Pickleball Club adopts new training model

Members of the first training class to graduate from the new training model.

Members of the first training class to graduate from the new training model.

The Robson Ranch Pickleball Club has turned a page in the way it trains players wanting to improve their skills on the court. With the appointment of Fred Thompson, chairperson of the Player Development Committee, the new club leadership has moved from a one and out clinic model to a training model. The new method involves multiples sessions on the same skill provided over time to help players sustain a change in their approach to the game of pickleball. The goal of the committee is to improve the play of all members of the club by using a new curriculum that focuses on strategy, technique and repetition through practice over several one and one-half hour sessions.

Committee members pioneering the way under the leadership of Fred Thompson include Dave Parker, Academy Director, and members Larry Noturnen, Kawika Cotner and Jim Richardson. Players may sign-up for future training sessions on the club website under the Academy tab. The club has also set the dates and times for the Academy training of new players to the club and the sport of pickleball for July, August and September.

The first session of the new training model was provided to improve the skill of “dinking.” Dinking is considered the most important skill in pickleball and unique to the sport. This skill separates pickleball from other paddle/racket sports and makes the game more like chess or “cat and mouse.” The instructors were Ford Roberson, lead, Jim Richardson and Warren Williamson. Please go to RRDPC.com for future events and training as well as information on how to join the club.