Skill Assessment for 2.0 Players [Able to maintain some rallies, learning how to serve to get the ball into play, is developing a forehand groundstroke and is aware of the double-bounce rule. Knows the court lines, scoring, and some basic pickleball rules] 2.0 Skill Level Should Possess Most/All of These Skills Able to move around the court in a balanced and safe manner Able to demonstrate a forehand groundstroke Able to demonstrate a backhand groundstroke Able to demonstrate a volley Able to demonstrate an overhead smash Gets some serves into the correct service square Familiar with court positioning Realizes the aspects of score-keeping and the simple rules of the game Exhibits the Server and Returners role in regards to the Double Bounce Rule Service Requirement 4 out of 10 Service Footfaults Service Return Requirement 4 out of 10 Volley Requirement 4 out of 10
Skill Assessment for 2.5 Players [Maintains a short rally with players of equal ability, demonstrated the basic shot strokes (forehand, backhand, volley, overhead, serve) and are familiar with court positioning in doubles play] 2.5 Skill Level Should Possess Most/All of These Skills Slow paced rallies of more than 4 balls groundstrokes are reliable groundstrokes are reliable Approaches the non-volley zone to hit volleys Gets serve into play regularly Lobs with a forehand Moves around on the court in a balanced and safe manner Exhibits the Server and Returners role in regards to the Double Bounce Rule Exhibits correct court positioning for doubles Court coverage is improving Consistently Keeping the ball in play Knows the basics of how to keep score Aware of the soft game and attempts to hit the shot Service Requirement 7 out of 10 Service Footfaults Service Return Requirement 7 out of 10 Volley Requirement 7 out of 10
Skill Assessment for 3.0 Players [Maintains slow-paced rallies of more than 4 balls with players of equal ability, developing the techniques of the basic shot strokes (forehand, backhand, volley, overhead, serve) beginning to approach the non-volley zone to hit volleys, knowledge of the rules, and better court coverage] 3.0 Skill Level Should Possess Most/All of These Skills Hits forehand groundstrokes with consistency Hits backhand groundstrokes with consistency Developing control on forehand groundstroke (placement, direction, depth) Developing control on backhand groundstroke (placement, direction, depth) Uses deeper and higher returns of serve to allow time to approach the net Striving to place the serves and returns deep into the court Getting 70% of serves in Developing placement of serves Approaches the non-volley line quickly rather than staying back Sustains a short volley session at the net, but with little placement Exhibits correct court positioning for doubles and how to move as a team Beginning to use the forehand lob with some success Developing more power in their shots and able to return a ball with power Developing a sustained dink exchange at the net Attempting to hit a soft shot as the serve team Able to adjust to differing ball speeds consistently Service Requirement 9 out of 12 Service Footfaults Service Return Requirement 7 out 10 Volley Requirement 7 out of 10
Skill Assessment for 3.5 Players [Maintains getting 80% of their serves in and with some depth, and placement, developing more consistent forehand and backhand groundstrokes on medium-paced balls, using a forehand lob with some success, moving to the non-volley line quickly after the return of serve, sustains a short volley session at the net using forehand and backhand volleys, and is developing a sustained dink exchange at the net.] 3.5 Skill Level Should Possess Most/All of These Skills Demonstrates stroke dependability with directional control on most medium-paced and some fast-paced balls Demonstrates control on backhand groundstrokes when hitting for direction, depth, and power Demonstrates control on forehand groundstrokes when hitting for direction, depth, and power Developing a wide variety of shots including the lob, the overhead, the soft shot and the dink with some consistency Learning when to use soft shots versus power shots to their advantage Developing consistency on shot placement Able to play with partners effectively, with good communication and good team coverage of the court Regularly serves deep and returning the serve deep Approaches the non-volley line quickly rather than staying back Sustains a short volley session at the net Exhibits correct court positioning for doubles and how to move as a team Developing a backhand lob Developing more power in their shots and able to return a ball with power Developing a sustained dink exchange at the net Attempting to hit a soft shot as the serve team Able to adjust to differing ball speeds consistently Service Requirement 8 out of 10 Service Foot faults Service Return Requirement 8 out 10 Volley Requirement 8 out of 10 Rater s Signature Actual Skill Level Player s Signature
Skill Assessment for 4.0 Players [Has accomplished getting 90% of their serves in and with depth and placement, demonstrates stroke dependability with direction on most medium and fast paced balls, using a wide variety of specialty shots including the lob, overhead, dink, and soft shot with consistency, when to use the soft shots versus power shots to their advantage, improved court coverage and communication with partner, and is able to sustain a dink exchange at the net.] 4.0 Skill Level Should Possess Most/All of These Skills Consistent and dependable forehand and backhand groundstrokes, including directional control, depth and placement Consistent and dependable volleys and overheads, including directional control, depth and placement Reliable serves, lobs, overheads, approach shots and volleys and can use spin shots with some success Controls and places both the serve and the return and can occasionally force errors when serving Utilizes both forehand and backhand lobs, striving to employ lobs from anywhere on the court. Has good accuracy in placing lobs Can block strong volleys directed at them at the non-volley line or elsewhere, and can place their volleys with a good degree of accuracy Hits overheads consistently in, often with velocity and placement, and developing the ability to return overheads hit at their feet Fair to good ability to change from a soft shot strategy to a hard shot strategy during any given rally or vice versa Can handle speed on shots without over-hitting or hitting out-of-bounds Comfortable playing the non-volley line with their partner to control the line by keeping their opponents back, driving them off the line, or controlling the speed or placement of the ball Uses the strategy of dinking, employs it regularly, can sustain a dinking session until receipt of a put away shot, and succeeds in ending the rally Consistently makes drop-shots (soft shots) successfully from ¾ court and frequently from the baseline as their way of gaining control of the net Usually recognizes and exploits the weaknesses in their opponent s game Moves effectively with a partner and easily switches courts to cover partner s side when required Developing their use of spin on a variety of shots Maintains patience in rallies Service Requirement 9 out of 10 Service Foot faults
Service Return Requirement 9 out 10 Volley Requirement 9 out of 10 Non-Volley Line Foot faults