Lesson: Pickleball Serving Range

Lessons · By Matt Barker (Digit the APE), Adapted Physical Education specialist

Published · Updated

Lesson: Pickleball Serving Range

Objective: Materials: Warm-Up (10 minutes): Introduction (10 minutes): Main Activity – Serving Range (30 minutes): Adaptations for Special Needs Students (Referencing APE Modifications knowledge source): Group Discussion (10 minutes): Cool Down (5 minutes): Assessment:

Objective:

  • To develop students’ serving skills in pickleball by aiming at targets.

Materials:

  • Pickleball equipment (paddles, balls)
  • Targets (could be cones, hoops, or marked areas)
  • Scorecards
  • Adapted equipment for special needs (e.g., lighter paddles, bigger or softer balls)

Warm-Up (10 minutes):

Introduction (10 minutes):

  • Briefly explain the rules of pickleball, focusing on serving.
  • Demonstrate a proper pickleball serve, emphasizing the stance, grip, and swing.
  • Light stretching and warm-up exercises.

Main Activity – Serving Range (30 minutes):

  1. Setup: Place targets at various distances and angles on one side of the court.
  2. Rules: Each student gets a set number of serves (e.g., 5) per turn to hit the targets.
  3. Scoring: Assign different points for different targets based on difficulty.
  4. Engagement: Keep score to encourage friendly competition.

Adaptations for Special Needs Students (Referencing APE Modifications knowledge source):

  • Boundaries: Adjust the serving area’s boundaries to be smaller or larger.
  • Distance and Height: Modify the distance to the targets and the height at which they are placed.
  • Equipment: Use lighter paddles or softer, larger balls for better grip and control.
  • Surface Contact: Increase the ball’s surface contact by using bigger targets.
  • Peer Assistance: Allow peer assistance for students who need additional support.

Group Discussion (10 minutes):

  • Discuss what strategies worked and what challenges were faced.
  • Encourage students to share their experiences and learnings.

Cool Down (5 minutes):

  • Gentle stretching to relax the muscles used during the activity.

Assessment:

  • Observe students’ ability to hit the targets and their improvement over the course of the activity.
  • Review the scorecards to assess accuracy and consistency.