Karen Morse and pickleball students
Shireen Kolarik
The Quail Creek Pickleball Club has a new class. Karen Morse has developed a Footwork Clinic that emphasizes improving foot strength to enhance balance and footwork, which in turn aids movement and shot mechanics.
Karen has developed this clinic over the last two years and has experimented on willing pickleball players both in Quail Creek and Show Low. She has also earned an IPTPA (International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association) certification.
Throughout the clinic, Karen follows the educational process of “Learn One, Do One, Teach One” and repetition until skills are mastered. She also emphasizes the importance of encouraging yourself and others for participation and effort.
Karen has carefully structured the classes to provide warmup, foot therapy to improve foot strength, instruction on shot mechanics relative to footwork, and cooperative play to practice what was learned. The philosophy of Learn–Do-Teach is incorporated into the lessons. Students learn and do until they master the skill, then coach each other in a game situation.
The clinic requires a commitment of five weeks with two classes per week. The lessons build on each other and thus require this commitment. Eager students have already filled up the classes. After the clinic is completed, Karen will continue to drill and practice with students.
The Quail Creek Pickleball Club is fortunate to have dedicated volunteers such as Karen helping members develop their skills and improve play.