Training Overview

TRAINING OVERVIEW

AVAILABLE CLUB TRAINING

Note: members must take Beginner Training or receive a waiver from the Player Development Director before they can participate in Supervised Novice Play. Players must also complete Supervised Novice Play or receive a waiver from the Player Development Director before they can participate in Skills and Drills.

 

Beginner Training Program

Description. This 7.5 - 9.0 hour program is designed for those players who have a 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.

After completing the program, you should be familiar with and able to 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.

 

 

Beginner training Program Schedule Variations.

 In an attempt to accommodate the various needs of our members several variations of the Beginner Training program are offered at different times during the year as described below.

• Version 1 of the program runs for 1.5 hours per day over 5 consecutive days (Monday – Friday). The classes are scheduled for either mid-day or early morning depending on the time of year. An inclement weather day (as required) is scheduled for the Saturday following the last day of class

   

• Version 2 of the program runs for 1.5 hours per day over 5 consecutive days (Monday – Friday). The classes are scheduled for the evening. An inclement weather evening (as required) is scheduled for the Saturday following the last day of class. 
• Version 3 of the program runs for 3.0 hours per day over 3 consecutive days (Tuesday – Thursday). These classes are only scheduled at mid-day during the cooler months of the year.An inclement weather day (as required) is scheduled for the Friday following the last day of class. 
• Version 4 of the program runs for 3.0 hours per day over 3 consecutive Saturdays. These classes are only scheduled at mid-day during the cooler months of the year

Prerequisites:

• Must be a member in good standing of the Sun City Texas Pickleball Club (SCTPC).
• Must be able to commit to attendance for the entire series of classes in accordance with the established schedule.  Please do not register for Beginner Training Class unless you can attend all scheduled classes.
• Must be physically able to walk, run, bend, and reach both vertically and horizontally.

Equipment: Wear comfortable clothing and TENNIS COURT SHOES. Since loaner paddles are available, players are not encouraged to purchase their own paddle at this time.      

Registration: Click on the following link to learn how to register for and withdraw from a Training Class  (====> click this link) How to Register for a Training Class 

If you have any problems registering or canceling a registration, please email the Player Development Team at ([email protected]) and we will try to help solve the problem.

 

 

 

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. 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 own paddle.

 

Registration: Click on the following link to learn how to register for and withdraw from a Training Class  (====> click this link) How to Register for a Training Class

The exact days that SNP is conducted will vary but classes are currently scheduled for Thursday through Saturday at Northpoint Courts 11 – 13. The classes are normally scheduled for either mid-day or early morning depending on the time of year. However, in an attempt to accommodate the various needs of our members one class per week is sometimes scheduled in the evening.  Classes that are cancelled due to inclement weather are not rescheduled. Because the number of participants in the program varies throughout the year, participants can expect to play 1-2 times per week.

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. The Skills and Drills Program is designed for players from Beginner through Intermediate Levels who have completed Supervised Novice Play or obtained a waiver from the Player Development Director. Training will be conducted at Northpoint Courts during established hours. A maximum of 15 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 (2.5, 3.0,). 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.

Skills and Drills is currently offered twice per year, once in the Spring and once in the Fall in 6-week blocks.  Each 6-week block consists of one 1.5-hour class each week, that is designed to teach a specific Drill.  Over the course of each 6-week block a student will have the opportunity to learn drills related to 6 different strokes or skills.  Members may register for as many or few classes as fit their schedule.  

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 2.5 or higher-level player.
• 2.5 level participants must have completed Supervised Novice Play or obtained a waiver.
• Should demonstrate the skills commensurate with your self-assessed USAP rating (2.5 – 3.0).
• Know 100% of the basic rules.
• Execute basic shot strokes (serve, forehand, backhand, volley, dink, drop shot, lob, overhead) in accordance with 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. 

Advanced Pickleball Strategy

The Advanced Pickleball Strategy Program is designed for players from intermediate through Advanced Levels. Training will be conducted at Northpoint Courts during established hours.

Advanced Pickleball Strategy classes will normally be held the first and third Tuesdays of each month.  Each month a new set of strategies is presented.  However, the strategies in both classes in any one month will be the same.  Interested players should only register for one class per month.

Teaching Professional Lessons

The Club is fortunate to have teaching professional Matthew Boyette who operates on Court 23 up at North Point. Click on Sun City Texas Community Association Private Lessons (sctexas.org) to learn about him, know his rates and times of availability.

Club Pro Clinics

Club Pro Clinics are taught by our Teaching Professional Matthew Boyett and include a fee.  The clinics are designed to help players at all skill levels to improve various aspects of their game.  Each clinic is specifically designed to help a specific skill level group who have a specific skill improve that specific skill.  In most cases the class description indicates the skill level and specific skill a person should have prior to registering for the class.  The classes run 1.5 hours and are offered 2 – 4 times per month.  Specific dates, times and costs will be listed in CMARS at least 30 days prior to each clinic. 

  

Train the Trainer Program

 

 

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 Beginner Training classes, coaching Supervised Novice Play or leading Skills and Drills sessions, should contact our Player Development Team at [email protected].

This is a 3-hour class conducted over a 1-day period.

• The class includes an overview of the Club’s course curriculum; format and sequence for teaching skills; technique to properly feed balls; and pitfalls to avoid in teaching pickleball.
• Following completion of the class:
  • Instructors in Training who will instruct Supervised Novice Play are paired with an experienced instructor to observe and then coach 2 Supervised Novice Play sessions;
  • Instructors in Training who will instruct Beginner Training classes are paired with an experienced Beginner Training Team to shadow 1 to 2 Beginner Training Classes;
  • Instructors in Training who are invited to instruct Skills and Drills classes are paired with an experienced Skills and Drills instructor to shadow a minimum of 2 Skills and Drills classes.

Following completion of these requirements, graduates become members of the Player Development Team and are eligible to:

• Serve as instructors for Supervised Novice Play
• Serve as instructors for Beginner Training
• Serve as instructors for Skills and Drills.

Training is conducted on an as needed basis at Northpoint Courts 14 – 16.

Prerequisites:

• Must be a 3.0 or above rated player and have played pickleball for at least 1 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 have their own paddle. Participants will be issued “Pickleball Fundamentals” for duration of the course.