Background Information
One of the major challenges I had as a training and strategy consultant during my 35-year “first career” was designing ways to transfer learning from the conference or meeting room to daily operations. Sinking lots of money and time into training without a return on that investment was not something senior leaders or business owners wanted to hear.
I’ve taken this same challenge on as a Certified Pickleball Coach and Teaching Professional. How can I/we ensure that lessons, drilling, coached gameplay, or other “training investments” result in measurable and tangible skill and performance improvement?
I use three “assessment systems” at SCHH to measure progress of skill development and improvement in gameplay performance. They are:
- AI Video Analysis
- Gameplay Checks
- IPTPA Skill-Level Ratings
AI Video Analysis
I utilize two AI-powered video analysis systems to provide “visual feedback” and “pickleball analytics” to clients. One system is from PB Vision™ and the other is from VAIR™. VAIR stands for Visually Assessed International Rating.
Both systems use AI to analyze gameplay video and provide in-depth feedback that can be used to focus coaching as well as measure progress and improvement over time.
Here’s a pickleball coach and one of his clients discussing the value of PB Vision:
Analyzed results from PB Vision are very detailed, thorough, and easy-to-understand and track. The six major areas tracked by the PB Vision AI system include: Kitchen Game, Ball Control, Defense, Offense, Court IQ, and Targeting.
VAIR summarizes analytics in a similar fashion. The six areas they track for players are Serve, Dinking, Return of Serve, Speedups, Third Shot Drops, and Resets.
Interested in Learning More About PB Vision and VAIR?
Visit the PB Vision Demo Gallery on PB Vision’s website to see how their system analyzes games involving players at different skill levels. And be sure to check out the section on Single Game Skill Ratings.
Then, visit the VAIR website for more information about their AI platform and the services they offer players around the world.
Gameplay Checks
Gameplay Checks are conducted at the same time I videotape two of your games for analysis on the PB Vision and VAIR platforms. We schedule a time when you and your partners are available to come to court 20 at the West Amenity Center (my “home base” for coaching and videotaping gameplay).
During play, I observe and evaluate your games across 22 indicators in these eight major areas:
- Footwork, movement, and readiness
- Shot preparation and setup
- Court positioning and coverage
- Teamwork and communication
- Shot selection
- Shot quality (1st four shots)
- Defensive resets
- Gameplay strategy
We then meet a few days later to review the analytics generated by these AI-powered systems and the observations from my Gameplay Checks. I’ll help you understand the results, discuss needed improvements, and integrate this information into our next coaching session or to plan next steps (if this is the first time we’ve worked together).
IPTPA Skill-Level Ratings
As an IPTPA Certified Rating Specialist and Teaching Professional, I utilize their Skill-Level Assessments to guide planning of coaching sessions as well as provide feedback to players on skill development.
For those serious about advancing to the next level of skill, I utilize the objective Rating System from IPTPA to confirm ability to perform at a higher level of skill. I’ve been using this rating system with clients since early 2021 and have guided over 150 players (in the PNW and Arizona) through the process.
One of my goals as a Professional Pickleball Instructor for the SCHH Pickleball Club is to increase the number of players who advance to a higher skill level. The IPTPA Skill-Level Rating System is how I’ll provide evidence this goal has been achieved.
IPTPA Skill Assessments are available for players seeking to advance to the 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5 levels of skill. I’ve included two examples below for your review. Contact me if you’d like to learn more about the IPTPA Rating System, including how to schedule a Readiness Check.
Ready to Take Your Game to the Next Level?