Welcome MEMBERS: New Schedule starting Monday, July 16th Now that the province has moved us to COVID Step 3

• Or To Become A Member Click here

Global Pickleball Network (GPN) will still be our main scheduler! Continue to use it for reservations and to view the current play schedule. TPA will continue to organize “events” (such as Tuesday ladies & men’s in June) using your GPN self-rating to invite you. Keep your self-rating accurate on GPN as this is how you will be invited or placed into different levels for events or, hopefully, to the return of TPA in-house fun tournaments!

Thank you to everyone for their input on our Preferred Play Survey #2. We have incorporated your requests: Reservations, Open Play ( drop in) and something new, the “Shuffle”. Please see below for explanation/definitions of types of play and where to find how to self-rate. During the first two weeks of this schedule, let us know of any adjustments that you think may help all TPA members. We thank you in advance for your input. In addition to the above TPA times, remember the courts are also available to all resident keyholders and TPA members 12:30–6:30 daily and all day Sunday.

Drop in $5.00, must contact Malinda tpapresident202@gmail.com

Definitions

Open Play - Drop In (all 4 courts)

Line up your paddle(s) along the fence. This creates the order of “next to play” on the next open court. You can put an individual paddle in line if you want to mix with other players, or put 4 paddles together if you only want to play in your group. If you are a single and see a small pile of 2 or 3 paddles, feel free to add your paddle to make the 4th. Play one game, come off and add your paddle back to the paddle lineup if you want another game.

Shuffle (Court Facilitator will be onsite)

A system we want players to become familiar with for Lacasse Park play. 4 courts, max of 18 players. Court 1 being the strongest players. Matches will be timed or when the first 2 courts finish, all courts stop. Winners move up one court and split. If you lose, you move down one court and split. Losers of court 4 sit off and 2 more players start on court 4. If more than 18 players show up, you must wait until a player leaves to join in. If you are not comfortable mixing, please choose “open play” where you can remain within your own group.

Reservations

Continue to use Global Pickleball Network (GPN) for any reserved time.

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

• Max 100 people in the court area
• When you book court time on Global Pickleball Network (All players must be members).
• You will receive a link to GPN when you join TPA.
• Reserve time limited to 4 hours per week per player
• Social distancing rules remain

Town of Tecumseh time slot

• Play time is limited to 30 minutes when others are waiting.
• Max 25 people in the court area.
• Social distancing rules remain

Remeber this is a membership club and you must join to book a court.

• To Become A Member Click here

As we move into less restrictive COVID zones, lessons, tournaments and social events will return. 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. 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.
If there is more than 25 people in the gated area please wait for your court time outside the gated area.

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.