When The Teacher Becomes The Student

Every time I walk on court for a private lesson or a group clinic, my goal is to have the students leave the court having successfully and satisfactorily acquired the knowledge and information which they were seeking.

In addition to that, I always try to learn something from my students.

I recently had a lesson with a gentleman who was new to the sport of pickleball. He was very athletic and well-coordinated and had already conquered the fundamentals of basic stroke production. He was seeking me out to gain knowledge on strategies of the game.

As he and I got to know one another, I came to find out he was a retired naval aviator, who had been a flight instructor, aka, Top Gun!

He already had a sound understanding of the concept of point play in the kitchen, and as I began to explain the theory of tracking the flight of a pickleball through the area of the no volley zone, I immediately realized that not only was I preaching to the choir, but that he was the preacher and I was the choir!

As our lesson progressed, he started referring to the pickleball as a bogey, and he went into a detailed explanation of how to effectively anticipate and track the movement, trajectory and speed of an incoming object.

He went on to explain how in a competitive environment, there is a structured process utilized by combat pilots to make critical choices in an instant; whether to react by either utilizing a defensive maneuver to attempt to regain control of the situation, or to strike in an offensive maneuver and successfully accomplish the task at hand. He concluded by saying that the same structured process relates to making critical strategic decisions in competitive sports.

He confirmed with me, as a fellow instructor, the importance of understanding and effectively utilizing our own individual strengths and capabilities, but at the same time, comprehending big and respecting our limitations.

He then emphasized that a vital part of the application of all of which we were discussing requires having practiced specific maneuvers and strategies which you could choose from - much like moves in a chess game or choosing the right card to play out of your hand.

Needless to say, I had come to realize that while I was enlightening him as to the proper method of strategies that related to a point in pickleball, he was enlightening me as to a whole new way of watching, tracking and anticipating the movement of an object that is directly related to my current and future position, as well as being aware of options which may (or may not) be available, to allow me to effectively and successfully accomplish my task of being victorious.

It was one of the best lessons I have ever given, or should I say taken!

I have not seen this gentleman again since that lesson, however I feel confident that whatever level of pickleball he competes in, he will be a very formidable opponent.

And as a partner, I would be proud to be his wingman any day!

Wayne Clark is a professional tennis instructor with over 25 years’ experience coaching players on all levels of the game. Wayne is also qualified in pickleball instruction and is on staff as an instructor with The Naples Pickleball Center and Training Academy at East Naples Community Park. Contact Coach Wayne by email at coachwayneclark@aol.com, or by phone or text at 239-450-6161.