Recycle Sunday - Etiquette - Before Serving

A blast from the past...

This week's Recycle Sunday article was originally published March 1, 2016.

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Experienced players tend to just walk to the serving position, check for opponents' and partner's readiness, call the score, and hit the serve. Such is not the case with beginners. In order to get comfortable with the rules and etiquette of serving, the following guidelines should be considered.

1. The server should ensure that he is serving from the proper court and that all players are ready, including both opponents and the server's partner.  This player can stand anywhere on his side of the court. It is good practice for the server to ensure his partner is properly positioned near the baseline or wherever their strategy dictates.

2. If the receiver is not ready to receive the serve or their partner is not in position, they should indicate so by either holding the paddle hand straight in the air, holding the non-paddle hand in the same way, or turning their back completely to the server. The receiver may do this because of a distraction, ball on court, movement behind the server, partner not in position or they need time to adjust a piece of equipment. It is not sportsmanlike to use delay of serve as a stalling tactic.

Grace

Grace is always remembered...

DJ Howard's tip this week is something we all need to keep in mind. Grace never gets old.






DJ's weekly tip:

Show grace.

New players at your courts?

Be kind and include them. Show them the ropes of how you do things at your courts. Help them with the rules. Maybe gently offer some basic advice on how to play and where to move. Do not over-coach, but be willing to teach them what they need to know to want to stay with the game.

Recycle Sunday - Make Fair Line Calls

A blast from the past...

I have been posting Offbeat Sunday content for a long time. While it will continue as new material becomes available, I have started a series called Recycle Sunday in which I repeat some old articles. This article was originally published February 29, 2016.

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Playing pickleball is, first and foremost, supposed to be fun. Players are drawn to the game for that reason and fun should not leave the game no matter how competitive it gets. Arguing line calls detracts from the fun. In fact, it so detracts from the game that it was the subject of a rule change in April 2015. The relevant rules are:

6.D.1. Players will call the lines on their side of the court (excluding the non-volley line on a serve - i.e., short serve, if being called by a referee).

6.D.5. No player should question an opponent’s call unless asked (except that player may appeal a call to the referee in an officiated match). A player should ask the opponent’s opinion if the opponent was in a better position to see the call. An opponent’s opinion, if requested,  shall be accepted. The opinion of a player looking down the line is more likely to be accurate than one looking across the line.

The rule changes highlight the need for players to make fair line calls. In the spirit of keeping the game fun and avoiding conflict about line calls, here are some guidelines:

Tips for Playing Down

We were all there once...

The past 2 days were about etiquette for playing with better players. Today is for those better players who may be asked to play down. As noted a couple of days ago, Prem Carnot has published a printable chart that can be posted at places to play with some great information about managing a situation that often results in tense relationships. The pdf version of the chart can be found at Prem's website. It is shown below as a image.

Don't Play Keep-Away

Give them a good reason to stay...

Lesser skilled players like to play with more advanced players. It challenges them to become better players themselves as they see firsthand the strategies and tactics used to construct a point. But too often the lesser players allow their competitive nature to take over. Instead of playing the game the right way - hitting the appropriate shot regardless of their opponent - they play just to win the game by hitting only to their weaker opponent.

If there is a single-most reason that advanced players hesitate to play with less-skilled players, the lack of shots to them likely tops the list. I would like to follow up yesterday's tips about playing up with an article from PickleballMax called Playing Keep-Away from the “Best” Player on the other Team — Good Idea or Inconsiderate Strategy?. Excerpts are shown below. Please read the entire article at the link.

Although I absolutely LOVE pickleball, nothing gets my blood boiling like being on the receiving end of “Keep-Away” during rec play.  And it gets me very frustrated.  Every time.  You see, every once in a while, in a recreational game of pickleball, I’m deemed the stronger player on the team.  And the opponents — you guessed it — hit seemingly every ball to my partner.  All in the name of winning the game to 11.  In rec. play!!!  Not tournament play.  Did I mention this is “recreational” play?

Tips for Playing Up

Respect must be earned...

I previously wrote about a Prem Carnot article about the proper etiquette of playing up with better players in How to Play Up. Prem has now published a printable chart that can be posted at places to play with some great information about managing a situation that often results in tense relationships. The pdf version of the chart can be found at Prem's website. It is shown below as a image.

The Illegal Server - More Actions

I don't have to play by these rules, I actually have my own version...

Jeff Napier discussed using a psychological ploy to address an illegal server in a post several days ago. Calling someone for an illegal serve can be a delicate situation. First, the service motion is so quick that marginally legal/illegal serves are very difficult to judge. Second, servers may never had been told before and will not believe it. Mark Renneson has a video that addresses a couple of ways to handle the situation.

Mark explains his suggestions in more detail and I will not repeat it here. I will my additional comments, though.

Mark talks about taking a video to show the player. Obviously this must be done before the game. It should be part of the scouting evaluation done for potential opponents. Then it can be used at your discretion. My suggestion - in a refereed match - would be to show the referee the video and ask him to watch the serve for the illegal motion.

The Illegal Server - One Tactic

Psychology in sports makes people crazy...

Last week I posted a Mark Renneson video about pickleball stereotypes. Readers probably thought that was a fun video but that nothing would come of it. Actually, a lot of discussions can be provoked by the behaviors shown. Today, we will start with a discussion of dealing with an illegal server. Jeff Napier has written about a ploy he successfully used on one occasion in his article A Bit of Psychology.

A Bit of Psychology

Correcting An Opponent’s Problem

Pickleball for me is normally about fun, and building skill, but I’m not above a psychological trick or two when it makes sense. A couple of years ago, I tried something that worked well, so I’ll pass it along:

This is going to cost you a point, but may win many points shortly thereafter.

There was a player who was going way too far with the “Arizona serve.” This is the kind of serve which is much more of a forehand than an underhand serve. As you know, the pickleball rules call for the ball to be hit below the waist, or more specifically, below bellybutton height, with an underhand stroke or at least with the hand below the wrist (if that can be done with anything other than an underhand stroke). In serious competition, a forehand serve would be called a fault, but in much of modern pickleball, it is considered OK. But today, this person was winning points on an aggressive serve. Or at least putting some players in a position where their returns were less than ideal.

So early in a game I purposely served a ball with a too-high forehand stroke, then immediately stopped the play, calling a fault on myself.

Read More >>>

Pickleball Stereotypes

Dude, stop. You're justifying the stereotype...

You've seen them. You've played with them. You might even be one. Pickleball stereotypes like the apologizer, the celebrant, and the super-intense. Mark Renneson has seen them too...and made a video highlighting some player types called Pickleball Stereotypes.

Playing Up and Down in Open Play

I am still searching for advice for managing play with varying skill levels. Sarah Ansboury has an article called Pickleball Open Play: Playing Up and Down. As always, Sarah has some good tips.

Pickleball Open Play: Playing Up and Down

Coming from tennis I wasn’t quite sure how pickleball open play worked. In tennis we set up our games and didn’t mix around a lot. I recall the first time I went to the courts near Surprise which were hosting one of my first tournaments.

My partner and I were trying to find a game during warm-up. Would someone let us in? Luckily I asked the right person, “How do we get a game?” And to this day she is one of my closest friends. She was so happy to let some new players in and she was a 5.0 player without a clue who we were.

Pickleball Open Play

Sometimes I will go to places and it’s not always easy to jump into open play. At times someone will invite me to play, but will intentionally exclude the person I am with.  I don’t like that.

I understand that we all want good practice and we want to keep it challenging. I realize that people feel that they will improve more if they “play up”. In fact, I play better when I play up. However, I believe you can do both…practice and play.

When You are the Better Player

As I previously mentioned, I recently volunteered to manage a pickleball court gymnasium. My focus on the new court practices are to make it a learning environment for players who want to play competitively and advance their games from the 2.5 and levels. This requires some attitude adjustments for many players so I have been researching materials from other who have more experience than I. One article I found is from the RV Picklers called When You are the Better Player.

When You are the Better Pickleball Player

You can learn a lot by watching a better pickleball player. In fact one of the many things we learned when playing with Sarah and Linh over their recent visit, was how to be a better person when you are the better player.

Being the Better Pickleball Player

How to Play Up

As noted in a previous post, I recently volunteered to manage a pickleball court gymnasium that was being abandoned by the current users. I had identified some needs among the local players and created a mission statement for the courts to fit:

Our mission at Crosswalk is to provide an opportunity for competitive players to drill, play, and improve their game. We will only support friendly and positive play.

I also wrote an email explaining how the courts would be managed including:

Since this is a learning environment, all players should be willing to give or take advice freely without pushback...Lower level players may request to play in higher level games but there should be no expectation of open play during restricted hours.  

I also added that a good guideline for both higher and lower level players to follow is a Prem Carnot article titled How to Graciously Get to Play with Better Players (a.k.a. How to Make Sure You’re NOT That Person Everyone Hates Playing With). That article is shown below.

Is it OK to Hit Another Player

The topic of intentionally hitting a ball at an opponent can be controversial. It seems to be acceptable at high levels of tournament play but opinions are all over the place at the recreational level. Pickleball Central has an interesting article on the subject called Pickleball: A Contact Sport?.

Pickleball: A Contact Sport?

By: Glen Peterson

You’re not likely to get knocked down by a pickleball, but it doesn’t feel good to get hit! (Image credit: Chad Ryan)

Offbeat Sunday: Cure For Pickleball Potty Mouth

Sunday is reserved for off-beat and fun posts related to pickleball. Today is no different as I shamelessly copy a post from the PickleballCentral.com blog.

Cure For Pickleball Potty Mouth

posted in Improve Your Game by Anna

We love Brian Ashworth.  He works at PickleballCentral and is also one of the world’s best pickleball players. At the recent International Indoor Pickleball Championships in Centralia, Washington, Brian became so engaged in competition that a few choice words escaped from this mouth and landed in the young ears of sisters McKenna and Kendall Hastings. This is a serious concern; not only could cursing corrupt young minds but it can also result in a technical foul.

IFP Official Tournament Rulebook, Rule 14.M.1.

A player using objectionable or demeaning language directed at another person shall incur a technical warning or a technical foul, depending upon its severity. Once a technical warning has been issued, the second offense will result in a technical foul. Excessive profanity used for any reason shall incur similar action. The referee will determine the severity of any violation.

When does Gamesmanship Cross the Line?

Gamesmanship: the art or practice of winning games by questionable expedients without actually violating the rules. 2 : the use of ethically dubious methods to gain an objective.

- Merriam-Webster Dictionary

As competitors, we play games to win. We fight and strain for every point with the goal of winning. But no game is worth the loss of one's integrity. This is especially true in pickleball, where one of the biggest draws is the friendly competition and camaraderie of playing with people we enjoy.

Offbeat Sunday: Trash Talking

Trash Talk: a form of boast or insult commonly heard in competitive situations (such as sports events and multiplayer video games). It is often used to intimidate the opposition, but can also be used in a humorous spirit. Trash-talk is often characterized by use of hyperbole or figurative language, such as, "Your team can't run! You run like honey on ice!" Puns and other wordplay are commonly used.

- Wikipedia

Trash talking seems to be an unwritten rule of pickleball among friends (at least among men). Sometimes I think my trash talking is better than my play. But I could never admit that or it would be a concession to the trash talkers club. Anyhow, Pickleball Biz had an article that I found interesting. From Pickleball.biz:

Etiquette - When the Rally Ends

Frustration. That word says it all, doesn't it. Frustration over missing a shot you've made a thousand times in the past. Frustration over just failing to get to a ball before its second bounce. Frustration over getting your partner killed by popping up a simple dink. It happens...to all of us. Where we differ is our reaction to the frustration. What sometimes gets lost in the immediacy after the play is that people will remember you less for the bad play than for the bad behavior resulting from the bad play.

The right way to handle frustration is to stop. Stop playing. Stop running. Stop swinging. Stop complaining. No one cares. Stop doing what your frustration tells you to do. Instead, catch the ball or go pick it up. Hand it or tap it to the next server. Compliment your opponent for a good shot. Then move on.

Etiquette - Before Serving

Experienced players tend to just walk to the serving position, check for opponents' and partner's readiness, call the score, and hit the serve. Such is not the case with beginners. In order to get comfortable with the rules and etiquette of serving, the following guidelines should be considered.

1. The server should ensure that he is serving from the proper court and that all players are ready, including both opponents and the server's partner.  This player can stand anywhere on his side of the court. It is good practice for the server to ensure his partner is properly positioned near the baseline or wherever their strategy dictates.

2. If the receiver is not ready to receive the serve or their partner is not in position, they should indicate so by either holding the paddle hand straight in the air, holding the non-paddle hand in the same way, or turning their back completely to the server. The receiver may do this because of a distraction, ball on court, movement behind the server, partner not in position or they need time to adjust a piece of equipment. It is not sportsmanlike to use delay of serve as a stalling tactic.

Etiquette - Make Fair Line Calls

Playing pickleball is, first and foremost, supposed to be fun. Players are drawn to the game for that reason and fun should not leave the game no matter how competitive it gets. Arguing line calls detracts from the fun. In fact, it so detracts from the game that it was the subject of a rule change in April 2015. The relevant rules are:

6.D.1. Players will call the lines on their side of the court (excluding the non-volley line on a serve - i.e., short serve, if being called by a referee).

6.D.5. No player should question an opponent’s call unless asked (except that player may appeal a call to the referee in an officiated match). A player should ask the opponent’s opinion if the opponent was in a better position to see the call. An opponent’s opinion, if requested,  shall be accepted. The opinion of a player looking down the line is more likely to be accurate than one looking across the line.

The rule changes highlight the need for players to make fair line calls. In the spirit of keeping the game fun and avoiding conflict about line calls, here are some guidelines: