Scoring Guide for Analyzing Pickleball Game Play Performance
Select the term that best matches the player’s ability at each of the components of pickleball.
Skill or Level
Serving
Ground
Strokes
EXCEEDS
MEETS
(Competent)
(3)
(Emerging/Recreational)
(2)
Potent:
Used as an attacking weapon with variance in
placement, speed, and spin.
Reliable:
Consistent and firm, but without significant
placement.
Flat and driven:
Hits flat over the net, uses change of pace, and
can lob.
Mainly firm:
Hits flat over the net, but with low threat.
To spaces:
Ball is hit to the corners and either short or long
dependent upon opponent’s court position.
Some active placement:
Is able to place the ball to spaces when it’s hit
directly to the player.
Active weapon:
Uses volleys as an offensive tool. Moves to the
net to volley when opponent is under pressure.
Controlled:
Can use a volley if it is the appropriate shot, but
not as if has been planned for and set up.
Volleying
Knowledge of
Rules as
Player
(Struggling)
(1)
Passive and inconsistent:
Aim is to simply get the ball in play.
Serve only sometimes is put in play.
Ball Placement
Court
Movement/
Coverage
DEVELOPING
Loopy/arched and inconsistent:
Ground strokes are only sometimes put in play
And/or
Ball is lobbed back to the opponent with little
deliberate change of pace.
Returns consistently:
Aim of ball placement is to simply get the ball
back over the net, without concern for a specific
spot on the court.
Returns the ball in most cases, but with little
account for placement.
Does not use or reactive:
Does not use volleying during games.
Volleys the ball when it is hit directly towards
the player. A reactive shot rather than a planned
one.
Anticipates:
Plans movements a play ahead to be where the
opponent will return to the ball.
Returns to center:
Moves to the center of the court after most
shots, attempting not to be stranded.
Does not react to the ball:
Player does not respond to approaching ball.
Remains in one place on the court and strikes
the ball from there when possible.
Consistently plays within basic rules.
Plays within basic rules most of the time.
Plays with little awareness of basic rules.
Rule violations are absent from play
such as:
Double-hits
Keeping score
Diagonal serving
Rule violations occur infrequently, such as:
Double-hits
Keeping score
Diagonal serving
Foot faults
Rule violations occur frequently, such as:
Double-hits
Keeping score
Diagonal serving
Foot faults
Fair Play
Behavior
Foot faults
Hitting a ball that clearly is heading out-ofbounds, and so on
Hitting a ball that clearly is heading out-ofbounds, and so on
Hitting a ball that clearly is heading out-ofbounds, and so on
Shows respect to classmates, teacher,
equipment, and facilities.
Is in control of self, and needs little teacher
supervision.
Minimal control of self and needing frequent
teacher supervision.
Participates consistently with teammates.
Shows respect to classmates, teacher,
equipment, and facilities.
Not participating fully, and possible also
interfering with others.
Works productively and effectively with
teammates.
Participates in most team and class activities.
Not always trying best.
Eagerly fulfills assigned nonplaying roles.
Fulfills assigned team roles.
Tries to hide out from the activities.
Shows perseverance and appropriate
assertiveness.
Taunts others (including teammates, officials,
and others).
Wins and loses with grace.
Blames others and denies personal
responsibility.
Gets frustrated and quits on teammates.
Teases and pouts.
Makes excuses.
Cheats.
From D. Siedentop, P. A. Hastie, and H. van der Mars, 2011, Complete Guide to Sport Education, Second Edition (Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics).
Analyzing Serving in Pickleball
Select the term that best matches the player’s ability at each of the components of pickleball.
Technique or
Skill
Serving
MEETS
(Competent)
(3)
(Emerging/Recreational)
(2)
Potent:
Used as an attacking weapon with variance in
placement, speed, and spin.
DEVELOPING
Reliable:
Consistent and firm, but without significant
placement.
(Struggling)
(1)
Passive and inconsistent:
Aim is to simply get the ball in play.
Serve only sometimes is put in play.
Observed Student Players’ Names
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
EXCEEDS
Rating
(1-3)
Observed Student Players’ Names
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Rating
(1-3)
Observer Name
Date:
From D. Siedentop, P. A. Hastie, and H. van der Mars, 2011, Complete Guide to Sport Education, Second Edition (Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics).
Pickleball Game Play Performance Rating Scale
Select the term that best matches the player’s ability at each of the components of pickleball.
Technique or
Skill
Ground
Strokes
EXCEEDS
Observed Student Players’ Names
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
MEETS
(Competent)
(3)
Flat and driven:
Hits flat over the net, uses change of pace,
and can lob.
Rating
(1-3)
Mainly firm:
Hits flat over the net, but with low threat.
Observed Student Players’ Names
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
DEVELOPING
(Emerging/Recreational)
(2)
Rating
(1-3)
(Struggling)
(1)
Loopy/arched and inconsistent:
Ground strokes are only sometimes put in
play
And/or
Ball is lobbed back to the opponent with little
deliberate change of pace.
Observer Name
Date:
From D. Siedentop, P. A. Hastie, and H. van der Mars, 2011, Complete Guide to Sport Education, Second Edition (Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics).
Pickleball Game Play Performance Rating Scale
Select the term that best matches the player’s ability at each of the components of pickleball.
EXCEEDS
Technique or
Skill
MEETS
(Competent)
(3)
Ball
Placement
To spaces:
Ball is hit to the corners and either short or
long dependent upon opponent’s court
position.
DEVELOPING
(Emerging/Recreational)
(2)
Some active placement:
Is able to place the ball to spaces when it’s
hit directly to the player.
(Struggling)
(1)
Returns consistently:
Aim of ball placement is to simply get the
ball back over the net, without concern for a
specific spot on the court.
Returns the ball in most cases, but with little
account for placement.
Observed Student Players’ Names
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Rating
(1-3)
Observed Student Players’ Names
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Rating
(1-3)
Observer Name
Date:
From D. Siedentop, P. A. Hastie, and H. van der Mars, 2011, Complete Guide to Sport Education, Second Edition (Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics).
Pickleball Game Play Performance Rating Scale
Select the term that best matches the player’s ability at each of the components of pickleball.
Technique or
Skill
Volleying
MEETS
(Competent)
(3)
(Emerging/Recreational)
(2)
Active weapon:
Uses volleys as an offensive tool. Moves to
the net to volley when opponent is under
pressure.
Observed Student Players’ Names
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
EXCEEDS
Rating
(1-3)
Controlled:
Can use a volley if it is the appropriate shot,
but not as if has been planned for and set up.
Observed Student Players’ Names
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
DEVELOPING
(Struggling)
(1)
Does not use or reactive:
Does not use volleying during games.
Volleys the ball when it is hit directly towards
the player. A reactive shot rather than a
planned one.
Rating
(1-3)
Observer Name
Date:
From D. Siedentop, P. A. Hastie, and H. van der Mars, 2011, Complete Guide to Sport Education, Second Edition (Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics).
Pickleball Game Play Performance Rating Scale
Select the term that best matches the player’s ability at each of the components of pickleball.
EXCEEDS
Technique or Skill
Court
Movement/Coverage
Anticipates:
Plans movements a play ahead to be where the
opponent will return to the ball.
Observed Student Players’ Names
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
MEETS
(Competent)
(3)
DEVELOPING
(Emerging/Recreational)
(2)
Returns to center:
Moves to the center of the court after most
shots, attempting not to be stranded.
(Struggling)
(1)
Does not react to the ball:
Player does not respond to approaching ball.
Remains in one place on the court and strikes
the ball from there when possible.
Rating
(1-3)
Observed Student Players’ Names
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Rating
(1-3)
Observer Name
Date:
From D. Siedentop, P. A. Hastie, and H. van der Mars, 2011, Complete Guide to Sport Education, Second Edition (Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics).
Pickleball Game Play Performance Rating Scale
Select the term that best matches the player’s ability at each of the components of pickleball.
Technique or
Skill
Knowledge of
Rules as
Player
EXCEEDS
MEETS
DEVELOPING
(Competent)
(3)
(Emerging/Recreational)
(2)
(Struggling)
(1)
Consistently plays within basic rules.
Plays within basic rules most of the time.
Plays with little awareness of basic rules.
Rule violations are absent from play
such as:
Double-hits
Keeping score
Diagonal serving
Foot faults
Hitting a ball that clearly is heading out-ofbounds, and so on
Rule violations occur infrequently, such as:
Double-hits
Keeping score
Diagonal serving
Foot faults
Hitting a ball that clearly is heading out-ofbounds, and so on
Rule violations occur frequently, such as:
Double-hits
Keeping score
Diagonal serving
Foot faults
Hitting a ball that clearly is heading out-ofbounds, and so on
Observed Student Players’ Names
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Rating
(1-3)
Observed Student Players’ Names
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Rating
(1-3)
Observer Name
Date:
From D. Siedentop, P. A. Hastie, and H. van der Mars, 2011, Complete Guide to Sport Education, Second Edition (Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics).
Pickleball Game Play Performance Rating Scale
Select the term that best matches the player’s ability at each of the components of pickleball.
Technique or
Skill
Fair Play
Behavior
EXCEEDS
MEETS
DEVELOPING
(Competent)
(3)
Shows respect to classmates, teacher,
equipment, and facilities.
(Emerging/Recreational)
(2)
Is in control of self, and needs little teacher
supervision.
(Struggling)
(1)
Minimal control of self and needing frequent
teacher supervision.
Participates consistently with teammates.
Shows respect to classmates, teacher,
equipment, and facilities.
Not participating fully, and possible also
interfering with others.
Works productively and effectively with
teammates.
Participates in most team and class activities.
Not always trying best.
Eagerly fulfills assigned nonplaying roles.
Fulfills assigned team roles.
Tries to hide out from the activities.
Shows perseverance and appropriate
assertiveness.
Taunts others (including teammates, officials,
and others).
Wins and loses with grace.
Blames others and denies personal
responsibility.
Gets frustrated and quits on teammates.
Teases and pouts.
Makes excuses.
Cheats.
Observed Student Players’ Names
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Rating
(1-3)
Observed Student Players’ Names
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Rating
(1-3)
Observer Name
Date:
From D. Siedentop, P. A. Hastie, and H. van der Mars, 2011, Complete Guide to Sport Education, Second Edition (Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics).