The town has announced the courts are closed until further notice.

TPA Hours

• 8:30am - 12:30pm Monday— Saturday
• 6:30pm – 8:30pm Monday, Tuesday & Thursday evenings
• Remaining times are open to all town key holders, including TPA members.

Rules of Play Covid Red Zone

• Max 5 people in the court area during covid red zone
• You must book your court time on Global Pickleball Network (All players must be members).
• You will receive a link to GPN when you join TPA.
• Play time limited to 4 times per week per player
• Only singles may be played, social distancing rules remain
• Bookings are limited to one hour time frames

Town of Tecumseh time slot

• Play time is limited to 30 minutes when others are waiting.
• Max 5 people in the court area.
• Social distancing rules remain

COVID ORANGE zone:

• Play time limited to 4 times per week per player
• Doubles may be played, social distancing rules remain

As we move into less restrictive COVID zones, open, drop in play etc will be returning. TPA will communicate changes asap in 3 ways: email, Facebook and on our website. The TPA executive reserves the right to change court rules. The Town has the right to limit the number within the gated area @ Shawanoe. 2 metre social distancing is always required. Bring your own ball. Sanitize regularly. Wait for your court time outside the gated area.

• Detail on using Global Pickleball Network to reserve a court will folow. (until further notice)

Information on how to rate yourself:

Note: Above the 2.0 level, all levels should be able to demonstrate most of the skills for their level plus most of the skills from preceding levels. Thus a 2.5 level player, for example, demonstrates most skills in the 2.5 level list as well as most skills in the 2.0 level list, and so on.

2.0 Skill Level
• Moves in a balanced and safe manner
• Getting at least 50% of serves in the service court and returning 50% of serves
• Are learning where to stand on court during serves, returns and point play but are still not comfortable with some positions
• Knows the two bounce rule and applies it during games
• Can keep score comfortably
• Will have basic ground strokes with a very limited use of backhand, overhead, and volley
• Capable of keeping ball in play for a couple of shots.

2.5 Skill Level
• Knows the basic rules including the “two bounce rule”, scoring
• Attempting to control forehand groundstroke (direction, depth, height over net)
• Attempting backhand groundstroke
• Getting 60% of serves in the service court and returning 60% of serve returns
• Knows where to stand as the server, server’s partner, and receiver
• Consistently Approaches the non-volley line for volleys
• Can keep the ball in play for longer lasting rallies
• Sometimes lobs with forehand
• Attempting to dink the ball at the net, can do so for short durations
• Moves in a safe and balanced manner
• Developing good hand-eye coordination.

3.0 Skill Level
• Knows basic rules including how to keep score
• Developing control on forehand groundstroke (placement, direction, depth)
• Developing control on backhand groundstroke (placement, direction, depth)
• Getting 70% of serves and return of serves “in”
• Striving to place serves deep into the court
• Beginning to develop placement of serves
• Uses deeper and higher returns of serve to allow time to approach the net
• 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”
• Beginning to use the forehand lob with some success
• Developing a sustained “dink” exchange at the net
• Attempting to hit a soft ”drop shot” to approach the net (3rd, 5th, etc shot)
• Attempting to adjust to differing ball speeds (hitting & returning)
• Has good mobility
• Developing good hand-eye coordination.

3.5 Skill Level
• Knows all the main rules including how to refigure the score and correct server
• Demonstrates control on forehand groundstroke (direction, depth and pace)
• Demonstrates some control on backhand groundstroke (direction, depth and pace)
• Getting 80% of serves and return of serves “in”
• Regularly placing serves deep into the court
• Regularly uses deeper & higher returns of serve to allow time to approach net
• Approaches the non-volley line quickly (when appropriate) rather than staying back
• Able to play with partners effectively
• Beginning to use court strategies such as partner communication and team coverage of court
• Avoids hitting “out” balls
• Hitting the ball lower over the net consistently
• Developing a wide variety of shots with some consistency
• Learning when to use soft shots vs. power shots to their advantage
• Developing consistency on shot placement, including ability to create and hit “gaps”
• Sustains a short volley session at the net with some control and placement
• Initiates and maintains a sustained “dink” exchange at the net
• Able to execute a soft ”drop shot” to approach the net (3rd, 5th, etc shot)
• Able to adjust to differing ball speeds consistently
• Developing ability to hit overheads with control
• Using a forehand and backhand lob when appropriate
• Developing patience in rallies
• Has good mobility
• Has good quickness
• Has good hand-eye coordination.

4.0 Skill Level
• Controls and places 90% of both serves and returns of serves
• Consistent and dependable forehand and backhand groundstrokes, including directional control, depth, placement and pace
• Consistent and dependable volleys, including some directional control, depth, placement and pace
• Consistent and dependable overheads, including some directional control, depth, placement and pace
• Has good accuracy in placing lobs
• Consistently makes successful ”drop shots” from the back court to approach the net (3rd, 5th, etc shot
• Regularly initiating and sustaining a “dink” exchange at the net until a “put away” shot is received
• Able to change from a soft shot strategy to a hard shot strategy, and vice versa
• Can block and return hard volleys
• Developing the ability to return overheads hit at their feet
• Can handle speed on shots without over-hitting or hitting out of bounds
• Moves effectively with partner, easily switching courts and communicating when required
• Can control play at the non-volley zone line, keeping their opponents back, driving them off the line and controlling the speed or placement of the ball
• Consistently uses shots to create and hit “gaps”
• Recognizes and exploits the weaknesses in their opponent’s game
• Can poach effectively

4.5 and 5.0 Skill Level
• The 4.5 player is distinguished from the 4.0 player by increased skills, a higher level of strategy, quickness of hands, judicious use of power, superior placement of shots and consistently fewer unforced errors
• The 5.0 player is even more consistent in all skills than the 4.5 player with very few, if any, unforced errors.
> All players are encouraged to familiarize themselves with these skills. Whether it is to identify the skills they already have or those they need to achieve the next level.