Keeping score in Pickleball
Keeping score seems to be very confusing for some players. This is especially true of players who are taking up a raquet sport for the first time. Players they can only score a point if they are serving. The right hand court always starts to serve first when their side gets to serve. The serving team switches sides when they get a point. The server and only the server should call out the serve before they start. However, in the early stages of playing a game, it is more important that everyone help each other learn the scoring system and what court they should be in.
The sequence of scoring is their score first, opponents’ score next and the server number last. When starting a game, the team starting gets only one serve. The score to start is 0, 0, 2. Explain that the server is number 2 because of the one serve rule. Players should help each other with the scoring. If one partner is having trouble remembering, the other partner can state the score and have them explain how they figured it out. This is where it is really helpful to have players teaching each other. Games are to 11 points or if tied then the winning team needs to win by 2 points.
It's like driving a vehicle in a confusing environment. One in which there are unclear markers, lack of signage and a variety of bad design and placement of such that lend or play a vital role in band driving characteristics.
ReplyDeleteLet me explain as briefly as I can. Not even taking into consideration the fact that numerous elderly players are genuinely beset by Dimentia, Alzheimer's, loss of short term and cognitive memory as well as hearing. The scoring system as currently used is somewhat flawed especially if you consider these setbacks. When you are expected to rattle off numbers in quick succession as is done now it gets confusing for a lot of people. Recommend teaching them how to score and by using words as well.
Examples would be first/second serve, side out and so on.
Consider that a good number have never played other racket sports and that poses quite a challenge. Even if they have participated PB scoring is unlike that of other sports. Some don't know that the servers score is the first number of the three and must be said first. They constantly flip flop the two and in the end confusion ensues.
I have helped hordes of people understand all the rules, how to make calls as well as to only call the outs. Not both ins and outs. They also insist on calling lines, the few times that they do, from way over on the other side of the net. For Heaven's sake, it's not that complicated at all. Only call the ones on your side of the net, period. Nobody that's a fair and good sport will intentionally call a good shot 'out'. If it's your call and you and your partner are unsighted, pleeeeease do not get into a discussion. Just give the opponents the call or rather the point. HELP!