you continue to improve, you will move up from Group C to Group B, and then from Group B to Group A. Once meeting the following criteria, you will graduate and be encouraged to participate in both Skill Level and Club Open Play.
Prerequisites. Must have completed the Beginner Training Program (waiver-able by the Player Development Director).
Have minimal understanding of the basic rules of the game – (court lines, the double bounce rule, Non-Volley Zone (NVZ), foot faults, let serves and line calls).
Know how to keep score.
Accurately place the serve into the correct square.
Know where to stand when serving and returning serve.
Demonstrate rudimentary skills with the forehand, backhand, volley and dink.
Move in a safe and balanced manner.
Attempt to approach the non-volley zone with your partner.
Demonstrate court etiquette in accordance with the SCTPC Court Rules and Regulations.
Equipment: Wear comfortable clothing and TENNIS COURT SHOES. Players should have their paddle.
Registration Process. Once your registration for Beginner Training is confirmed, you will be notified via email to self-register for the upcoming novice sessions using the Court Management and Reservation System (CMARS). Once notified, you can register for those SNP sessions that fit your schedule.
The exact days that SNP is conducted may vary but will usually run Monday through Saturday at North Point Courts 11 – 13. Because the number of participants in the program varies throughout the year, participants can expect to play 2 or more times per week.
Each session is currently limited to 15 players on 3 courts. 4 players are initially assigned to each court, with a 5th player positioned outside the court area to rotate in once the game is complete.
Skills and Drills Program
The more you practice correct repetition of strokes and strategies, the better prepared you will be to react in game situations. This Spring we plan to launch our Skills and Drills Program for players from Beginner through Intermediate Levels. Training will be conducted at North Point Courts during established hours. Minimum of 8 and a maximum of 12 participants will be able to register in CMARS for each session.
This program presents members with purposeful drills they can use to improve their individual game play. It focuses on shot selection, shot execution (technique), court positioning and doubles strategies. Each drill and activity is goal-oriented and tailored to specific skill levels (2.0/2.5, 3.0, 3.5). Designated drills will build to game play conditions.
Note: Skills and Drills will arm you with a variety of drills and activities you can use to improve your personal performance. Separate from this venue, you are further encouraged to seek expert coaching from the Club’s Teaching Professionals. They can help evaluate your skill level, identify shortcomings and assist you in developing a drill plan specific to your needs.
Prerequisites. Players will be required to self-assess their skill level. Go to Definition of Player Skill Ratings - USA Pickleball Association to review the USAP definitions and Skill Assessment Sheets.
Must be self-rated as a 2.0 or higher-level player.
2.0/2.5 level participants must have completed Beginner Training and Supervised Novice Play.
Should demonstrate the skills commensurate with your self-assessed USAP rating (2.0 – 3.5).
Know 100% of the basic rules.
Execute basic shot strokes (serve, forehand, backhand, volley, dink, drop shot, lob, overhead) IAW the standards of your self-rating.
Understand and attempt to execute proper court coverage.
Equipment: Wear comfortable clothing and TENNIS COURT SHOES. You should have your own paddle.
Intermediate Training Program
IMPORTANT NOTE. In the Spring of 2022, this class was suspended for an undetermined time. After presenting the class to 95 students between October 2021 and March 2022, we came to the conclusion that were trying to teach intermediate level skills and strategies to members who did not possess the requisite skills to benefit from it. We have since shifted gears and this Spring will roll out a "Skills and Drills" program for each ability group in the club. We'll send out an Eblast when this becomes available.
Description. This 7.5 hour immersion program builds on players’ basic pickleball skills foundation and expands their understanding of winning doubles strategies. The program introduces concepts for playing smart pickleball. Players are shown how to reduce unforced errors and to engage in playing percentage pickleball. They are introduced to tactics for various scenarios and strategies for doubles play. Drills are presented to reinforce proper execution of the ready position, serve, return of serve, volley, dink, drop shot, soft third shot and hard drive, half volley, overhead and lob return.
Copies of Smart Pickleball by Prem Carnot are available for loan for the duration of this course. This course is free and open to club members in good standing who meet stated prerequisites. The program runs for 1.5 hours over 5 consecutive days (Monday – Friday). An inclement weather day (as needed) is scheduled for the Saturday following the last day of class. Minimum of 8 and a maximum of 12 club members in each class. Training is conducted at North Point Courts 14 - 16 during established hours.
Prerequisites. Must have completed the Beginner Training and Supervised Novice Play (waiverable by Player Development Director), played pickleball in Sun City for at least 6 months, and participated in at least one of the Club’s Intermediate Leagues. Based on self-assessment, you should:
self-rate at 3.0 or higher
know 100% of the basic rules.
execute basic shot strokes (serve, forehand, backhand, volley, dink, drop shot, lob, overhead smash);
maintain slow-paced rallies with players of equal ability.
routinely get to the non-volley zone to hit volleys.
try to be strategic about how and where to hit the ball.
understand and execute proper court coverage.
work with their partner to win the point.
Equipment: Wear comfortable clothing and TENNIS COURT SHOES. You should have your own paddle.
Teaching Professional Lessons
The Club is fortunate to have two visiting pickleball teaching professionals who operate on Court 23 up at North Point. Click on Sun City Texas Community Association Private Lessons (sctexas.org) to learn about them, know their rates and times of availability.
Train the Trainer Program
While America may run on Dunkin, the success of the Club’s training programs is dependent upon the volunteer members who conduct our classes. Our Train the Trainer Program serves to standardize the content and quality of instruction presented by these volunteers across the full spectrum of our training programs. Intermediate and Advanced Level players interested in teaching one of our classes, coaching Supervised Novice Play or leading Skills and Drills sessions, should contact our Player Development team at [email protected].
This 6-hour class is conducted 1.5 hours per day over a 4-day period.
Day 1 includes an overview of the Club’s course curriculum; format and sequence for teaching skills; technique to properly feed balls; how to “detect and correct” player shortcomings, and pitfalls to avoid in teaching pickleball.
Days 2 and 3 students assume the role of instructor. They teach a skill to the other participants and present a drill and practice detecting and correcting improper form. Students are provided feedback on their performance.
Day 4 students are paired with an experienced coach to observe and then coach a Supervised Novice Play session.
Following completion of the TTT Class, graduates will be eligible to:
Coach Supervised Novice Play
Apprentice as assistant instructor for Beginner Training
Apprentice as assistant coach for Skills and Drills
Training is conducted on an as needed basis at North Point Courts 14 – 16. Minimum of 8 and a maximum of 10 students per class.
Prerequisites:
Must be a 3.0 or above rated player and have played pickleball for at least a year.
Passionate about pickleball and committed to sharing that passion with others;
Knowledgeable – know how to play and know the USAP rules;
Positive attitude - patient, approachable and appreciative of diverse backgrounds and varied athletic abilities;
Able to execute (demonstrate) basic shot strokes (serve, forehand, backhand, volley, half-volley, dink, drop, lob, overhead);
Able to maintain rallies with players of equal ability.
Equipment. Wear comfortable clothing and court shoes. Players should own paddle. Participants will be issued “Pickleball Fundaments” for duration of the course.