Basic Strokes
Strokes the ball from the strong side using the three basic strokes (overhead, sidearm and underhand) but has difficulty stroking the ball from the weak side. Addresses the ball properly with a good point of contact sometimes from the strong side but seldom from the weak side. Uses a bent elbow with the cupped hand some of the time from the strong side but never from the weak side.
Service
Basic use of the serve is to put the ball into play. Has out and double fault serves frequently.
Return of Service
Has difficulty controlling the return of serve, especially to the weak side.
Defense
Does not have any specific defensive shots other than trying to keep the ball in play.
Offense
Does not have any specific offensive shots other than trying to keep the ball in play.
Back-wall
Is not comfortable returning the ball off the back-wall with either hand.
Shot Anticipation
Does not have good court awareness or shot knowledge.
Experience
Playing less than 1 year and no tournament experience.
Basic Strokes
Strokes the ball from the strong side using the three basic strokes (overhead, sidearm and underhand) and is beginning to stroke the ball using the underhand and sidearm from the weak side. Point of contact is improving from the strong side but not very consistent from the weak side. Uses a bent elbow with a cupped hand most of the time from the strong side and occasionally from the weak side.
Service
Serve is becoming an offensive shot. Is beginning to use the lob, low power serve and the Z. Double faults and out serves are less frequent.
Return of Service
Is able to return the serve more frequently and effectively by contacting the ball more often and hitter the ball harder. Is conscious of the need to move the server out of the service box.
Defense
Is beginning to understand the difference between an offense and a defense shot. Can move the opponent out of the front court with the strong side but can only keep the ball in play from the weak side.
Offense
Is beginning to understand the difference between an offensive and a defense shot. Hits offensive shots from the strong side using the side arm stroke but can only keep the ball in play from the weak side.
Back-wall
Can return the ball from the back wall with the strong side but lacks control. Seldom can return the ball from the back wall from the weak side.
Shot Anticipation
Improved court awareness and shot knowledge but still has difficulty knowing where the ball is going and which shot should be used in specific situations.
Experience
Has played less than 1 year and may have some tournament experience.
Basic Strokes
Strokes the ball from the strong side using the three basic strokes (overhead, sidearm and underhand) and is beginning to use the low sidearm stroke. Can control the sidearm stroke. Learning to turn sideways from the strong side. Can stroke the ball from the weak side using the sidearm and underarm and is beginning to use the overhead from the weak side. Beginning to understand how point of contact controls the direction of the ball from the strong side but still not consistent from the weak side. Uses a bent elbow with a cupped hand most of the time from the strong side and occasionally from the weak side.
Service
The serve is an offensive shot most of the time but has trouble keeping the serve off the back wall. Seldom double faults or has an out serve.
Return of Service
Is starting to learn specific returns of serve but still has trouble with serves to the weak side. Will take advantage of a poor serve.
Defense
Has begun to learn the pass shot from the strong side. Still has a difficult time executing a good defense shot from the weak side but is keeping the ball in play more often from the weak side.
Offense
Has begun to use the low sidearm stroke to attempt kill shots but with a low success rate. Has begun to use the V-pass with some success.
Back-wall
Is becoming more comfortable with the ball coming off the back wall to the strong side. Is beginning to understand when to use the back wall. Still has difficulty with the back wall from the weak side.
Shot Anticipation
Improved court awareness and shot knowledge but still has difficulty knowing where the ball is going and which shot should be used in specific situations
Experience
Has played over 1 year and has limited tournament experience.
Basic Strokes
Strokes the ball from the strong side using the three basic strokes (overhead, sidearm and underhand) including the low sidearm stroke. Gets “sideways” from the strong side but still faces the front wall too often when stroking the ball from the weak side. Is beginning to use the ceiling using the overhead shot. Has good control with the sidearm stroke. Can stroke the ball from the weak side using the sidearm, underarm and the overhead from the weak side. Point of contact is good from the strong side and knows, based upon path of the ball, where their point of contact was but still is not consistent from the weak side. Uses a bent elbow with a cupped hand most of the time from the strong side and occasionally from the weak side. Beginning to use the side walls and the ceilings from the strong side.
Service
The serve is an offensive shot most of the time. Seldom double faults or has an out serve. Beginning to stay down on the low power serve and learning to keep the serve off the back wall.
Return of Service
Is learning basic return of serve shots from the weak side. Understands the need to move server out of the front court and can do so with the strong hand.
Defense
Is using the ‘V’ and straight pass shots as well as the ceiling from the strong side. Making more solid contact from the weak side but still unable to hit specific defense shots from the weak side.
Offense
Hits kills shots with more consistency but is learning to “stay down” on the ball. Starting to attempt corner kills with the strong hand. Learning when they should go on offense or play defense. Lacks any offense from the weak side. Beginning to understand the benefits of maintaining front court position for offense.
Back-Wall
Lets the ball go to the back wall more consistently and is starting to control the shot using the sidearm stroke from the strong side. Gaining confidence from the weak side and starting to use the sidearm stroke but still erratic and misses more than returns.
Shot Anticipation
Beginning to learn the angles and ball direction when they or their opponent strokes the ball. Watching opponent when they stroke the ball. Occasionally is able to be in position before the ball arrives.
Experience
Has played over 1 year, has some tournament experience and may have advanced in the lower divisions.
Basic Strokes
Strokes the ball from the strong and weak side using the three basic strokes (overhead, sidearm and underhand) including the low sidearm stroke. Gets “sideways” from the strong side and is getting sideways more often when stroking the ball from the weak side. Has learned the ceiling shot using the strong hand and is learning the ceiling shot from the weak side. Point of contact is good from the strong side but still not consistent from the weak side. Uses a bent elbow with a cupped hand most of the time from the strong side and occasionally from the weak side. Uses the side walls and the ceilings from the strong side. Is learning to use the ‘fist’ shot and the ‘punch’ to the ceiling from the strong side. Hand errors from the strong side are minimal but still makes several errors from the weak side.
Service
Has good control of the low power serve and is keeping the ball off the back wall consistently. Uses the ‘Z’ serve to put the ball into the corner and along the back wall. Is getting weak return on some serves.
Return of Service
Can move server out of front court when the serve is returned from strong side most of the time and occasionally from the weak side. Learning ways to keep the serve out of the weak side corner. Beginning to ‘cut’ serves off.
Defense
Controlling the ‘V’ pass consistently with the strong hand and starting to use it with the weak hand. Moves opponent to the back court consistently with the ceiling shot from the strong side but has difficulty from the weak side. ‘Straight’ pass shots are being hit with strong hand but occasionally they hit the side wall or come off the back wall. Beginning to understand the need for defense shots from the weak side.
Offense
Keeping the ‘kill’ shot down and using the corner kill with more consistently from the strong side. Uses ‘V’ and ‘straight’ pass shots as offensive weapons from the strong side. No offense from the weak side.
Back-wall
Controls the ball from the strong side using the ‘V’ and ‘straight’ pass shots from the strong side. Occasionally the return hits the side wall. Starting to get sideways on the back wall with weak side returns and point of contact varies.
Shot Anticipation
Beginning to move ‘up’ or ‘back’ before opponent stokes the ball based upon body position of opponent but not always watching opponent. Understands how the side wall affects the angles that the ball travels.
Experience
Has played over 1 year, has tournament experience and has advanced in the lower divisions.
Basic Strokes
Strokes the ball from the strong and weak side using the three basic strokes (overhead, sidearm and underhand) including the low sidearm stroke. Gets “sideways” from the strong side and is getting sideways more often when stroking the ball from the weak side. Can control the ceiling shot using the strong hand and is learning the ceiling shot from the weak side. Point of contact is good from the strong side but still not consistent from the weak side. Uses a bent elbow with a cupped hand most of the time from the strong side and occasionally from the weak side. Uses the side walls and the ceilings from the strong side. Uses the ‘fist’ shot and the ‘punch’ to the ceiling from the strong side and learning those shots from the weak side. Has begun to use the fly shot from the strong side. Hand errors from the strong side are less frequent but still makes several errors from the weak side.
Service
Has good control of the low power serve and is keeping the ball off the back wall consistently. Uses the ‘Z’ serve to put the ball into the corner and along the back wall. Is getting weak return of serves from opponents. Starting to control the lob serve.
Return of Service
Is learning to use the overhand and underhand shots to the ceiling when returning serves to the weak side but has difficultly keeping the return out of center court. Has begun to cut the lob serve off.
Defense
Has begun to understand the difference between ‘controlled’ and ‘uncontrolled’ defense. Using the overhand and punch to the ceiling, straight and ‘V’ pass consistently from the strong side and beginning to use them from the weak side. Also beginning to use the 3-wall wrap around from the strong side.
Offense
Attempting and controlling ‘kill’ shots with more regularity. Kill percentage just over 50% from the short line and to the front wall and considerably less than 50% from the short line to the back wall. Kill shot tends to stay up. Beginning to look for the offensive opportunity. Does not have enough control to have much offense from the weak side. Hard hit pass shots an drives are primary source of offense.
Back-wall
From the strong side returns are made as offense shots by using the straight kill and pass shots as well as the ‘V’ pass. Occasionally uses the ‘cross’ court kill. From the weak side the ‘V’ pass is the primary return. Moves with the ball into the corners to take the return with the strong hand.
Shot Anticipation
Beginning to watch the body position of opponent looking for an offensive opportunity. Able to read most shots but does not move until the ball is hit. Still not watching the ball at all times. Tends to play either too far up or too far back.
Experience
Has played over 1 year, has tournament experience and has advanced more than 1 round in the lower division. May enter ‘B’ division but has not advanced.
Basic Strokes
Knows and can execute all the basic strokes from both sides but hand-errors continue to be a problem, especially from the weak side. Staying on the ‘balls’ of the feet, turning sideways, setting up behind the ball and following through on most shots from the strong side and many shots from the weak side. Has begun to experiment with putting spin on the ball. Uses the bent elbow and cupped hand almost all of the time from the strong side and usually from the weak side. Front shoulder stays closed from the strong side but occasionally ‘opens’ too soon from the weak side. Uses the ‘fist’ shot from both sides.
Service
Has developed confidence in a least one serve. Seldom has out or double fault serves. Mixes up the serves and keeps the serve off the back wall with consistency. Attempts to ‘hook’ the serve on occasion and has some success with the ‘natural’.
Return of Service
Able to return all but the best serves. Understands specific returns of serve for specific serves. Will move with the ball in the corner to take the ball with the strong hand and do a 3-wall pass or corner kill.
Defense
Uses all the basic defense shots from the strong side and can control a couple of them from the weak side. Using ‘controlled’ defense shots from the strong side until an offensive opportunity opens up. Weak side defense shots are still somewhat ‘uncontrolled’. Has begun to use the 3-wall wrap and punch to the ceiling from the weak side. Plays long rallies with lots of ‘controlled’ defense.
Offense
Looks for and tries to take advantage of an offensive opportunity. Ending the rally with a ‘kill’ shot continues to be inconsistent and ways of ending rallies limited. Use of the fly kill and pass has been added to offense shots.
Back-wall
Letting more balls go to the back wall and turning many returns into offensive opportunities from the strong side. Consistently has a good point of contact by letting the ball get forward before stroking. Is able to hit controlled defense returns from the weak side but still has difficulty going on the offense from the back wall. Footwork is very good from the strong side and good from the weak side. Occasionally can hop the ball off the back wall from the strong side.
Shot Anticipation
Has good knowledge of where the ball is headed. Is consistently moving based upon the body position of the opponent. Knows what shot should be used in given situation but lacks execution. Court positioning is improving.
Experience
Has played over 2 years, has played in several tournaments and either has or could win a ‘C’ division. May enter Open or ‘A’ division but has not advanced.
Basic Strokes
Has all the basic strokes with a consistent point of contact from both sides. Seldom makes a hand error from either side. Gets ‘sideways’ from both sides. Has very good control from the strong side and good control from the weak side.
Service
Has confidence in several serves. Can ‘hook’ the ball using a ‘natural’ and has an occasional ‘reverse’ hook. Serve seldom comes off the back wall. Can run the ball down the walls and serves often hit the ‘crack’. Goes for the “ace” on occasion and often kills the return of service.
Return of Service
Can put opponent on the defense on all but the best serves. Knows and executes all the specific return of service shots. Seldom gets trapped in the back court.
Defense
Has all the defense shots from both sides. Has a good ‘controlled’ defense and can run most balls down.
Offense
Can end most rallies when given an offensive opportunity from the strong side. Has some offense from the weak side if allowed to ‘set up’. Can kill to either corner and shots usually stay down. Uses the ‘V’ pass offensively from both sides.
Back-wall
Most back wall returns are offensive returns from the strong side and usually from the weak side as well. Kill shots off the back wall are common.
Shot Anticipation
Beginning to look one or two shots ahead. Usually is moving to where the ball will be before the ball is stroked.
Experience
Has played over 2 years, has played in several tournaments including open events and a capable of winning at ‘B’ or ‘C’ level. May enter the ‘Open’ but has not made the finals.
Basic Strokes
Has all the basic strokes and it is difficult to determine which is the strong side. Can control the ball with both hands.
Service
Has at least one consistently effective serve.
Return of Service
Can return all but the ‘ace’ serve.
Defense
Has a variety of effective defensive shots.
Offense
Opportunities are converted most of the time from either side.
Back-wall
Opportunities are converted most of the time from either side.
Shot Anticipation
Knows sequence of shots before ball is contacted. Seldom out of position and holds center court.
Experience
Has played over 2 years and played in several tournaments including open events and capable of winning at all levels.