Lesson Plan: Net Games—Pickleball
Presented to: Martin Jones, Samantha Johnson, and Claude Ledeuc
Class: Grade 8
Theme: Net Games—Pickleball
Equipment: Paddles, pickleballs, hula hoops, nets and cones
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate understanding of the 4Rs (Read, Recover, Respond, and React) by demonstrating locomotions
used in pickleball (running forward, shuffling side to side) while taking part in a modified 1v1 pickleball match
called Monarch’s Court.
2. Display correct forehand technique while taking part in a modified 1v1 pickleball match.
LESSON
PARTS
Set Induction
~1-2 mins
Warm Up
~5 mins
LESSON CONTENT
Students will listen to induction/safety
cues and begin to learn basic movement
patterns in pickleball, as well as have the
outlines of the courts reviewed.
Students will be introduced to/review the
‘ready stance’
While moving in open space, students
will:
- Jog
- Side step/shuffle
- Turning to run towards a target
- Skipping
LEARNING CUES
& SAFETY TIPS
Learning Cues: Hug paddles
and step on ball, Hustle,
Keep a paddle length away,
Do not chase the ball,
Freeze, Go
Learning Cues:
- Ready stance, Low
body/center of gravity
(ready position), Get low
(shuffling), Spot your turn,
-Knees up (skipping)
Safety Cues:
- Run with your head up
- Keep a safe distance from
ORGANIZATION
DETAILS
Students will be gathered in a semi
circle sitting in the middle of the court.
Directions and demonstration will be
given while students are gathered in
the centre around one court and I will
give a demonstration so learners
understand boundaries.
Following the demonstration, students
will be confined to one half of the gym
and direction will be given as to when
to start and when to switch from one
1. (Don’t)
Crack the Egg
~6-7 mins
- Lunge
Activity Objective: Students will be able
to demonstrate correct (standard)
forehand grip and wrist position while
first balancing and then bouncing the ball
on the paddle.
Activity:
1. Students will be instructed to find
open space in the gym
2. Students will first attempt at balancing
the ball on their paddle
3. Students will then practice bouncing
the ball on their paddle in a controlled
manner
4. Teacher can challenge students to see
how many continuous bounces they
can get in a 1-minute interval
other students
Learning Cues:
- Keep a strong wrist
- Keep your eyes on the ball
- Movement from your
whole body
- Wait for the person in front
of you to get to the net
before you start
Safety Cues:
- Watch out for learners
around you
- Head up
locomotion to another.
Learners:
Students will gather in a semi circle and
watch demonstration be done
Equipment:
One paddle and ball per learner
Time:
Short demonstration (less than 30
seconds) followed by activity
Space:
Students will be encouraged to find
open space and remain a safe distance
away from other learners
Modifications:
Easier - Students may opt to not bounce
the ball and practice walking (while being
aware of the other learners) with control
of the pickleball on he/she’s paddle
2. Forehand
Scoops
~5mins
Harder - Students can be challenged to
see how high they can bounce the ball,
while still maintaining control
Activity Objective: Students will
demonstrate correct technique for the
forehand striking progression, scooping,
by successively scooping in a controlled
manner.
Learning Cues:
- Strong wrist and arm
- Movement from whole
body to match the ball
position
Learners:
Will freeze where they are, be quiet and
watch the demonstration as instructed
Equipment:
One paddle and ball per learner
Modifications:
Easier - Students will perform one
successful scoop at a time, stopping to
reset the ball after each turn.
3. Pickleball
Foursquare
~ 25mins
- Bend your knees as if on a
skateboard
- Keep your eyes on the ball
- scooping icecream
Safety Cues:
Harder - Students will perform several
- If you lose control of a ball
successful scoops in a row while turning
and it rolls into another
to face in the opposite direction around
student’s play area, go get a
the gum line, focusing on ready position
new one from stash
as well as continental grip and scoop
- If a ball comes into your
technique.
playing area, stop playing
and remove the ball so no
one trip/steps on it
Option 1
Activity
Learning Cues:
1. Students will get into groups of 4 and - Keep your eyes on the ball
set up a foursquare court as
- Lock your wrist
demonstrated
- Shake hands with your
2. Players let the ball bounce into their racquet
square
- Stepping action, swinging
3. Other play hits the ball underhand
and striking the ball just in
into the player of their choice’s
front of the body
square
- Follow through in the
4. Play goes on until someone misses
direction you want the ball
placing the ball inside another
to go
players square In foursquare,
5. ‘Eliminated’ player has to do 20
jumping jacks before returning to the
game
Extension
“Team Foursquare” Players will be in pairs
within the foursquare. If a student is
Time:
Short demonstration of proper
technique (less than 60 seconds)
followed by activity
Space:
Students will be encouraged to find
open space and remain a safe distance
away from other learners
Learners:
4 players, 1 player per each corner in
the foursquare
Equipment: 1 Paddle per student, 1 ball
per game for play
Timing:
After 8 minutes, students will rotate to
a new court
Space:
Learning takes place in each foursquare
eliminated, their partner plays both
squares
- Partner can return to the game
after completing 20 jumping jacks
- Point is awarded when both
members of the pair is ‘eliminated’
- Game resets
Harder/Easier: Court can be made bigger
or smaller depending on the students
exploration of the game
4. Service
Shootout
~10mins
Activity Objective: Learners will practice
their air and forehand serve by
successfully placing the ball in the target
Activity
1. Hula hoops will then be placed on
one side of the court, staggered
slightly
2. In the same groups of 3, learners will
take turns serving the ball and trying
to place it in one of the two target
hula hoops
3. Learners each have 5 balls to serve
and will count how many they
successfully land in the target
Modifications:
Easier – Hula hoops can be moved closer
to the net for learners with a shorter
range shot
Option 2
Learning Cues:
- Keep your eyes on the ball
- Lock your wrist
- Shake hands with your
racquet
- Stepping action, swinging
and striking the ball just in
front of the body
- Follow through in the
direction you want the ball
to go
Learners:
2 partners on one side of the mini
court, 1 partner on the serving side
Equipment: 1 Paddle per student, 5
balls per game for play
Timing:
Students will rotate servers after
he/she has served all 5 balls
Space:
Learning takes place in each mini court
5. Monarch’s
Court
~15mins
Harder - The two groups of 3 that make
up the full court will now practice serving
cross court.
Activity Objective: To survive as the
Monarch of the court
First, bring students in to a designated
court to view a demonstration. Instructor
will introduce/review the 4R’s of
Pickleball: Read, Recover, Respond, React
Activity
1) Server serves ball into court over
service box
2) Point is then played out in the half
court
3) Once a point has been made, rotate
server and the learner that has won
the point, moves to the designated
“Monarch” side
4) The server will continue to play until
he/she loses
*Ensure each server has their own ball
to encourage continuous game play
Easier: Catch ball first before re-setting
and sending the ball over the net
Harder: Serves and rallies will occur crosscourt
Learning Cues:
- Keep your eyes on the ball
- Anticipate where the ball
will be; look at your
opponents body position
- Lock your wrist
- Shake hands with your
racquet
Safety Cues:
- Always back-up out of the
court to the left
- Keep your head up
- If you lose control of a ball
and it rolls into another
partner’s play area, go get a
new one from your stash
- If a ball comes into your
playing area, stop playing
and remove the ball so no
one trip/steps on it
Learners: 1 learner on the ‘Monarch’
side, 2 learners on the challenge side
Equipment: 1 Paddle per student, 2
balls per game—1 for play, 1 in case a
ball goes missing
Timing:
Students will rotate in and out of the
game roles according to whether or not
they win the point and continue to be
successful
Space:
Learning takes place on each mini court
7. Closure,
Cool Down,
Stretching
~4 mins
Clean-up
- When I say “GO”, everyone hustle to
return their paddles, pickleball balls,
cones and hula hoops to the equipment
area and then come sit down in front of
instructor
Critical Questions
What aspects of pickleball do you find to
be the hardest or easiest?
Can anyone show me correct forehand
grip?
What are the 4Rs of pickleball?
Was anyone consciously reminding
themselves to follow the 4Rs?