IPTPA Assessments
The International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association (IPTPA) offers a formal rating system assessed by Certified Rating Specialists (CRS), using structured skills tests and match play.
Benefits of IPTPA assessments
Objective evaluation of skills
Clear improvement roadmap
Better placement into organized play
Recognition across clubs and organizations
The International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association (IPTPA) is one of the most respected coaching and assessment organizations in pickleball. IPTPA skills assessments provide a structured evaluation of a player's technical and tactical abilities.
2.5 – Beginner
Players at this level are learning the fundamentals.
Typical characteristics:
• Can sustain short rallies
• Learning proper serve and return and ladders at your verified level
• Limited shot variety
• Developing basic positioning
• Beginning to understand scoring and rules
Focus Areas:
• Consistency
• Basic strategy
• Court positioning
3.0 – Low Intermediate
Players can maintain longer rallies and are beginning to develop control.
Typical characteristics:
• More consistent serve and return
• Can sustain dinking rallies
• Beginning third-shot drop attempts
• Improved positioning and teamwork
Focus Areas:
• Shot consistency
• Kitchen control
• Third-shot development
3.5 – Upper Intermediate
Players demonstrate solid consistency and basic strategy.
Typical characteristics:
• Reliable serves and returns
• Consistent dinking exchanges
• Effective third-shot drops or drives
• Better court awareness
• Improved shot selection
Focus Areas:
• Reset shots
• Transition zone play
• Strategic placement
4.0 – Advanced
Players demonstrate strong control and tactical awareness.
Typical characteristics:
• Consistent third-shot drops
• Effective resets and transition play
• Strategic shot placement
• Strong defensive skills
• Controlled pace and tempo
Focus Areas:
• Advanced strategy
• Offensive patterns
• Team communication
4.5+ – Elite
Players demonstrate high-level strategy and precision.
Typical characteristics:
• Exceptional consistency
• Advanced shot selection
• High-level court awareness
• Effective attack and defense balance
• Strong tournament competitiveness
Focus Areas:
• Shot disguise
• Strategic patterns
• Pressure play
Meet your Certified Rating Specialist (CRS) Team
Kurt Noonan
IPTPA Certified Rating Specialist (CRS-4)
Kurt Noonan serves as an IPTPA Certified Rating Specialist (CRS-4) at The Premier Pickleball Club in Redmond, Oregon. Kurt becomes the third active CRS evaluator in the state of Oregon joining PPC’s John Appleton (CRS-5) giving Central Oregon two CRS evaluators. Working in partnership, they conduct thorough player assessments and skill verifications. With his CRS-4 designation, Kurt is able to administer all IPTPA player skill assessments up through the 3.5 level. In 2019, through the insistence of his son Dalen, Kurt began his pickleball journey playing singles. After the COVID years Kurt started playing doubles and quickly became addicted to the game. In December of 2025 Kurt attained his IPTPA 4.0 designation. His blend of playing experience, approachability, training and CRS-4 certification guarantees that his rating sessions are reliable, impartial, and consistent with IPTPA’s high national and international standards. Kurt, through his work at The Premier Pickleball Club, helps participants prepare for organized play, leagues, ladders, and tournaments, while supporting the competitive growth of Central Oregon’s rapidly expanding pickleball scene.
