Pickleball Is All Blog Joe Palmere, Pickleball Coach, Rating Specialist & Ambassador

Good Coaching Communication Skills I have attended clinics with  Pro Instructors. who  used and abused a "Crutch Word." to separate each phrase,  Most all attendees were distracted by this recurring speech flaw.   "Clutch Words" are a result of poor communication skills that are used to fill a gap in a conversation or speech. Often Clutch Words are used because the speaker did not take the time to review or re-read the written material to be  orally  communicated to their audience. It is the Coaches' responsibilities to monitor, and if necessary, improve their oral communication skills. A friend or a voice recorder can be a good source for improving one's oral  communication skills.  Just make sure that the friend can hear and the voice recorder has fresh batteries, When a student has to tell a Coach that their constant use of a "Clutch or Pause Word," such a "OK, Ah, Like, Um, Oh, etc., is distracting them from l

GOOD COACHING PRACTICES is an ongoing Blog that will be updated with new and relevant information. I will post a link Pickleball Instructors Forum when my Good Coaching Practices Blog has been updated. ITEM #1: COACHING SKILL PERFORMANCE Demonstrating stroke mechanics in coaching is best done in a slower more deliberate motion, as opposed to fast pace game speed. This  allows the  student to visually learn the movement of the swing, arm position, foot placement, weight shifting, squaring of the paddle, paddle angle, and follow-thru.   The various components of stroke development are the sum of the parts that complete the whole stroke. When the student has successfully demonstrated their ability to perform the shot consistently in practice, they are ready to execute the shot in fast pace game speed time. Again consistency is the measure of success.  The coach then evaluates the students performance of the shot. If the shot was unsuccessful, the coaches' job is to identify

CELEBRITY COACHES AND THE PLACEBO EFFECT ON PLAYERS  Many pro pickleball players who turned to coaching, do not have an academic teaching background and lack any professional teaching experience.  Their "coaching reputation" is built on their "playing reputation."  Some of our older and wiser Pro Pickleball Coaches  like Coach Mo and Coach Deb Harrison were and are great players.  However they are self taught Great Coaches who established the benchmarks for good pickleball coaching practices. That's why they are still extremely popular. Aside from my IPTPA Coach Training, I began my pickleball career as a loyal follower of both Coach Mo and Coach Deb. IMO these two Icons of pickleball are at the very top of the Coaching Tree. The short answer to the Dan's question is a 5.0 player does not automatically convert into a 5.0 Coach.  Ask the 5.0 player who coached them in the earlier stages of their careers?  And then ask them who is coaching them  now that t

Pickleball Pitching Machines ONGOING SERIES OF INFORMATION ABOUT PICKLEBALL PITCHING MACHINES THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY I had the opportunity to demo the Lobster Pickleball Pitching Machine for a week.  The unit is extremely compact and portable with its extension handle and wells. The weight is manageable for one person providing you do not have lifting issues. The oscillation mode is controlled by the remote.  I did find the remote unit non-responsive at times.  The best manner of performance was to preset the machine on the court facing cross court and testing various speeds and feeds and points of impacts..  I suggest keeping a small pocket note pad to record locations and settings for specific ball flight.  I did not test the dinking capabilities.  You need to start with feed and speed at lowest settings when turning machine on and allow it 10-20 seconds to warm up, Listen for the increase in motor speed..  Once warmed up start testing ball flight, height and landi

WOULD YOU RATHER SPEND $1.99 FOR A POCKET CARRY NOTE BOOK, OR PAY $75.00 FOR 90 MINUTES OF HIGH PROFILE PROFESSION PICKLEBALL COACHING CLINIC? Celebrity status of a coach influences many player on their need for coaching. Some players have a misconception that Celebrity Coaches carry, a "magic dust," that when sprinkled upon them, changes them from a 3.0 or 3.5 player into a 4.0 or 4.5 player. And remarkable these star struck worshipers actually play better after a celebrity coaching session, not because they learned how to improve their game play, simply because of the placebo effect. The bigger the coaches reputation the better the player will perform on the court. WHY? Short answer, 'SELF CONFIDENCE.' Player mindset at the start of a game is determining factor on the outcome of the game. Start the game thinking that the opponents are these unbeatable pickleball gods who devastate all those who dare to oppose them on a court, and challenge their mythological p

RESPONSE COMMENTS MADE TO MEMBERS OF THE FACEBOOK PICKLEBALL INSTRUCTORS FORUM IN REGARDS TO THE JULY 21, 2018 PPR COACHING CERTIFICATION WORKSHOP FLAWED PERFORMANCE EVALUATION PROCESS RESPONSE ONE; In response to requests from Facebook Pickleball Instructors Forum Members  regarding the events at the July 21, 2018 PPR Coaching Certification Workshop at Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center, Hilton Head SC, I am providing herein a summary of my observations. ”as an attendee at that Workshop. During the Workshop, I received several unsolicited apologies from Clinicians, for (1) standing courtside outdoors, for 12 hours in the July (SC) heat and humidity, (2) a confused and conflicted management of time, and (3) a distracting "hurried" instructional process.  The PPR Clinicians failed to provide me any “reasonable accommodations” in evaluating my performance  for age related (77 years)  mobility issues. My physical capacity to perform “textbook stroke  mechanics

I RECENTLY POSTED THIS INFORMATION ON THE PICKLEBALL INSTRUCTORS' FACEBOOK PAGE In response to requests from Pickleball Instructor Forum Members  regarding the events at the July 21, 2018 PPR Coaching Certification Workshop at Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center, Hilton Head SC, I am providing herein a summary of my observations. ”as an attendee at that Workshop. During the Workshop, I received several unsolicited apologies from Clinicians, for (1) standing courtside outdoors, for 12 hours in the July (SC) heat and humidity, (2) a confused and conflicted management of time, and (3) a distracting "hurried" instructional process.  The PPR Clinicians failed to provide me any “reasonable accommodations” in evaluating my performance  for age related (77 years)  mobility issues. My physical capacity to perform “textbook stroke  mechanics and shot selections,” was significantly diminished due to long periods of standing outdoors,  interspersed with intervals of com

PUBLIC FUNDED SENIOR PICKLEBALL The public funded senior pickleball beginners and open play programs presently don't charge senior participants any fees to play.  The way pickleball is growing, the supply and demand principle will pressure county and state governments to provide more pickleball public playing opportunities for all ages.  And just like the under 60 year old crowd has to pay for court time, seniors will soon see their public funded pickleball programs, charging them a fee to play pickleball.  Pickleball will become just like any other high demand group activity such as Yoga, and Tie Chia. Many seniors will not be happy when this happens, but happen it will. But considering what non-seniors pay out of pocket for court space time and usage hourly rates, the public funded programs will be extremely inexpensive. The private sector pickleball providers are already cashing in on the Pickleball Money Train.  Private Tennis Club Facilities have also recognized

“SSIPA” COMES TO MARYLAND PICKLEBALL Joe Palmere Jr. I am conducting an “interest survey” to start a Maryland “SSIPA” Chapter. “SSIPA” is an Organization dedicated to helping and supporting, pickle ball players, (60 and above), to continue their recreational and competitive play in an “age-friendly” environment. An “age-friendly” environment exists when  players of like ages, and skill levels, are provided opportunities to play or compete together. The age brackets are in five (5) year increments; 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, and 80+.  The skill levels within the age brackets are 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0). WHY IS A 30 YEAR OLD 3.5 PLAYER DIFFERENT THAN FROM A 60 YEAR OLD 3.5 PLAYER ? SHORT ANSWER:  “30 YEARS OF WEAR AND TEAR ON THE BODY !  The aging process is a slow, decline in body strength, endurance, quickness & loss of sight and hearing.  As players age,  their ability to improve like younger players, is reduced, due to the aging process. Some players suffer greater physical