STARTING, BUILDING AND FINISHING POINTS

This series of lesson plans focus on starting the point well and being a solid volleyer at the net. We even get a little fancy by introducing spin (something many players LOVE learning about).

We wrote clear descriptions of each of the activities. But for even more fun, we added a few examples below as GIFs. Enjoy!

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About This Series
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*for full transcript of this audio, click here

PLAN #1: Starting Strong. Teaching points and activities help instructors explain why it is so important to care about the first shot (serve or return), and to see it as a chance to do more than just get things started. Drills and games help players be more deliberate with their first shot, not to hit a winner, but to tilt the odds in their favour.

Player returning a serve deep to the opponent's baseline on an indoor pickleball court

Starting Strong: Send Deep Returns
Player at baseline hitting a crosscourt return to opponent at the net during an indoor pickleball drill

Starting Strong: Crosscourt Returns

PLAN #2: Very Good Volleys. This lesson is all about developing skill and confidence at the net. Players will work on handling drives from the NVZ and sending them back effectively. Players will also work on their volley decision-making skills based on the opponent’s position on the court.

Player volleying a deep drive from the non-volley zone on an indoor pickleball court

Very Good Volleys: Deep, Neutralizing Volley
Player executing a drop volley off an incoming drive at the net on an indoor pickleball court

Very Good Volleys: Drop Volley Off Drive

PLAN #3: All About Spin. A class favourite, this lesson plan gives players a chance to learn about backspin, sidespin and topspin. Taught in a progressive way, players get to experiment with different spins and try to use them in modified game situations.

Pickleball player volleying at the net returning a driven shot on an indoor court

Very Good Volleys: Up or Back?
Two pickleball players demonstrating a sidespin groundstroke on an indoor court, one player at the net preparing to volley

All About Spin: Send and Spin (sidespin - step 1)
Two players practicing cooperative dink volleys at the net on an indoor pickleball court

All About Spin: Spinning Dinks

WARM-UP MENU

In each lesson plan, we allocated time for the warm-up. We created a “warm-up menu” and recommend choosing a sample from it to start off each of your lessons.

Player returning a serve deep to the opponent's baseline on an indoor pickleball court
Player at baseline hitting a crosscourt return to opponent at the net during an indoor pickleball drill
Player volleying a deep drive from the non-volley zone on an indoor pickleball court
Player executing a drop volley off an incoming drive at the net on an indoor pickleball court
Pickleball player volleying at the net returning a driven shot on an indoor court
Two pickleball players demonstrating a sidespin groundstroke on an indoor court, one player at the net preparing to volley
Two players practicing cooperative dink volleys at the net on an indoor pickleball court
Player returning a serve deep to the opponent's baseline on an indoor pickleball court
Player at baseline hitting a crosscourt return to opponent at the net during an indoor pickleball drill
Player volleying a deep drive from the non-volley zone on an indoor pickleball court
Player executing a drop volley off an incoming drive at the net on an indoor pickleball court
Pickleball player volleying at the net returning a driven shot on an indoor court
Two pickleball players demonstrating a sidespin groundstroke on an indoor court, one player at the net preparing to volley
Two players practicing cooperative dink volleys at the net on an indoor pickleball court