T
he IPTPA recently completed its Handbook
for Level I Certification, which will be
the document used during the Teach the
Teacher workshops in select geographical
locations across the country. The IPTPA Teach the
Teacher workshops are highly recommended for all
IPTPA teaching professionals, as they will assist each
member to become a better, more effective instructor.
Completion of the course—worth 2 CEUs —is a
requirement to maintain member certification.
The workshops are intended to provide a consistent
and unified approach to lesson planning and
instruction. Terminology, skill progressions and
strategies should be consistent among all IPTPA
teaching professionals. This provides a consistent and
unified voice for all IPTPA teaching professionals,
which is extremely valuable when clinics and boot
camps are made available to the pickleball community.
When each member is unified on what skills should
be taught at each skill level, as well as the appropriate
skill progressions and techniques, a consistent
message is delivered to the intended audience. This
creates a clear and concise coaching methodology from
all IPTPA teaching professionals and helps reinforce
the value of IPTPA membership. It also sends a clear
message to players of the advantage of being taught by
an IPTPA teaching professional.
The IPTPA’s Teach the Teacher workshop will also
be made available to non-IPTPA members. As the
leader in pickleball instruction, it is our responsibility
to assist any player interested in teaching others the
appropriate skills, techniques, and skill progressions
of the game, as the IPTPA is setting the standard
worldwide for quality pickleball instruction.
Individuals responsible for introducing the sport
at new facilities or clubs should be familiar with
the appropriate skills, techniques and progressions
to prevent beginner players from developing bad
habits. Teach the Teacher will be an eight-hour
workshop presented over two days, with teaching
demonstrations, evaluations and reviews on an
individual basis. An IPTPA Level I Handbook will be
provided to all participants and will form the basis of
the workshop. Players who complete the workshop
will be given an IPTPA Certificate of Completion and
awarded IPTPA Pickleball Trainer (PT) designation.
They will be recognized as having a thorough
knowledge and understanding of IPTPA’s teaching
curriculum and be recognized as qualified to introduce
pickleball instruction to beginner players. The IPTPA’s
future plan is for Teach the Teacher to be Step 1 of
the requirement toward eventual IPTPA certification.
This additional step to our Level I curriculum will
be incorporated in 2018 and will be updated via our
website.
We hope to introduce the Level 2 IPTPA
Certification Program in 2018, which will provide
pickleball certification for teaching the advanced
intermediate player through the pro skill level. This
will require a new curriculum model. Any IPTPA
member who wishes to be involved in curriculum
development should contact [email protected]. The
completion of the handbook, plus the additional
designation of IPTPA pickleball trainer, Level I and
Level 2 certified pickleball professionals will assist
many foreign pickleball federations in gaining
recognition from their respective governing bodies.
For assistance and to discuss the use of any of IPTPA’s
copyrighted materials, please contact [email protected].
The IPTPA Rating System continues to build
support, with pickleball clubs across the country
signing up as member clubs. Club members love
the objectivity of the test and the clear, concise
requirements that are outlined for each skill level.
Having an objective IPTPA Certified Rating Specialist
administer the test eliminates any favoritism,
either up or down, that often exists when clubs
have their own raters. An IPTPA rating provides a
consistent rating that can be duplicated with the
same results regardless of geographical location.
As more clubs expand their pickleball offerings to
include ladder leagues, round robins, etc., having
all players competing in like-skilled groups creates
a more competitive and fun atmosphere for all. The
IPTPA Rating System is the clear choice to achieve
those objectives. For detailed information on the
IPTPA Rating System as well as descriptions of the
requirements at each skill level, visit the website at
iptpa.com. •
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017 |
MAGAZINE
89