There are two primary coaching approaches for pickleball: teaching from the inside of the court outwards or teaching students how to build a point. Both methods have distinct advantages, so selecting the appropriate approach depends on assessing the type of player(s) a coach is working with.

Definition of the “Inside-Out” Method:

This method starts players near the kitchen line, focusing on learning the rules, basic positioning, basic shots, and playing low-difficulty modified games before progressing to strokes played further back in the court.

Definition of the “Build-a-Point” Method:

This method focuses on the first several shots of a rally—starting with the serve, followed by the return of serve, 3rd shot, 4th shot, and so on—emphasizing the strokes played most frequently during live points.

For this Level 1 course, we will focus on the “inside-out” method, as it is best suited for beginner or low-level players. Adequate information will be provided on the “build-a-point” method, but this will be covered in greater detail and length in the Level 2 course. Part of what makes pickleball so appealing is that nearly any first-time player can achieve a high degree of success quickly. A good coach will leverage this ease of play to ensure that students experience early success. Pickleball’s simplest shots are executed near the kitchen line, in the form of dinks, basic volleys, and limited movement patterns. A coach should focus on getting new players hitting these shots as quickly as possible while explaining pickleball’s most important rule—the kitchen. Although a legal pickleball point doesn’t start at the kitchen line, getting players rallying quickly often outweighs the benefit of starting with serves, returns, or other shots that begin a legal point. The reasons listed below highlight the advantages of using the inside-out coaching approach, particularly when working with lower-level players.

Due to pickleball’s relatively low entry difficulty, feeding balls out of a basket is rarely necessary at the beginning stages. This contrasts with sports like tennis, where students typically start at the baseline, learning forehands and backhands through basic feed drills, before progressing to volleys, serve, and return. In pickleball, stroke production is relatively simple and requires fewer fundamental mechanics to play at a proficient level. Coaches can take advantage of this by getting new players executing basic strokes near the kitchen line right away, without needing much overhead to learn proper technique to be successful.

In pickleball, the volley plays a more central role than groundstrokes, along with the ability to keep the ball low consistently. Proficiency when volleying and controlling the ball’s trajectory are critical skills to develop, but even more important than physical skills are three non-physical skills—court positioning, anticipation, and shot selection. Pickleball is unique in that players with superior physical skills can lose to less skilled players who apply these fundamental principles effectively. For example, it’s common to see skilled athletes, new to pickleball, lose to seasoned pickleball veterans due to poor shot selection and a lack of understanding of the importance of strong court positioning. While physical skills are important, a coach should not focus too much on technique before emphasizing anticipation, court positioning, and shot selection. The inside-out approach is the simplest way to teach these principles.

The nine most obvious benefits of the inside-out method are outlined below:

1. Familiarity with Pickleball’s Most Important Rule—the Kitchen (Non-Volley Zone):

Correcting foot faults and clarifying rule questions about the kitchen should be at the top of any coach’s teaching agenda.

2. Early Success:

Most players can dink the ball back and forth from the start, getting them moving and hitting the ball right away. Early success increases the likelihood that players will want to continue playing.

3. The Ability to Converse in a Normal Tone of Voice:

The close proximity of players on the court makes the game more social and easier for the coach to instruct students.

4. Limited Movement at the Kitchen Line:

Players can warm up their bodies gradually instead of having to stretch over longer distances right away. Many pickleball players skip warm-ups, so easing into physical movement is advised for safety.

5. Addressing a Common Issue—Retreating from the Ideal Position Near the Kitchen Line:

The importance of learning this fundamental court positioning cannot be overstated. The team holding the kitchen line will have an overwhelming advantage over one that does not. Starting at the kitchen line gives the coach the opportunity to correct this common issue.

6. Opportunity to Hit and Practice Volleys:

Basic volleys are among the most universally useful shots for beginner players. Volley exchanges are also one of the most exciting aspects of the game, often motivating players to continue playing.

7. Getting a Feel for the Ball and Paddle Length While the Difficulty Level Remains Low:

It can be difficult to adjust to the low bounce of the ball and the limited reach of the paddle when the ball is traveling over a longer distance. Starting closer together at the kitchen line helps players adjust to these conditions.

8. Setting a Good Foundation:

Dinking is the foundation for other shots from the back of the court, like drops or blocks. Most players can learn to dink successfully, which highlights the importance of the kitchen area as a “safe zone.”

9. Highlighting the Importance of Getting to the Kitchen Line:

A proper pickleball rally should often conclude at the kitchen lines. Starting at this position makes this goal clearer.

When introducing new players to pickleball or assessing their level, the inside-out approach typically works best. Moving into the on-court portion of the course, the material will be laid out in a structure designed for this method. The ease of introducing new players to the game is one of the reasons pickleball appeals to such a broad range of people.