KAT BLANCO & JULI SCHAFER
PPR & RPO Certified Coaches
Skill Levels
Emerging
“On the Rise”
New or somewhat new to pickleball, learning rules, scoring, and basic strokes.
Player Focus: building rally confidence, consistency, and footwork.
rising INTERMEDIATE
“Improving Fundamentals”
Serving and returning consistently, starting to dink and transition.
Focus: soft game development, third shot options, positioning.
SOLID INTERMEDIATE
"Finding Consistency"
Understands rules/strategy, rallies are more consistent, can dink with some control.
Focus: drop vs. drive decisions, purposeful dinking, resets.
DEVELOPING COMPETITIVE
"Sharpening Strategy"
Can sustain drops and dinks under pressure, starting to use pace and placement.
Focus: transition zone, speed-up control, defending/initiating fast hands.
COMPETITIVE
"Playing the Game"
Solid strategy, confident at the Non-volley Zone, consistent soft game under pressure.
Focus: shot disguise, anticipation, advanced doubles strategy, tournament play.