Pickleball Intro Slides Pickleball Playbook
Service and Secrets
Mastering the court layout, the serve, and the legendary Two-Bounce Rule.
Lesson 1
Dual Sports Strategy
What is Pickleball?
The Ultimate Mashup
A fast-paced racket sport that combines elements of Tennis, Badminton, and Ping-Pong.
The Gear
Solid Paddle (Graphite or Composite)
Perforated Plastic Ball (Wiffle ball style)
Badminton-sized court (20' x 44')
Easy to learn, hard to master!
FUN FACT:
It was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, WA by three dads!
The Court Blueprint
The Kitchen (NVZ)
Left Service Court
Right Service Court
Baseline
Baseline
The back boundary line. Stay behind this to serve!
The Kitchen
The 7-foot area on both sides of the net. No volleying here!
Center Line
Divides the service courts into right and left halves.
Serving 101
01
Underhand Only
Paddle contact must be below the waist. No tennis-style overhead serves allowed!
02
Cross-Court
The serve must travel diagonally and land in the opposite service court.
03
Clear the Kitchen
The serve must clear the non-volley zone line to be considered "in."
"The serve's job is to start the point, not to win it immediately. Aim for consistency over power!"
The Two-Bounce Rule
This is the MOST IMPORTANT rule in Pickleball!
1
The Serve
Must bounce before the receiver hits it.
2
The Return
The server's team must let it bounce before hitting back.
Open Play
After those two bounces, you can volley or bounce!
Why does this rule exist?
It prevents the serving team from rushing the net immediately and smashing the return. It levels the playing field and encourages longer rallies!
Strategy Check
"If you are the server, and you see your opponent hit a weak, high return... can you run up and smash it before it bounces?"
Think & Discuss with a Partner
Rulebook Remix Worksheet Rulebook Remix
Pickleball Playbook • Student Worksheet
Name:
Date:
Part 1: Court Anatomy
Label the following parts of the Pickleball court using the word bank provided.
Baseline
The Kitchen (NVZ)
Sideline
Center Line
A
B
C
D
Part 2: Serving Secrets
1. When serving, where must your paddle make contact with the ball?
Above the shoulder
Below the waist
2. True or False: A serve must land inside the Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen) line.
True
False
Part 3: The Two-Bounce Scenario
SCENARIO: You serve the ball. Your opponent hits a high, slow return that is heading right for your partner at the net. Your partner steps forward to volley (hit it out of the air) and smashes it for a point.
Is this a legal point? Why or why not?
Strategic Thinking:
Explain how the "Two-Bounce Rule" changes how the serving team has to start the point compared to tennis.
Pickleball Playbook Series Lesson 1: Service and Secrets
Kickoff Coach Guide Kickoff Coach Guide
Lesson 1: Service and Secrets • Facilitation Notes
Time Allotment
50 Minutes
Key Skill
Rule Application
Equipment
Paddles, Balls, Nets
The Hook: "Wrong Way" Rally
MISSION: Have students try to play "Tennis Style" (overhand serves, rushing the net immediately) on the small Pickleball court.
Execution: Divide students into pairs. Instruct them to serve overhand and sprint to the net immediately. Within 3 minutes, they will realize it's too easy to smash the ball and points end instantly.
Debrief Question: "Why was that rally so short? How does being right at the net give you an unfair advantage?"
Lesson Flow
1
Court Tour & Gear Intro (10 min)
Walk the lines. Point out the Kitchen (NVZ) and the Baseline. Explain the paddle grip (Shake hands with the paddle).
2
The Underhand Serve Clinic (15 min)
Focus on the "drop and lift" motion. Contact below the waist. Cue: "Tick-Tock" (Swing like a pendulum).
3
The Two-Bounce Drill (15 min)
Students practice serving and staying back. The receiver must also stay back until the second bounce is completed. Force them to count "Bounce 1... Bounce 2... Now Volley!"
Common Misconceptions
The Service Line: Students often think the Kitchen line is the service line. Remind them the serve must clear that line entirely.The Overhand Instinct: 7th graders love to smash. Reinforce that an overhand serve is a fault and results in a loss of point. Kitchen Mastery Slides Pickleball Playbook
Kitchen
Control
Mastering the Non-Volley Zone & the Art of the Dink
Lesson 2
Hot Lava Rules
What is the Kitchen?
The Proper Name
Officially called the Non-Volley Zone (NVZ).
The Boundaries
A 7-foot area on both sides of the net. This includes the lines—stepping on the line counts as being in the kitchen!
The Golden Rule
You CANNOT hit the ball out of the air while standing inside (or touching) this zone.
The Art of the Dink
The Dink
A soft shot hit with an arc that lands inside the opponent's Kitchen.
Goal:
Force your opponent to hit the ball UP, giving you a chance to attack!
Lift, Don't Swing
Use your shoulder to lift the paddle. Keep your wrist steady!
The Contact Point
Hit the ball out in front of your body at the peak of its bounce.
Legal or Illegal?
Legal
Hitting a ball that bounced while you are standing in the Kitchen.
Stepping into the Kitchen after hitting a volley from outside (if you don't fall in!).
Illegal
Hitting a volley while your toe is touching the Kitchen line.
Your sunglasses or hat falling into the Kitchen after you hit a volley.
Hot Lava Challenge
THE RULES:
1 Rally with your partner using ONLY dinks.
2 If you hit a volley, your feet must be behind the line.
3 Step in the "Lava" while volleying? LOSE A POINT!
Don't Get Burned!
Dinking Drills Activity Sheet Dinking Drills & Lava Log
Pickleball Playbook • Skill Activity
Name:
Partner:
Part 1: The Soft Touch Challenge
Work with your partner to reach these dinking milestones. Remember: Lift with your shoulder, don't flick your wrist!
5
5 Dinks in a row without a mistake
10
10 Dinks in a row (Slow and controlled)
X
"Cross-Court Only" (Dink diagonally 5 times)
Part 2: Hot Lava Log
During your "Hot Lava" mini-games, track how many times you accidentally "stepped in the lava" (the Kitchen) while hitting a volley.
Game 1 Faults
_____
Game 2 Faults
_____
What was the hardest part about staying behind the line while volleying?
Part 3: Pro Reflection
A "Dink" is a defensive shot, but it sets up an offensive opportunity. Explain how hitting a ball low and short makes it hard for your opponent to hit a "Smash."
Pickleball Playbook Series Lesson 2: Kitchen Control
Kitchen Tactics Teacher Guide Kitchen Tactics Guide
Lesson 2: Kitchen Control • Facilitation Notes
Mechanical Goal
Soft-touch dinks using shoulder lift and quiet wrists.
Tactical Goal
NVZ boundary awareness and identifying legal volleys.
Skill Clinic: The Art of the Dink
Teaching Cues:
"Lift the baby" (Gentle motion)
"Shoulder hinge"
"Quiet wrists"
"Apex in the kitchen"
Common Error: Students often try to 'swat' at the ball. Encourage them to let the ball drop and lift it with a consistent pace.
The "Hot Lava" Protocol
Setup: Pairs start at the Kitchen line (toes behind). They must rally with dinks only.
The Challenge:
If a player hits a volley, but they are touching the Kitchen line or are inside the zone, they lose the rally instantly.
Variation: Speed Dinking
Tell students they can only hit the ball after it bounces, forcing them to wait and stay balanced.
The "Kitchen No-No" Checklist
FAULTS (Loss of Point)
• Toe touching the line during a volley.
• Stepping in after a volley due to momentum.
• Paddle or hat touching the Kitchen during a volley.
LEGAL PLAY
• Standing in the Kitchen to hit a bounced ball.
• Standing in the Kitchen between shots (if no volley is hit).
• Reaching over the line to hit a ball (without touching the floor).
Safety First!
Ensure students keep their eyes on the ball. Dinking involves close proximity at the net—eye protection or maintaining distance is key during fast rallies.
The Tether Team Slides Pickleball Playbook
The Tether Team
Doubles Strategy: Moving, Talking, and Winning as ONE.
Lesson 3
Doubles Tactics
The "Tether" Concept
Imagine a Rope
Think of an invisible 10-foot rope connecting you and your partner. When one person moves, the other MUST follow.
Why it works
Moving as a unit eliminates "gaps" in the court. If both players are up, you create a wall. If one is up and one is back, there is a massive hole for your opponent to hit through!
Stay Connected!
Up and Back Together
The Serve
Both players stay back at the baseline to respect the two-bounce rule.
The Attack
After the two bounces, both players rush the kitchen line together.
The Mistake
One player at the net, one at the baseline. This is called "The No-Man's Land Gap."
"In Pickleball, the net is the safest place to be. Your goal as a team is to get to the kitchen line as fast as possible!"
Communication Cues
Essential Terms
"MINE!"
Clears confusion on balls down the middle.
"YOURS!"
Alerts your partner to take a shot.
"SWITCH!"
Used when you move into your partner's side.
Loud & Early
"Don't wait for the ball to land before you speak. The best teams talk before the ball even crosses the net!"
Mid-Court Madness
The Danger Zone
The area between the Baseline and the Kitchen is where points go to die.
Why?
Balls land at your feet, making them impossible to hit back effectively.
The Solution
Use your tether! Either stay back together or move forward together. Never get stuck in the middle!
Partner Comms Organizer Partner Comms Organizer
Pickleball Playbook • Tactics & Communication
Team Name:
Partners:
Part 1: The Tether Map
Visualize your team movement. Draw arrows to show where both partners should move in these scenarios.
A: Opponent hits a short dink
Draw your paths to the ball
B: Opponent hits a deep lob
Draw your paths to the back
Part 2: Communication Tally
During your rally drills, use tally marks to track how often you or your partner call out these cues. The goal is to talk BEFORE you hit the ball.
"MINE"
Tally marks here...
"YOURS"
Tally marks here...
"BOUNCE"
Tally marks here...
Part 3: The Center Line Trap
A common mistake in doubles is letting balls go down the "middle" because both players think it's the other person's ball. Write down one rule your team will follow to decide who hits the middle ball.
Pro Tip: Many teams follow the "Forehand Rule"—the person whose forehand is in the middle takes it!
Pickleball Playbook Series Lesson 3: The Tether Team
Doubles Strategy Teacher Guide Doubles Strategy Guide
Lesson 3: The Tether Team • Facilitation Notes
Main Theme
Eliminating the "No-Man's Land" gap through synchronized movement.
Verbal Focus
Communication BEFORE contact. (Mine, Yours, Switch).
The Hook: Rope Tether Drills
Setup: Pairs hold a short jump rope or resistance band between their non-racket hands.
Instructions for Students:
• "If the rope goes slack, you are too close."
• "If the rope snaps out of your hand, you are too far."
• "Move to the net together; stay at the baseline together."
Pro Tip:
Start with shadow movement (no ball) before adding rallies. This builds the "muscle memory" of moving together.
Verbal Communication Drills
The "Mine" Call
Drop balls exactly down the center line during warm-ups. If neither calls it, the point is a fault.
Focus: Decisiveness.
The "Switch" Scenario
Force one partner out of position with a wide shot. The other must "Switch" and cover the open court.
Focus: Coverage.
Coaching "No-Man's Land"
Students often get "stuck" halfway between the baseline and kitchen. This is the Transition Zone.
CUE: "Don't visit the transition zone—live at the kitchen or the baseline."
Watch for:
• The "Anchor" (One partner staying back while the other rushes).
• The "Spectator" (Watching the partner hit without adjusting positioning).
Sky and Smash Slides Pickleball Playbook
Sky & Smash
Offensive Power vs. Defensive Wisdom
Lesson 4
Power Shots
Defending the Lob
What is a Lob?
A high, deep shot designed to go over your head and push you back to the baseline.
Safety Rule #1
NEVER backpedal straight backward. You will fall! Use the Drop-Step & Shuffle.
The Recovery
"Turn your body sideways, track the ball with your non-hitting hand, and shuffle back like a defender in basketball!"
The Overhead Smash
01
Preparation
Turn sideways (shoulder to the net). Raise your paddle and point at the ball with your other hand.
02
Contact
Reach HIGH. Strike the ball at full arm extension in front of your body.
03
Follow Through
Snap your wrist downward and swing through to your opposite hip.
Aim for the feet!
"A smash to the feet is much harder to return than a smash to the chest."
Smash or Pass?
The "Smash" Zone
The ball is high and in front of you.
You are balanced and set.
You can see the opponent's feet.
OFFENSE
The "Pass" Zone
The ball is too deep (behind you).
You are off-balance or moving.
You'd have to jump to reach it.
DEFENSE
Can You Handle the Pressure?
POINT CHALLENGE:
"In our drills today, you earn 3 POINTS for a successful smash to the opponent's feet, but you LOSE 5 POINTS if you try to smash a deep lob and miss!"
Risk vs. Reward
Smash or Pass Task Cards Smash or Pass?
Pickleball Playbook • Tactical Decision Cards
Offense vs. Defense
Work with your partner to analyze these 4 scenarios. For each one, circle SMASH or PASS and explain your reasoning based on safety and positioning.
SCENARIO A
Your opponent hits a high ball that is floating slowly toward the middle of the court, about 3 feet in front of the Kitchen line.
SMASH
PASS
Reasoning:
Because...
SCENARIO B
Your opponent hits a deep lob that is going over your head. You have to move backward toward the baseline to reach it.
SMASH
PASS
Reasoning:
Because...
SCENARIO C
You are standing at the Kitchen line. A ball comes at you fast, but it is at waist height. It's too low to hit over the net with power.
SMASH
PASS
Reasoning:
Because...
SCENARIO D
Your partner hits a great dink that forces your opponent to pop the ball up high. You are perfectly balanced and the ball is right above your head.
SMASH
PASS
Reasoning:
Because...
The Golden Rule of the Smash
"If you have to jump or run backward to reach the ball, PASS. If the ball is in front of you and high, SMASH IT!"
Pickleball Playbook Series Lesson 4: Sky & Smash
Sky and Smash Teacher Guide Sky & Smash Guide
Lesson 4: Lob Defense • Facilitation Notes
Primary Safety Directive
Students MUST be taught the Drop-Step and Side-Shuffle for lobs.
"Backpedaling straight backward is the #1 cause of head and wrist injuries in racket sports. If you see a student running backward, blow the whistle immediately and correct the footwork."
Smash Mechanics Clinic
THE "POINTER" TECHNIQUE
Instruct students to point at the incoming high ball with their non-paddle hand.
• Helps track the ball's depth.
• Naturally turns the body sideways.
• Keeps the head up and eyes engaged.
CONTACT & POWER
High Point: Hit at the highest reachable point.Snap: Wrist snap creates downward trajectory.
Drill: The "Smash or Pass" Game
Setup: Teacher/Feeder stands at the net. Students stand at the opposite kitchen line.
FEED A: SHORT POP-UP
Student Response: SMASH to the target (hoops on the floor).
FEED B: DEEP LOB
Student Response: RECOVER to baseline and hit a defensive dink/reset.
CUE 1
"Sideways is Safe!"
CUE 2
"Point at the Prize!"
CUE 3
"Reach for the Roof!"
Championship Court Slides Pickleball Playbook
Championship Court
Tournament Day: Compete, Officiate, and Honor the Game.
Lesson 5
Grand Finale
The Round Robin
Play & Rotate
You will play multiple mini-games to 7 points. After each game, you will rotate—one team moves up, one stays, and others become referees!
Pro Roles
When you aren't playing, you are the Official. Your job is to call lines, track the score, and settle disputes.
Fair Play
"A tournament is only as good as its officials. Be honest, be loud, and be fair!"
How to Call Score
4
Server Score
-
2
Receiver Score
-
1
Server #
"Four - Two - One" means the serving team has 4 points, the opponents have 2, and it is the first server of the rotation.
Line Judging 101
"IN"
If any part of the ball touches any part of the line, the ball is IN.
Benefit of the Doubt: IN
"OUT"
The ball must be completely outside the line to be called OUT.
CALL IT LOUD!
The Player's Oath
I will call lines honestly, even if it hurts my score.
I will respect the official's final decision.
I will tap paddles and say "Good Game" after every match.
Let the Games Begin!
Pro Official Tournament Packet Pro Official Packet
Pickleball Playbook • Tournament Records
Team Name:
Partners:
Official's Cheat Sheet
Score Calling Order
Server Score — Receiver Score — Server #
Example: "5 - 3 - 2" (Server has 5, opponent has 3, it's server 2).
Fault Reminders
• Ball lands in Kitchen on serve.
• Foot on line during a volley.
• Ball touches player (except paddle).
• Two-bounce rule violated.
Tournament Match Log
Game # Opponent Team Our Score Their Score Win/Loss 1 2 3 4
My Officiating Record
When you acted as the official, how did you handle a "close call" on the sideline? Explain your reasoning.
Sportsmanship Rating
Honest Line Calls
Positive Teamwork
Respect for Officials
Pickleball Playbook Series Lesson 5: Championship Court
Tournament Director Guide Tournament Director Guide
Lesson 5: Championship Court • Facilitation Notes
Match Length
7 Points (Win by 1)
Format
Round Robin
Assessment
Officiating & Comms
Tournament Setup
Rotation Protocol: Divide the class into teams of 2. Use a "Up-and-Stay, Down-and-Rotate" system.
• Court 1 (Championship Court): Winners stay, Losers move to Court 2.
• Middle Courts: Winners move up, Losers move down.
• Referee Stations: Teams waiting for a court act as officials for the match closest to them.
"Ensure every team officiates at least one full match. This is the primary assessment of their rule knowledge (Two-Bounce, NVZ, Scoring)."
The "Director's" Final Word
THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT
Teach students that if they are unsure of a call, the ball is IN. This prevents endless arguments and keeps the game moving.
OVERRULING
As the Director, you should only overrule an official if you clearly saw a safety violation (e.g., foot fault in the kitchen). Encourage players to accept the official's call gracefully.
The "Final Rally" Debrief
Gather the class at the end of the unit for these discussion prompts:
STRATEGY:
"How did your team's communication change from Game 1 to Game 5?"
RESPECT:
"Which team showed the best sportsmanship today? Why?"
GROWTH:
"What is one rule you found confusing at the start but mastered by the end?"
Unit Conclusion
Consider awarding "Sportsmanship Slips" or "Tactical Genius" certificates to celebrate student progress throughout the unit!
