Pickleball Clinic at Kings Point

The Florida State Senior Games Pickleball event is just around the corner, and players across the state continue to practice for the competition.

The Kings Pointe Picklebll League invited Rich Donald, USAPA Ambassador from Wesley Chapel to provide an Intermediate/Advanced Pickleball Skills/Drills Clinic to help their tournament players prepare for the tournament.

Not only were the tournament players there, but many of the other league members came to participate. Even Ft. Myers Ambassadors, Nancy Meyer and Cindy Eddleman, who will also be competing in the Senior Games, made the two hour drive to Kings Point to attend the clinic

Everyone worked hard, but still had a great time. Louann Dubendorf does a great job of planning both training, competitive and fun events for the league members.

Hope you enjoy these pictures from their clinic.


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Here's Rich talking to the group, demonstrating for the group and getting them involved in the clinic.

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A little one on one, a little demonstration, and the group takes to the court to practice the cross step, the forehand and back hand strokes.

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The group practices some forehand/backhand drills, dinking, lobs and volleys.

For more information on this event and Kings Point Pickelball League in Sun City Center, Fl visit

Pickelball Clinic

http://www.gotpickleball.com/

Pickleball introduced to Winston-Salem YMCA's

Submitted by Laura Patterson
Local Ambassador, Winston-Salem, NC

Laura was introduced to pickleball out in the State of Michigan and couldn't wait to get home to Winston-Salem to spread the news and share this great game. She joined USAPA in July of 2009 and was enthusiastically accepted into the Ambassador Program. She been very busy and just recently returned from the USAPA National Tournament in Buckeye, AZ. It was just a few days after returning home that she got to work............She shares this story of first success, and how she turned what could have been a not-so-good start to her birthday into pickleball success.

I had an informal demo at the Fulton YMCA on Wednesday, November 11, 2009. This was my birthday and I was at the Y from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The director had told me to come over and set up that morning but he forgot that the children were out of school that day and they basically had use of every inch of the gym.


I asked him if I could set up in the racquetball court and he said sure and then he put me in contact with the child care director. She wanted to know more about the sport and to see if I could bring in some of the children during the day and teach them the game.


I worked with 2 different groups ; from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. (1st and 2nd graders) and 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. (4th and 5th graders). The court size was modified (I used masking tape on the racquetball floor) but we went over all the rules and played a few games on the modified court.

In between working with the children, I would catch people (mostly seniors) finishing up their workouts (walking and exercise machines) and ask them if they would like to learn a new sport. I was able to work with about 5 or 6 seniors and all of them wanted to know, "how we could get this sport offered at the Y". I also had a family of 3 come in and try the game but the best part of all was the director and a couple of his staff members came in to play and they loved the game! He said he would love to set up a couple of courts but he didn't have the dimensions. I gave him a couple of handouts with the court dimensions and the basic rules of the game.

Fun was had by all!!!

.......................... I will have a formal demo at one of the other YMCA's on Saturday, November 21, 2009.

2009 USAPA National Tournament

Atlantic South Players SHINE as they represent our Region at the 2009 USAPA Nationals in Buckeye, AZ.
The tournament ended just a few days ago and approximately 700 participants have now retuned to their home parks. Many players from our Regions travelled to Buckeye, AZ, including our ASR Local Ambassadors Cindy Eddleman and Nancy Myers from Ft. Myers, Fl., Rich Skaare from Summerfield, Fl, and Laura Patterson from Winston-Salem, NC.

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the milestone event and special recognition to our Atlantic South Medal Winners

Men’s Singles
Rich Skaare , Summerfield, Fl - Gold, 65-69
Jim Wright – The Villages, Fl - Bronze, 65-69

Woman’s Singles
Nancy Meyer, Ft.Myers, Fl – Silver, 50-54
Deb Harrison, The Villages, Fl – Bronze, 60-64
Rosemarie Pietromonaco, The Villages, Fl – Bronze, 65-69
Jean Kiker, The Villages, Fl – Gold 70-79

Men’s Doubles
Bill Freeman and Jeff Shank, The Villages, Fl – Gold 55-59
Frank Cherill and Tom Nonnemacher, The Villages, Fl – Silver 55-59
Jim Wright, The Villages and Rich Skaare, Summerfield, Fl – Gold 65-69

Woman’s Doubles
Judy Kelly and Nancy Nowak, The Villages, Fl – Silver 60-64
Jean Kiker and Rosemarie Pietromonaco, The Vilalges, Fl – Bronze 65-69

Mixed Doubles
Deb Harrison, Bill Freeman, The Vilalges, Fl – Gold 60-64

Atlantic South SWEEPS 65-69 Mixed Doubles:
Sue Crader and Rich Skaare, Summerfield, Fl – Gold
Jean Kiker and Jim Wright, The Villages, Fl – Silver
Rosemarie Pietromonaco and Robert Fox, The Villages – Bronze

Senior Woman’s Masters 50-64
Deb Harrison and Diane Bock, The Vilalges, Fl – Bronze

Senior Men’s Legends 65-69
Jim Wright, The Villages and Rich Skaare, Summerfiled, Fl – Silver

Senior Woman’s Legends 65-69
Jean Kiker and Rosemarie Pietromonaco, The Villages- Fl – Silver

Five Pickleball Clubs from accross the county were displayed on the pickleballcoach banner that was displayed at the National event. These five clubs (three from our Atlantic South Region) were recognized as featured supporters of "Coach Mo" and his picklebllcoach website. They included, Tanglewood Pickleball Club, Sebring, Fl, MeadowPointe Pickleball, Wesley Chapel, Fl, Cajun Picklers, LaFayatte, La., Michigan Pickleball,. and Plantation Pickleball Club, Leesburg, Fl.

CLICK HERE for ALL Results

CLICK HERE for the Photo Gallery

North Caroilina Pickleball........

Submitted by John Stevens
Charlotte, NC


Pickleball is alive and well in Charlotte, North Carolina. As a recent transplant to Charlotte from Cincinnati, Ohio, I joined the Levine Jewish Community Center to workout and play tennis. The first day that I came to workout, I was introduced to the game of Pickleball by two of the members and now I play every day that I can. As a former avid tennis player, it was very easy for me to pick up, but I never dreamed that I would enjoy it more than tennis.

Meet Irv, Bob, Robert, Al, Virginia and Don - a few of the players from the "J".

The Levine Jewish Community Center plays host to three pickleball courts Monday - Friday from 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Currently, we have between 6 - 12 regular players but would love to have more. A membership is not required to play Pickleball at the "J", however a nominal guest fee is charged for non-members.

Check the right side bar where we have started a slide show for the Levine JCC Pickleball Players.

KEEP IN SHAPE WITH SENIOR GAMES
by Lisa Coffey
November 9th, 2009 07:32pm
www.Theledger.com

Senior athletes, you have until Nov. 20 to register on line for the 2009 Florida Senior Games State Championships to be held in Lee County and Cape Coral, Dec. 5-13.

These games are open to the top five finishers in their respective qualifying meets. However, there are several events that are open to everyone. Those events are archery, billiards, bocce, pickleball, powerlifting, race walk, racquetball, 5k and 10K runs, softball and beach and indoor volleyball.

For more, e-mail Nick Gandy at games@flasports.com
or visit www.flasports.com.

ANOTHER TIP FROM COACH MO.....

PLAY PICKLEBALL LIKE A SMART BOXER

A boxer always jabs with his left hand waiting patiently for an opening to connect with a K.O. swinging right hand.

A pickleball player should jab at his volleys [extension at the elbow joint] waiting patiently for the ball to be the proper height [12 inches or higher above the net] and proper speed [not to fast] before hitting a K.O. swinging
Volley shot.

If a boxer used his powerful right hand too often he would probably be knocked out cold.

The same thing applies to a pickleball player who does not work the point with his jab volley waiting for the proper time for a swinging volley.

COACH MO

Check out all of Coach Mo''s tips at http://www.pickleballcoach.com

Florida Pickleball Club Participates in Annual "Hi Neighbor" Event

Hi Neighbor! ushers in busy season in SCC
By LAURA CONE THE SUN
Published: November 4, 2009

It would not be November in Sun City Center without pumpkins, sweater weather - and the annual Hi Neighbor! event.

John Bowker, director of the Sun City Center Information Center, said representatives from more than 95 clubs and organizations have signed up to participate in this year's showcase of the community set for Nov. 5 from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Bowker, who has hosted the SCC Community Association-sponsored event for the past 15 years, expects more than 500 people to attend Hi Neighbor! at Community Hall.

He sent out 327 letters of invitation to people who have arrived in Sun City Center since the last Hi Neighbor! in November 2008. The event is open to everyone living in SCC............
....

Sun City Center Pickleball was one of those clubs that participated in this event. Below is a message from Mike Perkins, the Club's President.

"Our "Hi Neighbor" event went fairly smoothly last night. There was a problem getting power to our table, but after that was resolved, people enjoyed viewing the USAPA dvd. Due to the limitations of our set-up, it was difficult to display the banner, as the heighth of the table was a little low. We did the best that we could, and I've attached a photo of our table with the banner and four members of our Club: (left to right) Mike Perkins, Bill Smith, Janet Smith and Wayne Chattin. The event was very well attended, so we informed many new, prospective members about pickleball. Everyone seemed to enjoy talking with us and asking questions about our sport. The USAPA video provided a great visual support, and lots of attendees held the display paddles and balls and seemed eager to give pickleball a try. "

Here's a link to the SCC Pickleball Club's website: SCC Picleball

Jacksonville, Fl Senior Games

The Jacksonville Senior Games were held on October 9th at the Cecil Gym and Fittness Center, on Lake Newman Street in Jacksonville, Fl.

Senior Games Director Mary Ferrell tells us, "This was our third year for Pickleball and it does grow each year. I am the director of the entire Jacksonville Senior Games; each sport had an Event Director who was responsible for coordinating that sport. The Pickleball Event Director contacted us and told us he had been involved in pickleball in Seattle and was friends with the guy who invented it. He is very passionate about pickleball".

Pickleball is still in its infancy in the Jacksonville area. The only place listed for pickleball is Sweetwater at Del Webb, where less than 20 players enjoy the sport. But despite the lack of places to play, participation in this event increased nearly 31% over last year. and this year they continued to welcome and accept walk-ups to the event. Pickleball was played as a double elimination event, and is a qualifier for the 2010 National Senior Games, Winter Festival to be held in Rochester, NY.

Entry into the games included Opening Ceremonies, a T-shirt, a welcome bag full of product samples and coupons, a follow up newsletter and most importantly, "a chance to renew friendships or start new ones".

Congratulations to all medal winenrs!!! Click Here for a complete lising of tournament winners.

Comments on USAPA National Pickleball Tournament

As posted on Mary Littlewood and Sandra Stultz Blog Pickleball Success
Oct 29th 2009

The first national tournament sponsored by the USA Pickleblall Association is being held in Buckeye, Arizona, November 2 to 8, 2009. One day in the future, this will be an historical event! It establishes the importance of the USAPA as being our national governing body and gives meaning to being a member. Only current members of the USAPA can compete in this tournament. There are a total of 701 entries in five different divisions - junior; young adult; adult; senior and open. The number of entries in the senior and open divisions indicate the escalating interest among the 50 and older pickleball players in this country. This tournament is a major “feather in the cap” of the USAPA!! The direction of pickleball in this country is up, up and up thanks to the many volunteers in the USAPA!

Makes you proud to be a member!

The Villages is Pickleball Paradise

as posted 10/30/09 - The Villages Florida Book

The Villages, boasting more than 100 pickleball courts, has been called the Mecca of Pickleball and was named the #1 Place to Live for Pickleball by Masters Athlete Magazine. Leagues, tournament and recreational players of all skill levels occupy the community’s courts year-round.

..................The USA Pickleball Association hosts tournaments and governs the game. Villagers recently competed in pickleball at the 29th Annual Tampa Bay Senior Games and at their own Senior Games.

Pickleball clinics are held regularly in The Villages and the community has several pickleball clubs, and certified instructors.

Click Here for complete article and pickleball video............Pickleball Paradise