My first priority is always to put a new student at ease. I'll begin by introducing myself, then asking a few questions about their goals, athletic background, and any prior experience with Pickleball. Once they're comfortable, we'll do a short warm-up and then jump right into some light rallying so I can observe their movement, timing, and overall skill level. From there, I'll introduce the foundational shots every player needs, using a mix of drills and mini-games to keep things fun and engaging. Each lesson ends with clear "homework" to practice before the next session. Above all, my goal is to connect with the student, make learning fun, and set a strong foundation for their Pickleball journey.
Once the fundamentals are established, lessons 11 and beyond will shift toward refining technique, learning advanced shots, and improving strategy through live match play. We'll focus on shot selection, anticipation, court positioning, and communication with partners. Every session will include tailored coaching to address individual strengths and weaknesses, plus more structured game play to simulate real match situations. At this point, the student is not just learning _how_ to play Pickleball--they're learning how to play it well, with a clear plan for continual growth, enjoyment, and long-term improvement.
As students gain confidence, lessons 4 through 10 will focus on sharpening their core skills and introducing more advanced strategies in manageable steps. We'll build consistency in serves, returns, dinks, and volleys, while layering in important concepts like the third shot, moving together as a team, and controlling the pace of play. Each lesson will blend focused drills with real-game scenarios so students can immediately apply what they learn. By the end of this stage, students will not only understand the flow of a Pickleball game, but also begin developing their own style of play, with the confidence to hold their own in casual games and friendly competition.
In the second and third lessons, we'll continue building the fundamentals of the game while keeping the focus on fun. Here, I'll introduce the basic strokes--serve, return, dink, and volley--and begin showing how to keep score and where to stand on the court. We'll move at a very simple pace, using repetition, drills, and guided play to help the student feel the natural rhythm of a real game. Since Pickleball scoring and positioning can be confusing at first, these lessons are all about giving the student confidence to rally, play short games, and start feeling like they belong on the court.