Pickleball Is All, Blog

Greetings and Welcome to PICKLEBALL JUNKIES Everywhere.  
(The only language spoken here is PICKLEBALLESE) 

Please allow me the privilege of introducing myself and provide you the readers, this little caveat….you are about to enter the world of a 76 year old (going on 27) maniacal “PICKLEBALL JUNKIE addict . 

Assuredly many of you, my fellow pickleballers are plagued by this same addiction, more or less. So let this blog be our “safe house” where we can “serve, dink and take a third shot” whenever we want, while watching the USAPA Pickleball Superbowl on YouTube. Make mine Crown Royal on the net!

Now for the formalities. Joe Palmere Jr. is my name, and pickle ball is my game! Corny but cute, eh?  My pickle ball bio reads, “IPTPA Pickleball Teaching Professional Certified Instructor/Coach For Beginnings up through Intermediate 3.5 players (one of only two in the State of Maryland). One of the benefits of being a Certified Professional Pickleball Coach is being eligible for "Teaching Liability Insurance."  Having Liability Insurance to teach pickleball  is very appealing to public sector rec programs, commercial enterprises, and private clubs who want to hire the services of a Certified Coach.    

Pickleball Detect & Correct Clinics are by appointment 1 to 3 people, or scheduled Skill Specific Group Clinics up to 8 people. The clinics are 2.5 hours to 3 hours duration. My hourly fee varies based on travel, overnight occupancy, and meal expense.  Court cost are paid by the sponsor or the attendees. structured towards “Winning Competitive Pickleball. 

My clinics are 'skill set' designated.  "Level 1 Novice Clinics (1.5 to 2.0)."  "Level 2 Clinics (Basic Training 2.0 to 2.5+)." "Level 3 Intermediate Clinics (3.0 to3.5). *All Clinics follow IPTPA Curriculum Guidelines for Stroke Development, Shot Selection, Shot Execution, Strategy, Rules and Scoring.  *IPTPA Skill Assessment Sheets are used only as a coaching tool to assess a player progress.

An extremely popular and economical "coaching service" that I provide is the “Court Side Written  Assessment (CSWA). The “CSWA” identifies weaknesses in the players overall performance during a game.  It focuses on the proper execution and consistency of the serve, return of serve, third shot drop, dinks, finesse game, pace conversion, overhead lob, put-a-way shot, forehand ground stroke, backhand ground stroke, and overhead stroke. Players doubles strategy, synchronized movement towards net, and lateral coverage along the NVZ line. The "CSWA" has been very instrumental in identifying problem areas that contribute to "unforced errors" and "faults."  

The "OCWAP"  is assessment also evaluates the player intensity [competitive, aggressive, offensive] or [competitive, Each key shot is evaluated as high or low percentage shots based on the individuals ability to successfully and consistently peform them.
The “MPA” also ncludes foot work (split step or shuffle), court coverage, unforced errors, foot faults, partner communication, partner synchronization,

NEW INITIATIVE: PROGRESSIVE BEGINNERS PICKLEBALL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM

Many of the  current, unstructured Pickleball Beginner Instruction Programs are failing in their mission.  Due to their "come and go as you please" policies of these Programs  many inexperienced, unskilled players with little to no knowledge of the rules or scoring,  are entering "Open Play Pickleball" long beore they are ready.

I have witnessed this first hand, as an instructor in different public sector sponsored pickleball programs, whereas the student, and not the instructor decides their readiness to leave the Beginners Program and enter  "Open Play Pickleball."

For the most part these new players are unskilled, and have no working knowledge of the rules, scoring or strategy of the game. This problem is compounded when  regular "Open Play" players have to interrupt their game because of a player who does not know the rules or scoring, or a player who is frequently committing unforced errors, and stopping play.

This puts the responsibility of instructing these untrained players squarely on the shoulders of the "Open Play" Intermediate and Advanced Players. Many well meaning players "cry foul" when you raise this issue of  "new unskilled players in "Open Play." However, when it comes time to volunteer to train the newbees, many of the "brother keepers" are too busy playing in a game.  

Due to the inadequacies of current Pickleball Beginner Instruction Programs, I have undertaken the task of developing a pilot “Progressive Pickleball Beginners Instructional Program.”  My long term objective was to design and initiate a beginners education program that will “teach and motivate,” inexperienced, unskilled players to improve their skill sets, learn the rules and scoring of the game, and establish student attendance responsibilities for successful completion of this Program.

My “Progressive Beginner Pickleball Instruction Program,” is a structured curriculum of eight week duration, one day per week, 2 ½ hours per class, designed to teach “serious new inexperienced,” 1.0 entry level pickle ball players the skill sets, game rules and scoring required of an experienced” 2.0 skill level player.

Aside from serving as a IPTPA Professional Pickleball Instructor/Coach, I also serve as a USAPA Pickleball Ambassador for Baltimore County, North, MD.  In the past year myself and other area Ambassadors been successful in acquiring permanent pickleball multiple court lines painted on the indoor gym floors of  several  Baltimore and Harford County Rec Center Indoor Gym floors. We have also succeeded  in scheduling 60 or more underused outdoor public tennis courts for repainting to designated multiple pickleball courts, early 2018 spring.  As an Ambassador, I am also  called upon to assist private pickleball clubs when renewing seasonal public funded court space, time and usage permits, formerly reserved for tennis players.

In addition to my Coaching and Instruction Commitments, and my Ambassador duties, I participate in "Open Play Competitive Pickleball" most every day at a variety of different venues.  I have been playing pickleball for nearly three years.  I have competed in three Tournaments and medaled in all but one.  This 2018 upcoming season I plan on attending more tournaments than past years. I will be registering in the 75+ age and 3.5 skill bracket.  

The other IPTPA Certified Professional Coach, (that I mentioned in the beginning)  that is listed for Maryland, is "Ben Johns" 19 year old, 5.0,  2017 USAPA Nationals Champion. "Ben" is so far above my level of play, he has to drop his landing gear just to exchange emails with me.  But that's how it should be, because we Freestate pickleballers finally have our own HomeTown Pickleball Hero to support and cheer for.  YOU GO BEN!

"Ben" is currently attending the University of Maryland, in College Park, MD.  Don't be mislead by his years,  "Ben" is masterful at conducting clinics for even the highest of skill levels. "Ben's" recent "Dinking Tips" Clinic video at the Nationals was the most progressive, and instructive "dinking" video I have viewed.

Watching "Ben's" video you get to see his cordial, relaxed, unintimidating teaching skills at work.  When asked a question, "Ben" speaks directly to the individual asking the question, and he tells them how to correct their problems. If interested in booking a "Ben Johns Clinic," make arrangements early, before his schedule is filled.  Contact Ben on his Facebook Page or his email address.


Thank you for reading my blog, and Good Night.