PLAYER SKILL LEVEL
The following guide is to self rate your skill level in Pickleball. CONSISTENCY of all the points is the KEY.

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Choosing the right Skill Level helps everyone enjoy fair, fun, and competitive games. We want everyone to find the best fit so all players get their best game possible.

RATINGS COMMITTEE UPDATE - January 13, 2026

The Pickleball Ratings Committee will begin rating players who wish to move up from one skill level to the next.

Rating sessions will take place on Wednesday evenings from 7:00–9:00 PM, beginning January 21, at the Tech for the players that the committee has contacted. We understand that some members may not be able to attend a Wednesday evening time slot, and the committee will do its best to accommodate those players when possible.

If you believe you have the skills to move up to the next level and have thoroughly reviewed the Skill Levels (see below), please email soopickleball.ratings@gmail.com. A committee member will contact you to arrange your evaluation.

If you have previously emailed the committee, there is no need to send another email—a committee member will be in touch with you.

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New Ratings Committee

Recently, the SooPickleball Executive established a Ratings Committee composed of representatives from each skill level, along with one board representative. The committee’s mandate is twofold:

1. To assess players who wish to move from one skill level to the next.

2. To evaluate players who have self-rated at a level above their current skill level.

​The Ratings Committee has developed a comprehensive Skills Rating Grid designed to help committee members accurately assess a player’s skill level through demonstrated abilities. The grid is currently in its testing phase and is expected to be fully implemented in January.

In addition, the committee is actively working on a process to assess players who are currently playing in a level above their skill level.

With this in mind, we ask all members to carefully review the Player Skill Level guidelines outlined below. If, after reviewing them, you believe you may be playing at a level above your current skill level, or if you are regularly losing regardless of who you partner with, please contact soopickleball.communications@gmail.com and you can be switched into the appropriate level in playtimescheduler. 

Thank you for your cooperation as we work to ensure fair and enjoyable play for all members.

SooPickleball Ratings Committee

soopickleball.ratings@gmail.com

 

The following guide is to self rate your skill level in Pickleball. CONSISTENCY of all the points is the KEY

RECREATIONAL 

• Plays pickleball for a FUN, SOCIAL time!

• Enjoys a slower paced game and not comfortable with hard hit balls.

• Knows the rules, working on a consistent serve, and can maintain a rally when ball is within mobility range.

INTERMEDIATE (INT):

• Enjoys a competitive game, within mobility range.

• Consistently gets serve in.

• Capable of relatively fast, longer rallies.

• Good forehand ground strokes; backhand noticeably weaker.

• Slower reaction times due to strategic moves of opponents.

• Beginning to develop dinking accurately, and transitioning from fast to slow.

• Still not really comfortable with hard hitting shots from opponents.

• Beginning to learn some strategy to affect the flow of the game.

 HIGH INTERMEDIATE (HIGH INT):

• Competitive player, with experience or interest in tournament play.

• Quick reflexes and reaction.

• Very mobile and can recover quickly from scrambles.

• Consistent serves, and deep serve returns.

• Comfortable with hard hitting, fast 

ADVANCED (ADV):

• Very competitive player with tournament experience and a recognized rating, or a proven history of consistent high level play.

• Quick reflexes and reaction and very mobile.

• Serves, returns, dinking, resets, 3rd shot drops/drives are all consistent, and used during play to affect the outcome of the game.

• Can transition from hard to soft game and vice versa as needed.

• Can read and react to opponents style of play and adjust strategy accordingly.

• Works with partner to set up winning shots