Ninth Grade Physical Education
Pickleball: Ball Control
1. Objectives:
Student: By the end of class, students will be able to balance the pickleball on their paddle for 30 seconds using correct technique.
Correct technique = flat paddle, eyes on ball, shake hands (NASPE 1, 2).
Students will have a working understanding of select Pickleball vocabulary terms. Utilizing the knowledge obtained through their reading, students will
successfully demonstrate the meaning of the terms during class activities.
By the end of the unit, students will write an informative/explanatory text about a new sport they have developed that conveys
complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of the content.
Students will also use technology, including the Internet, to produce and embellish their writing and to interact and collaborate
with others. (9th Grade--Common Core Standards for Language Arts)
2. Equipment: (30 students)
1. 32 pickleball paddles
2. 32 pickleballs
3. 15 jerseys (instant activity)
4. 8 bean bags (instant activity)
5. 6 cones (instant activity boundaries)
6. Smartboard
7. Copies of the rules and history of Pickleball (32 copies)
8. Written assignment description (32 copies)
9. Vocabulary list (32 copies)
Instant Activity: “Capture the Flag” The class will be divided into two teams. (Teacher randomly decides how to pick teams) The objective of the game is to get
all of the beanbags onto one side. Once a student crosses the centerline the student can be tagged and sent back to his or her own side. The first one to get all the
beanbags to one side wins. Play only for four minutes (may not finish the game). (See diagram for activity layout)
Set Induction: How many students know where the game of pickleball was created? Pickleball was created on Bainbridge Island, close to Seattle. It’s pretty cool that
a game so close to tennis was created not only in the USA but so close to us. To assist in understanding the rules and history of the sport, a vocabulary list will be
provided to each student, highlighting important terms (Appendix A). The teacher will “pre-teach” specific terms prior to the reading. Students will add new
vocabulary terms to their physical education vocabulary list, connecting new terms with similar terms from a previous lesson. Distribute copies of the rules and the
history of pickleball, along with a recent news article (Appendix B) to the students. Display an additional copy of the text on the smartboard. Have the students get
into groups of four. Direct students to read the rules and history of pickleball and the article in their group and discuss (summarize). Prior to reading, direct
student’s attention to the five monitoring strategies on the wall to assist them as they read the text.
MAF/Instructional
Extensions
Refinements
Applications
Informing Task: When I say go, I want everyone to get a pickleball and a paddle and spread out into self-space and begin balancing the pickleball on your
paddle with your dominant hand. (Teacher demonstration).
•
Have the smartboard play
background music.
Have the pickleball paddles and
pickleballs spread out along one
side of the gym.
Have students get equipment
based on color of eyes they have
to keep it organized.
Students are in scattered
formation in self-space. Selfspace is an individual’s “bubble”
around them. This allows for
students to have plenty of space
to do an activity and to keep
them safe.
Demonstrate any task that is
unclear to students.
Balance the ball on the paddle with
your non-dominant hand.
See cue reference page at end of
lesson.
• Keep a flat paddle.
See if you can balance the ball on
the paddle without taking a
step for 30 seconds.
•
Students are in scattered
formation while in motion and in
self-space.
Balance the ball on the paddle with
your dominant hand while
walking.
•
Keep a flat paddle.
See if you can balance the ball for
30 seconds and/or while you count
to 200.
•
Walk around and give feedback
during practice time. Try to give
feedback to every student at least
once throughout the class time.
Balance the ball on the paddle with
your dominant hand while walking
backwards.
•
Keep a flat paddle.
See if you can balance the ball walking
backwards in a low level.
•
It is important to have
Balance the ball on the paddle
•
Keep your eyes on the ball.
See if you can spell the month in
•
•
•
•
students perform ball control tasks
with both their dominant hand and
nondominant hand because of
“muscle memory”. The dominant
hand will benefit from the
exercises of the non-dominant
hand. Have students perform tasks
with their dominant hand 75% of
the time. Spend the other
25% of the time on nondominant.
•
Check for understanding on cues.
•
Students are in scattered
formation in self-space.
Good time for pinpointing.
Pinpoint at least two students at a
time. Pinpointing is
having two or more students
demonstrate a specific task. Choose
students that are performing the task
correctly.
•
•
Students are in scattered
formation in self-space.
•
Students are in scattered formation
while in motion and in self-space.
•
Offer a game to the students.
Have one side of the gym for the
competition. The competition is to
have the students bounce the
with your non-dominant hand while
walking backwards.
which you were born while
balancing the ball walking
backwards.
Balance the ball on the paddle with
your dominant hand while skipping.
•
Keep your eyes on the ball.
Balance the ball on the paddle with
your non-dominant hand
while skipping.
Bounce the pickleball on the
paddle chest high with your
dominant hand.
•
Keep your eyes on the ball.
•
•
Keep your eyes on the ball.
Remember to shake hands
with the paddle.
With your paddle, see how many times
in a row you can bounce the ball without
dropping it.
Bounce the pickleball on the paddle
chest high with your non- dominant
hand.
Bounce the pickleball on the paddle
chest high with your dominant hand
while walking.
Bounce the pickleball on the paddle
chest high with your nondominant hand while walking.
•
•
Keep your eyes on the ball.
Remember to shake hands
with the paddle.
See how many times in the next minute
you can bounce the ball on the paddle.
•
•
Keep your eyes on the ball.
Remember to shake hands
with the paddle.
See if you can walk in a zigzag
pattern while bouncing the ball on the
paddle.
pickleball on their paddle for as long
as possible. Once the pickleball is
dropped, the
student will continue to
practice on the other side of the
gym. Do this until there is only one
student left.
Bounce the pickleball on the paddle
chest high with your dominant hand
while walking
backwards.
Bounce the pickleball on the paddle
chest high with your nondominant hand while walking
backwards.
Bounce the pickleball on the paddle
chest high with your dominant hand
while skipping.
Bounce the pickleball on the paddle
chest high with your nondominant hand while skipping.
•
•
Keep your eyes on the ball.
Remember to shake hands
with the paddle.
See how far you can walk in the next
29 seconds while bouncing the ball on
the paddle.
•
•
Keep your eyes on the ball.
Remember to shake hands
with the paddle.
See how long you can bounce the
ball on the paddle while
walking backwards.
•
•
Keep your eyes on the ball.
Remember to shake hands
with the paddle.
See if you can bounce the ball on the
paddle for the next 30 seconds.
•
•
Keep your eyes on the ball.
Remember to shake hands
with the paddle.
Closure/Assessment:
• Have students demonstrate ball control by balancing the pickleball on their paddle for 30 seconds using correct technique.
• When controlling the pickleball, how do you want your paddle? Yes, “flat paddle.”
• Where do you want your eyes while controlling the pickleball? Yes, “eyes on the ball.”
• What kind of grip on the pickleball paddle do you want? Yes, “shake hands” with the paddle.
• Reemphasize what is needed to be in control of the pickleball. (flat paddle, eyes on ball, shake hands)
The game of pickleball was developed by combining skills from other sports. What are those sports?
Pickleball has some unique vocabulary words. Can you give me an example of one of those words and what it means? Which words, if any, are related to terms learned
previously?
Your assignment that is due at the end of this unit is to create a new game that combines skills or plays from at least three other sports or activities. Give your new game a
descriptive name and describe in writing how the game is played. Be sure to include at least ten terms with definitions that describe the actions, skills, or results of actions
that occur as part of the game—at least half of these terms must be newly created by you. Your description of your new game should include the sports that your new game
is based on, rules and strategies for your new game, the equipment that is needed for your game, etc. You are encouraged to go beyond submitting just a written report and
to use technology, music, or other media to help illustrate your new game.
Cue Reference Page
(Ball Control)
Shake Hands--Act like the paddle handle is another person’s hand. Grip the paddle handle like you would another person’s hand.
Flat Paddle--When teaching flat paddle, have the students keep the paddle parallel with the floor.
Eyes on Pickleball--Watch the pickleball all the way to your paddle.
Reference:
Kimball, K., & Groth, C. (n.d.). Pickleball. PELinks4U. Retrieved from http://www.pelinks4u.org/naspeforum/discus/messages/1239/Pickleball-Finished-1280.pdf
Appendix A
Pickleball Terminology
Ace — A serve that is not returned by the opponent.
Approach Shot — A shot hit forehand or backhand while running up to the net.
Ball — A pickleball is a whiffle ball or a plastic ball with holes.
Backcourt — The area of the court within a few feet of the baseline.
Backhand — Hitting the ball on the opposite side of your forehand . This shot will most likely be the hardest one for you to get at.
Backswing — Moving the paddle back from the ready position to prepare for a shot.
Baseline — The line at the back of the pickleball court (22 feet from the net).
Carry — Hitting the ball in such as way that it is carried along on the face of the paddle during its forward motion.
Centerline — The line bisecting the service courts that extends from one side to the other.
Champion Shot — A ball which double bounces in the No Volley Zone
Chop — The motion from high to low that puts backspin on the ball.
Closed Face — The top of the paddle face is angled downward about 30 degrees from vertical.
Crosscourt — The opponent's court diagonally opposite yours.
DangerZone — Nickname of the No Volley Zone.
Dead Ball — The ball is ruled to be dead when a fault is declared.
Double Bounce Rule — After a serve, each team must play their first shot off the bounce, after which the ball can be played off the bounce or volleyed.
Fault — An event that ends with the server giving up his serve to the other side.
Face — The broad surface on the head of the paddle used to hit the ball.
Falafel — aka dead paddle, when a ball is hit with little to no force causing the shot to be extremely short.
Flat Face — The hitting surface of the paddle is kept parallel to the net.
Follow Through — A continuation of the motion of your swing that follows the direction you wish the ball to travel.
Forehand — A stroke hit on the same side of the body as the hand holding the paddle.
Grip — How you hold the handle of the paddle, or the material that is wrapped around the handle.
Ground Stroke — A stroke made after the ball has bounced.
Head — The part of the paddle above the handle that is used to hit the ball.
Let serve — A serve that touches the top of the net and lands in the proper service court (it is replayed without penalty).
Non-volley zone — A seven-foot area adjacent to the net within which you may not volley the ball. The non-volley zone usually includes all lines around it.
Open Face — The top of the paddle face is angled upward about 30 degrees from vertical.
Paddle – Pickleball is played with a paddle not a racquet. A paddle can be made of wood, graphite or other composite material but cannot have holes drilled
in it. A racquet has holes as in a tennis or badminton racquet. A paddle can only be a specific size not like Prince Tennis racquets. If you add the measurement
across the face of the paddle and the length from the top of the paddle face to the butt end of the handle, it cannot exceed 24 inches. There is no limit to the weight
the paddle can be but most are around 7.5 – 8.5 ounces. Players do use wooden paddles that might weigh 15 ounces.
Pickle! — Shouted by the server pre-serve to alert the playing field of the serve.
Ready Position — when receiving the ball on a serve or waiting for the return of a ball, players should have their weight on the balls of their feet and their
paddle straight out in front so they are ready to go to their forehand or backhand as soon as they pick up the ball off the opposing players paddle.
Rally — Hitting the ball back and forth between opposite teams.
Rally Point Scoring — In this system, the team that wins the rally gets a point and the serve.
Volley — To hit the ball before it bounces.
(“Pickleball terminology,” 2009)
Appendix B
Irish, L. (2013). Pickleball's fast, fun pace attracts prescott players from 9 to 86. The Daily Courier. Retrieved from
http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&ArticleID=119409