Ratings
Club Skill Ratings
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a. Club Skill Ratings are Managed by the Ratings Committee
b. Rationale and Definition of Ratings
i. Pickleball ratings are defined by USAP (USA Pickleball) and are used to evaluate and designate the skill level of a pickleball players. Similar to golf and tennis, these ratings can be used to help find players who play at a comparable level.
ii. The Club has specific ratings standards and processes for each rating at and above 2.5. The Club's ratings rationale and process are not exactly the same as those of USAP but are informed by elements from USAP and IPTPA (International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association).
​iii. The goal of the Club’s ratings system is to allow the scheduling and management of the Club’s courts, while building a culture that supports individual play and skills improvement.
c. Unrated players/players new to Pickleball: Players new to pickleball and therefore not yet rated are encouraged to begin with PB 101, a Green Valley Recreation (GVR) course taught by the Club. (See the current version of the GVR Course Catalog for details). PB 101 will introduce you to the game and to the skills necessary to play at a 2.0 rating level.
d. New Club members who do not have outside ratings are assigned an initial Club rating of 2.0. This will allow the new member and the Club to assess their capabilities for consideration to higher ratings, either via the Club’s ratings testing process or approved recognition from other clubs or pickleball associations (details below).
e. For experienced players joining the Pickleball Club (GVRPC) as new members and who have a rating above 2.0, the member should send an email to: greenvalleypickleballclub@gmail.com documenting their UTPR rating, IPTPA rating, or their current club rating from an organized club to the Ratings Committee for consideration.
​ i. For another club’s rating to be considered, the other organized club must have a formal rating process that can be reviewed by the GVRPC. In addition, the other club’s rating assessment must align with GVRPC in order to be considered. The other club’s documentation must be sent directly to the GVRPC for review. Simply listing a rating without explanation of process is not sufficient. The Ratings Committee will make a determination based upon the submitted documentation and their observations of the new club member’s play.
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ii. The following ratings are not accepted by the Club: DUPR, WPR.
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iii. The Club will accept USAP’s UTPR (tournament derived), IPTPA, and possibly other club skill ratings as Club skill ratings. However, our Club’s ratings are not accepted as USAP or IPTPA skill ratings by these organizations.
iv. IPTPA testing can be scheduled directly through the IPTPA website for a fee.
f. Moving from 2.0 to 2.5: Achieving a 2.5 rating from the Club requires that the member pass the Club’s 2.5 ratings test. 2.5 ratings testing is administered by the coaches and staff of the Club’s Developing Skills (DS) program. A description of DS and how to sign up is provided on the Club’s website homepage. (Click the Player Development tab, then Skills Improvement). The skills required for the 2.0 and the 2.5 ratings are provided in the 2.5 Ratings Test Form below. Players are encouraged to become familiar with the required skills and to practice them if they wish to move up to a 2.5 rating. GVRPC Rating Test 2.0 to 2.5.pdf
g. RAP - Rating Assessment, Demo & Practice sessions are conducted during the rating period. These are optional (not required to sign up for a rating test) sessions for a player, who will be given the applicable skills test and learn how to play ghost doubles.
i. Highly recommended at least 2 weeks prior to Rating Test to identify which skills to concentrate on during practice. You will receive a copy of the skills test.
ii. Sign up in Pickleball Plus is required to attend.
iii. Testees are limited to 1 sign up per rating season.
h. The Club provides ratings evaluation via the Ratings Committee from September 1 through August 31 the following year.
i. Members desiring to be evaluated to advance to a higher skill level can follow the Club’s Skills Rating two step process.
i. Step 1: Player Rules Test
Take the online USA Pickleball Player Rules Test, click here.
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Upon completion of the test, the member will receive an email from USAP with the results.
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The member should forward this email to greenvalleypickleballclub@gmail.com.
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Once this confirmation is received by the Club, the requestor will be added to a group of members eligible to register for available testing slots for Skills/Game Test.
NOTE: You do not have to be a member of USA Pickleball to take the test. When registering for the test, simply leave the USAP field number blank. The Club does not require a passing score for the test as it is weighted toward tournament play and we realize that this will not be the reality for a majority of our players. The aim for this element is to ensure that club members know how to access the official rules of pickleball and have been exposed to interpretations of various play scenarios.​
ii. Step 2: Skills and Game Tests - Register via Pickleball.Plus after having submitted Rules Test results. (Limited to those who have been placed in the eligible group).
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The skills test will be conducted first, then followed immediately by the game test.
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The skills test will have a minimum passing score depending upon the skill level.
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The Testee will be notified if they passed the Skills Test after the finishing of the Game Test portion.​
1. Skills Test details: A number of different skills will be tested. Each skill is assigned an X number of attempts and a minimum target number of successful attempts. In order to remain as objective as possible, the skills test is modeled after IPTPA recommendations and how they test. A passing combined score for all skills tested is required. It should be noted that you could get zero points for a particular skill that can be offset by scoring high in another skill. Each skill level has its own criteria for passing.
2. Game Test details: The format for the game test will consist of two players on the court playing “ghost doubles” as defined by the IPTPA. Three games to 11 points, rally scoring, and changing ends at 6 points. 23 total points for the 3 games will be required to pass.
The Testee will play the games as follows:
Scenario #1: 3 Testees – Each will play against 2 Testees and 1 Control Player
Scenario #2: 2 Testees – Each will play against 1 Testees and the Control Player Twice
Scenario #3: 1 Testee - Will play against the Control 3 times.
3. To be successful, a Testee must pass both the Skills and Game Tests. They will be informed after completing the game test, whether they passed the skills test and game test.
4. If either test is not passed, then the Skills and Game Tests will need to be taken again.
j. Current forms outlining the skills along with responses to frequently asked questions are located in the Ratings and FAQ sections of the website.
GVRPBC Skill and Game Play Rating Test 2.5 to 3.0
GVRPBC Skill and Game Play Rating Test 3.0 to 3.5
GVRPBC Skill and Game Play Rating Test 3.5 to 4.0
Select here to access the Ratings FAQs.
k. A month interval shall be observed between unsuccessful skill/game attempts.
l. Testees will have a limit of 2 skill/game attempts per skill level during the rating year (September – August).
m. Testee needs to email GVRPC if they want to skip a skill level and test at the next higher level.
n. Members desiring to move down a skill level can submit a private request to the Ratings Committee at any time.
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Information for Testers
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