The following skill level sets are a guide for evaluating your own level and is meant to help you to determine how to sign up for tournaments and round robin challenges. They were developed using existing guidelines listed by the USAPA, IFP, and from input from other

pickleball club websites.

SKILL LEVEL CRITERION

CASUAL PLAYER:

• ­   Understands basic aspects of scorekeeping, rules, and proper court positioning during serves, receipt of serve, and general play.
• ­   Demonstrates physical abilities to move around the court in a balanced and safe manner.
• ­   Occasionally, but not consistently, places strong, deep serves.
• ­   Demonstrates basic stroke skills and can often keep the ball in play.

EXPERIENCED PLAYER:

• ­   Consistently knows where to stand on the court during serve, receipt of serve, and general play.
• ­   Mastering scorekeeping and applies the basic rules.
• ­   Somewhat one dimensional as a player but working to expand playing repertoire.
• ­   Working to keep serves and return of serves deep, regularly serving past mid-court.
• ­   Developing more power and finesse in shots.
• ­   Approaches the non-volley line to hit volleys.
• ­   Working to improve form for forehand and backhand groundstrokes, though accuracy varies.
• ­   Attempts shots such as lobs, drops and dinks with varying success.
• ­   Can keep the ball in play for longer periods.

ADVANCED PLAYER:

• ­   Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of game rules.
• ­   Shows extended periods of multi-dimensional play.
• ­   Actively communicates and coordinates with partner to cover the court.
• ­   Consistently serves and returns serves deep into the service court.
• ­   Works to intentionally place shots rather than hitting randomly.
• ­   Works to consistently mix soft and power shots to gain advantage.
• ­   Reacts to different ball speeds with mixed results.
• ­   Executes lobs, groundstrokes, overheads, net volleys, and sustained dinking with mixed results.
• ­   Hits fewer balls out of bounds or into the net.

COMPETITIVE PLAYER:

• ­   Exhibits strong footwork, moving laterally, backward, and forward with ease.
• ­   Feels very comfortable playing at the non-volley zone, blocking hard volleys aimed at them.
• ­   Implements advanced strategies, especially in dinking.
• ­   Controls and places serves and return of serves to maximize advantage.
• ­   Frequently anticipates play developments.
• ­   Primarily adopts an offensive approach during play rather than reacting.
• ­   Consistently plays a multi-dimensional game, choosing varying shot selection over power to maintain competitive edge,
• ­   Communicates and moves fluidly with partner, easily switching court positions.
• ­   Working with partner to control the line, keeping opponents back and pushing them off the line.
• ­   Can poach successfully.
• ­   Self-corrects during play.
• ­   Displays consistent and reliable groundstrokes, volleys, and overheads, while committing a low number of unforced errors per game.