INSTRUCTION by ALICE TYM
FIVE LESSON PLANS FOR YOUNG PLAYERS
As the popularity of pickleball grows , younger players want to join in the fun . When asked what he likes about pickleball , 10-year-old Ollie Wiercinski replied , “ I like to hit hard .” Kids get the same buzz that 50-year-old guys get when they nail it . We tend to want to control their pace and talk about placement , while they came to the courts to experience the joy of pace .
Just how important is the sound of a pickleball cracking off the paddle ? That sound is like the magic pipe of the Pied Piper of Hamelin . A pickleball sounds like it means something .
So , kids want to hit , but at the same time you want them to keep the ball in play . That means you need to find a way to satisfy their desire to hit and at the same time bring them along in the progression of the sport . Here are five lesson plans . Each can be accelerated as your child improves . You will need a bucket of balls , a wall , a sense of humor , and some creativity . get on his volley . Then serve and return . All deep shots in this lesson are rewarded .
Then emphasize the counter , which is early preparation . If you hit deep , the youngster must counter by preparing early and moving his feet . Hitting hard is fine , but it must be deep . Volley hard , serve hard , return hard — but always deep . Go for shots . Pass down the line but keep those shots deep . Lesson # 1 is about controlling the other player ’ s options . To help keep your youngster from spraying the balls , remind
LESSON PLAN # 1 : Depth
Kids come to hit , but you must explain your objective in today ’ s lesson . The person who serves deep , returns deep , and keeps the ball deep controls the other player and the point . Basic forehand and backhand crosscourt and down-the-line drills present good opportunities to illustrate that to your youngster . Have your protege try to force you off the baseline . Hitting long is preferable to hitting short or into the net . Then force your student back by hitting deep so that he understands a defensive position . Equate offensive with depth . Do this on your volley , then
Depth can be easily emphasized when working on the serve . It is a good opportunity for a youngster to learn how to use his entire body to hit the serve . He can hit hard and learn to hit deep . You can also emphasize the importance of the follow-through while he serves . Targets can improve accuracy . Through observation he can learn what serve is most effective . Don ’ t sell youngsters short ; they learn very quickly if you structure the lesson properly .
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