Lesson Plan MAT

Grade Level: 6th

Unit Name: Pickleball

Lesson Focus: Serving Technique

Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. It is played on a smaller court than tennis with a perforated plastic ball similar to a whiffle ball, and typically involves doubles play.

Set/Motivator: To begin the lesson, the students will be introduced to pickleball. This will be done by giving definitions and “I CAN” statements on the whiteboard. Conversation will also be made on the rising popularity of pickleball in schools and community centers alike. Then, an example of a pickleball serve will be demonstrated.

Instructional Procedures/Learning Tasks:

The students will begin by serving the ball to each other in pairs. They will serve underhand over a line on the floor as the “net”.

Once they have demonstrated proficiency in this task, they will move on to the “Bullseye” game.

The students are divided into partners, each standing opposite the other and an equal distance from a poly spot placed inside of a hula hoop.

This can start at a close distance of around four feet and move backward from there.

The students will be able to use an underhand and overhand serve.

The games will be divided up into 2-minute segments, allowing for multiple teams to win.

After the allotted time, roughly 20 minutes, the students will gather again at the whiteboard.

Questions and/or activities for higher order thinking: 

Why is pickleball increasing in popularity?

Why is serving important in racquet sports?

What are some cues to serve a pickleball?

Closure: The students will gather at the whiteboard to discuss the process of serving a pickleball. Basic cues will be given, as well as discussing the proper form. The students will critique themselves and give feedback by either raising their hand to speak in front of the class, or by giving a thumbs up, sideways, or down.

Activity One: Bullseye

Students will be split into partners.

Each pair will stand opposite each other at a hula hoop with a poly spot in the middle.

The students will stand about four feet from the hoop each.

The game will last two minutes a piece.

Hitting the ball into the hoop grants one point, and hitting the poly spot grants three points.

The students will alternate serving, hitting to each other essentially.

After every game, the students will take one step back.

Each game, the winner will be safe, and the losing teams will have to do ten of a certain exercise.

The games will keep going until time runs out.

 

Formative (Informal): Students will demonstrate proper serving techniques nearing the end of the serving activity. They will critique themselves, using a thumbs up, sideways, or down as an indicator on how well they think they performed.

I can demonstrate proper grip on a pickleball paddle.

I can serve correctly in pickleball.

I can give cues to serve in pickleball.

Understanding Rules: Familiarize yourself with pickleball serving rules, including starting position, double bounce rule, and faults to avoid.

Technique: Focus on a consistent toss and paddle contact below waist level. Keep the paddle face square at contact to ensure a legal serve.

Practice: Regular practice is essential to refine your serve. Work on accuracy, placement, and developing different types of serves (e.g., deep serves, short serves, spin serves).

Strategy: Experiment with different serve placements to keep opponents off-balance. Develop a reliable second serve in case of faults.

Gameplay Impact: A strong serve sets the tone for the point and can give you an advantage by putting pressure on your opponents right from the start.

• There should be ample space for every student to serve the ball.
• The ball and/or paddle should not be thrown.
• The students should not try to hit the ball as hard as they can, as this can injure a student if they get hit.

• For students with special and exceptional needs, a larger ball, such as a volleyball or a bouncy, soft ball can be used for the serving process. Another adaptation for these individuals could be using a larger paddle, possibly using a tennis racquet or another similar implement.

• In the situation that the class has to go outside, we would block off a space in the parking lot (or on the blacktop basketball court) to have the serving routine. If students were late, those students would have to partner up with other late students or work in with a group for serving.
  
   

• A student may begin throwing pickleballs and paddles.
  
  Some students may swing the paddles at each other.
  
  Students may attempt to hit the ball as hard as they can across the gymnasium.
  
  Students may try to cheat in any of the games or activities.
  
  Students may degrade or bully those who are not as athletically able.