New Club members who do not have outside ratings are assigned an initial Club rating of 2.0. 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.

The goal is to create a reasonably objective rating system that aligns with the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP)/USA Pickleball Association (USAPA), International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association (IPTPA) skill rating guidelines and addresses the GVPC member concerns about the current and prior club rating systems. The overarching goals/philosophy for the Green Valley Recreation Pickleball Club ratings process are to provide players with a clear system to understand requirements for each skill level and provide opportunities to: • Demonstrate awareness of, ability to find, and basic understanding of the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP)/USA Pickleball Association Rules • Understand specific shots, court positioning, and strategy for requisite skill level • Demonstrate specific shots for requisite skill level • Provide players the opportunity to demonstrate execution of skills, court positioning and strategy in a game situation for requisite skill level • Clarify process and elements required for members requesting transfer of a rating from another organized club

There is more than one way to obtain a club rating. Green Valley Recreation Pickleball Club provides skill ratings preparatory and testing sessions for active club members during high season - mid October through April. Details on requirements and how to participate are located in the club's Policy Manual and on the Ratings tab under Player Development. Players can also obtain a rating through participation in tournaments that have the appropriate sanctioning by USA Pickleball.(https://usapickleball.org/tournaments/tournament-player-ratings/) Finally, players can go through International Pickleball Players Teaching Association (IPTPA)(https://iptpa.com/player-steps-to-get-an-iptpa-rating/).

The club believes it is important to follow established processes (such as IPTPA) and make adjustments as needed. e.g. IPTPA moved to use "ghost doubles" in 2021 and our GVRPBC will adopt this in October 2022.

The 3 distinct testing steps that are required are as follows: 1. USAPA rules test. Required to proceed to the second step of testing. 2. Skills test. 3. Game play to demonstrate the ability to score points. The skills test will be conducted first, then followed immediately by the game test. Each test will have a passing score depending upon the skill level.

The basic goal of this requirement is to demonstrate that the Testee has some knowledge of the rules and also knows where to find the rules of Pickleball. Taking the USAPA rules test does not require a minimum score to pass. However, evidence of taking the test will need to be provided to the GVPC Ratings Coordinator. Emailing the score received to the Ratings Coordinator fulfills this requirement.

Progressing through the various ratings requires improving the proficiency of various skills and being able to demonstrate the skills verifies this proficiency. In order to remain as objective as possible the skills test is modeled after IPTPA recommendations and how they test. As with the IPTPA, 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. Rating specific proficiency and not perfection is the goal of this test.

The ball Feeder has been trained to consistently deliver returnable balls to the Testee. The Testee should be focused on the incoming ball, adjust position and hit their shot. At the higher levels the Testee should expect ball feeds of varying speed, placement and spin. The Feeder alone will determine whether a ball feed should be redone.

During the Skills testing, there will be a line judge that will determine if the Testee returned the ball within the appropriate boundaries. If the call is too close to call, the benefit of the doubt will go to the Testee.

Ghost Doubles is a pickleball game played against one other person using half of the court on each side of the net. The player will stand on the right side when their score is even and on the left side when their score is odd. In some cases, players will play diagonally while in other cases they will play straight across. For testing purposes, the players will play three games to 11 points. Rally scoring will be used (i.e., the player winning the rally receives a point regardless of whether they served the ball). The players will switch ends when one player reaches 6. The testee will be required to win 23 points during the three games. See the following document for a diagram and further explanation of Ghost Doubles Play.

The game play portion demonstrates the Testee's ability to apply the skills as dictated by the game situation.

It depends on how many Testees. e.g.: Scenario #1 - 3 Testees - each will play against two Testees and one Control Player. Scenario #2 - 2 Testees - each will play against one Testee and the Control Player twice. Scenario #3 - 1 Testee - will play against the Control Player three times. The Control Player selected for the game portion of testing will be rated at the skill level to which you are testing. They will have a minimum of one year at that skill level.

The purpose of a rating is to allow like skilled players to play competitively with other like skilled players. Ratings will apply to Skill Level Play (SLP) and Round Robins. It also provides a baseline for those that wish to play on a league team. During open play and playing with friends on reserved courts, a rating is not required.

You are encouraged to participate in SLP (Single Level Play) at the level you are rated. This allows more competitive matches during those events. You can play with those at the next higher rating a couple different ways. You can play at courts/times scheduled for open play or by inviting players of the next higher rating to play with you and reserving court/time. Many players are always looking for an excuse to play more pickleball! However, if you feel that you have the skills of the next higher rating and wish to play at the higher level during SLP then consider testing up.

Yes, players are encouraged to identify those players at a higher level and to approach them for arranged games. Also, the club continues to review and organize opportunities during winter (Oct-May) and summer months (Jun-Sep). Keep in mind that winning a game is not always the best way to determine the skills you need to work on. It can help, but the skills required to advance to the next Rating are posted on our website, including what the testing involves, how the testing is performed and what is required to pass. Members are encouraged to practice these specific skills by drilling before signing up to be tested to the next higher rating.

For the other 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 goals and requirements must align with the goals (as stated above) of the GVRPC in order to be considered. The other club’s documentation must be sent directly to the GVRPC for review. A simple letter from the other club, whether from a member or an officer, stating the other club’s member’s rating is not sufficient to begin consideration.

It seems that there are no two pickleball clubs that have exactly the same rating process. However, it appears that most organized clubs that have a structured rating process seem to take the sanctioning organizations’ recommendations and apply it to their club’s needs. In this respect the GVRPBC's new rating system appears to be consistent with those clubs.

The overriding goal of the GVRPC rating process is to demonstrate proficiency in the appropriate pickleball skills for the given rating as defined by sanctioning organizations and adopted by the GVRPC and other clubs. Being a 5.0 rated Tennis player does not require proficiency in pickleball skills and therefore would not be considered as a suitable substitute.

This rating process will not succeed without the support of its members. As members, we all own this process which in turn, means that we can change it if it seems that it is not meeting our club’s needs. It will also take VOLUNTEERS! It should be noted that both Saddlebrook and Quail Creek pickleball clubs use IPTPA to rate their club members. Unlike the GVRPC process, the IPTPA service is a paid service - i.e., in these other clubs it costs the Testee money to go through testing.

Yes, we have the following: 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. Watch the Events tab in Pickleball Plus for signups and additional events as they become available.

To be successful, a member must pass both the Skills and Game Tests. If either one is not passed, then the Skills and Game Tests will need to be taken again. Exception: Those members who are game eligible after Ratings Testing ended in April 2022, will be eligible for the game test in the Fall 2022. They will not have to retake the Skills Test.