League Information

OPA-APO Player Profiles

To help identify which level to play at for all OPA-APO Leagues, we have created player profiles for your reference.

Categories: Your play is assessed in five basic areas of the game with specific criteria for each category.

• General Play: overall game (rules),  shots (serve, return, forehand/backhand), Consistency of shots
• Positioning: individual and team (moving from Baseline through the Transition Zone to the No Volley Line, court coverage at No Volley Line and in Transition)
• Fast Game: handling pace (giving and receiving), hitting fast balls (drives, volleys, overheads)
• Slow game: soft, slow balls (dinks, resets), ability to change pace of game from fast to slow
• Strategy: shot selection, reducing unforced errors (errors not caused by the opponents shot), reducing low percentage shots (high risk shots), patience (point construction, build-up)

You are at level when you do all the criteria of a level consistently, every game (not just once in a while). If you are missing more than ONE Criteria skill at a level, choose the previous level.  Skills are meant to be assessed in a real game situation against  players at the specified level and be replicated consistently within games and from game to game.

One way to judge if you are ready for the next level is if you are making around 10% unforced errors at your current level while performing the criteria for the next higher level.

VIOLET

LEARN TO PLAY General Play Learning the rules and scoring Learning the basic shots (serve, return, third shot, dink, volley) Positioning Learning basic positioning Fast Game N/A Slow Game N/A Strategy N/A

INDIGO

General Play Knows the basic rules of pickleball and how to keep score Serves and returns in court 50% of time Maintains a rally of 3-5 shots (groundstrokes, volleys, dinks) Positioning Knows correct position for serve, return and during game play Beginning to move to the No Volley Line (NVL) after the third shot Fast Game Can volley the ball over the net (30% of the time) Slow Game Knows how to dink and when to use this shot at NVL Strategy N/A

BLUE

General Play Serves and returns in court 60% of time, and attempts to serve and return deep Almost never swing and miss Uses forehand and backhand appropriately Maintains a rally of 5 shots (groundstrokes, volleys, dinks) Positioning Consistently moves to the NVL when the chance is there after the third shot- does not back off the NVL too often Beginning to move with partner for correct court positioning (up/back and side/side) Fast Game Handles moderate pace (drives, volleys, speed ups handled more than 50% of the time) Slow Game Beginning to initiate a dink rally and dinks as much as possible until pop ups Beginning to keep ball low and limit pop-ups Uses third shot drop on easy returns Strategy General game concepts (e.g. deep serve - deep return - drop for first three shots) Beginning to limit unforced errors (fewer than 50% of your rallies (1 out of 2) end because of your unforced error)

GREEN

General Play Serves and returns deep in the back third of the court 60% of the time Starting to communicate with partners (e.g. calling balls) Positioning Moves to the No Volley Line (NVL) with partner appropriately under control Stays at the NVL (backs off only when appropriate) Has reasonable (75% of time) court positioning for doubles (moves with partner at NVL allowing only a small gap between partners) Fast Game Sustains a volley exchange at the net Able to handle fast pace - drives or speedups more than 60% of the time Able to use an overhead with control 75 % of the time Slow Game Uses the third shot drop and is successful 50% of the time (ball is unattackable - opponent has to hit upward or softly off a bounce) Initiates and maintains a dink rally of 5-10 dinks in a game situation Beginning to dink with placement and purpose Keeps balls low and limits popups Attempting to reset balls when moving through the transition zone Strategy Beginning to limit low percentage shots Beginning to limit unforced errors (fewer than 40% of your rallies end because of your unforced error) Beginning to develop patience during a rally and not forcing shots or speed-ups

YELLOW

General Play Serves and returns with depth and/or placement 80% of the time Communicates with partner throughout play Positioning Has good court coverage, quickness, mobility and balance Has correct court positioning for doubles (90% of time) Fast Game Sustains a rally and places ball during a volley exchange Handles drives and speed ups at the net with appropriate counter, block or reset volley (75% of the time) Uses third shot drive (only) when appropriate Speeds up play at No Volley Line (NVL) only when appropriate Has a variety of finishing shots (successful 80% of the time) Slow Game Uses the third shot drop appropriately and successfully 65% of the time Consistently dinks with different speeds and with good placement and purpose with few unforced pop ups Resets the ball at the NVL and in Transition Zone (TZ) to start a dink rally 60% of the time Tries to change the pace of the game (fast to slow) Strategy Understands proper shot selection and is reducing the number of low percentage shots (has developed patience) Limits unforced errors - fewer than 33% of your rallies (1 out of 3 rallies) end because of your unforced error) Creates and hit "gaps" Works strategically with partner to regularly hit shots that enable team success Anticipates opponent's shots (gets paddle on ball with good body position and good footwork - not reaching or being reactive) Controls play at the net to keep opponents deep.

ORANGE

General Play Serves and returns with accurate placement and depth 90% of the time. No noticeable weakness that can be exploited. Positioning Moves effectively with partner, easily switching sides and covering the court. Has correct court positioning for doubles (95% of time) Fast Game Third shot drive is strategically placed and effective 80% of the time. Controls play at the net to keep opponents deep. Handles fast exchanges at the net with appropriate counter, block or reset volleys (80% of the time) Has a variety of finishing shots (successful 90% of the time) Slow Game Third shot drop is strategically placed and effective 80% of the time. Resets the ball at the NVL and in Transition Zone to start a dink rally 75% of the time Consistently dinks with different speeds and depths, knowing when to use offensive and defensive dinks Strategy Keeps the ball in play and is aware of minimizing errors Fewer than 25% of rallies (1 out of 5 rallies) end because of your unforced errors. Controls the pace of the game appropriately Executing proper shot selection and is reducing the number of low percentage shots

RED

General Play Serves and returns with placement, power or spin 95% of the time. Does not have a noticeable weakness that can be exploited. Is competent in all areas of the game Positioning Has excellent positioning, anticipation and mobility Fast Game Has quick hands - handles fast exchanges at the net with appropriate counter, block or reset volleys (90% of the time) Consistently hits an effective third shot drill or spin shot 90% of the time Slow Game Can dink all day long with accuracy, spin and variety. Purposely resets fast paced balls Retrieves lobs and resets them to the team’s advantage. Consistently hits an effective third shot drop, 90% of the time Strategy Understands pickleball strategies and can vary strategies based on opponents Able to turn many defensive shots into offensive shots Fewer than 10% (1 out of 10) of rallies end because of your unforced errors

Cancellations

Visiting Ottawa?

Visitors may request to participate in a league and may be invited to play, space permitting for a fee. Requests can be sent to LeaguePlay@OttawaPickleballAssociation.com.

All visitors must sign a waiver before playing in any OPA-APO event or session.

Download waiver English French.

League Coordinators Wanted

We are looking for coordinators for each of our leagues.

As a league coordinator, we would register you for your league FREE OF CHARGE as a thank you for your time.  If you are interested, please send an email to LeaguePlay@OttawaPickleballAssociation.com with “League Coordinator” in the heading. Please indicate the time and location of the league you wish to organize.

Responsibilities include:

• Coordinate player attendance each week using the BenchApp software (it’s easy to use!)
• Arrange for spares if required and collect payment from spares.
• Manage the transport of the first aid kit, nets and balls to and from the venue. This may require meeting other league coordinators to share the nets.
• Set up and take down the nets.
• Organize play for your session.

Feedback, Questions or Concerns about our Leagues?

We are really working hard to make our members happy. This is a work in progress and we value your feedback. Please do not hesitate to contact the OPA-APO League Director at LeaguePlay@OttawaPickleballAssociation.com with your input.