Tecumseh Pickleball Association Membership (TPA) includes access to 2 Locations

The Royal Canadian Legion #261 Open Jan.- Dec.
2 indoor courts, 12326 Lanoue St., Tecumseh. For more information and rental fee see schedule tab.

Zekelman Pickleball Complex Open April - Nov.
10 outdoor courts, at 590 Lacasse Blvd., Lacasse Park, Tecumseh

2024 Membership is now closed for 2024

At Zekelman Complex, Tecumseh Pickleball Association (TPA) Membership includes:

Tecumseh Pickleball Play Time Slots At Outdoor Zekelman Complex

8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday

6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday

Discounts on tournaments, lessons, boot camps, drill clinics, socials, etc. …
In-house tournaments throughout the summer
Access to renting a ball machine
Teaching court for tips-coaching to enhance your level
2 practice walls by the TPA Clubhouse
Access to 2 indoor courts at The Royal Canadian Legion, check schedule tab for more information.

Playing out side TPA time slot you will need a Key only $18. (reg.$31.75) with your membership Beginning in April, in order to purchase a KEY for play outside of TPA time slots, show your 2023 TPA membership card at the Tecumseh Arena for a discounted key rate of $15 (reg. $30). This will give you access to additional time at the Zekelman Pickleball Complex and Shawanoe Park.

Open Play using “NextUp Paddle Racks” Don’t worry about finding three other people. All you simply need to do is show up with your paddle! When you arrive at the courts, look for the white board at the entry for court assignments according to these three (3) divisions…
1. Recreational (Just Starting Out–to 2.5)
2. Intermediate (3.0)
3. Advanced (3.5+)
This creates the order of “next to play” on the next open courts. If you wish to play with a friend, simply keep you paddles together.

TPA will communicate changes asap in 3 ways: email, Facebook, GPN and on our website. The TPA executive reserves the right to change court rules.

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.