A Message from Florda Sports Foundation-Senior Games

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2009 FLORIDA SENIOR GAMES STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
SAVE THE DATE!

The Florida Sports Foundation invites you to participate in the 2009 Florida Senior Games State Championships, to be held December 5 - 13 in Lee County and the City of Cape Coral. The 2009 Florida Senior Games State Championships will be offering 10 Open Sports, making these sports open to all men and women, without having to qualify at a local senior games. The following are Open Sports, along with the dates and location of competition:

ARCHERY - December 5, Sherman Soccer Complex
BILLIARDS - December 11-13, Diamond Billiards Sports Bar and Grill
BOCCE - December 5-6, Veteran's Park - Cape Coral
PICKLEBALL - December 5-6, Rutenburg Community Park
POWERLIFTING - December 5, Florida Gulf Coast University(Masters Divisions Available)
5K RACEWALK - December 12, Rotary Park
RACQUETBALL - December 12-13, Naples Fitness Center
5K ROAD RACE - December 12, Rotary Park (Open to athletes of All Ages)
10K ROAD RACE - December 5, Centennial Park Register at http://www.ftmyerstrackclub.com/
SOFTBALL - December 8-9, Lee County Sports Complex
VOLLEYBALL - December 5-6, Estero Community Park
BEACH VOLLEYBALL - December 5-6, Estero Community Park

For additional information on the Florida Senior Games State Championships visit www.flasports.com or contact the Florida Sports Foundation at 866-FL-GAMES (866-354-2647) or games@flasports.com.

We look forward to seeing you in December!
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The Florida Sports Foundation has been providing amateur sport opportunities and supporting Florida's Olympians through the sale of the Olympic Spirit License Plate. In partnership with the United States Olympic Committee, the Olympic Spirit License Plate is available in Florida. Proceeds from the tag are used for programs of the Foundation including the Florida Senior Games State Championships and to provide training assistance to Florida's Olympians. When it is time to renew your license plate, choose the Olympic Spirit License Plate!

Florida Sports Foundation
2930 Kerry Forest Parkway, Suite 101
Tallahassee, Florida 32309
Toll-free: 866-354-2637
Local: 850-488-8347
Email: games@flasports.com
http://www.flasports.com/

Pickleball Proves a Popular Sport Among Seniors

By: Jasmine Ouhri/Ledger Correspondent
Photo by: Michael Wilson/The Ledger
Published: Sunday, July 26, 2009 at 12:01 a.m.
TheLedger.com

When Rosalie Sones moved to Solivita, an active adult retirement community in Poinciana, she wanted to be part of an activity that didn't sound old.

Shuffleboard sounded old to me," she said.

So instead she began playing pickleball.

"Pickleball is a cross between tennis, badminton and pingpong," said Polk Senior Games Director Deena Wilbur. Played on a court the size of a badminton court, it requires a 3-foot high net, pingpong paddles, and a perforated ball the size of a football.

"The holes in the ball slow it down," said Ron Farra, media relations officer for the USA Pickleball Association. He called pickleball a slowed-down version of tennis.

Pickleball is played in several communities in Polk County, including Deer Creek RV Golf Resort in Davenport, The Hamptons in Auburndale and Solivita in Poinciana. At Solivita, pickleball has grown so popular that it is the largest club sport there. More than 200 men and women participate in The Smashers, Solivita's pickleball club, of which Sones is a member.

Click this link and enjoy the entire article : PICKLEBALL PROVES POPULAR

Go to the right sidebar and click on the Video of the Solivita Players

Register Now for the
National Senior Games Championships
& Euflexxa Hockey Classic


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Register now and take advantage of early bird prices until Sept 1st.

All individual sports are just $50.

Who: Anyone age 50+ as of Oct. 1, 2009 may register. (*Hockey goalies for 50+ teams may be 45+ years old as of Dec. 31, 2009)

What: Annual event consisting of the following sports (PLEASE NOTE: this event is independent from the Summer National Senior Games - for more information about that event, please visit http://www.nsga.com/ and click the 'summer national senior games' page)

Team Bowling - 4 person teams of all men, all women, or 2 men and 2 women
Billiards - 8-Ball & 9-Ball for Men or Women
Golf - 2 Person Teams for Men or Women
Ice Hockey - Teams for Men or Women
Lifting - Men an Women
Powerlifting (Bench Press & Dead Lift)
Weightlifting (Snatch & Clean and Jerk)
Pickleball - Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles

Where: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

When: October 1-4th, 2009

Continental Airlines is offering a special discount to all Senior Athletes flying into Ft.Lauderdale Airport for this event.

Click this Link

TO REGISTER, or for more information about the RULES, SCHEDULE, COST, Host Hotel, and Discounts

HIGHLAND LAKES PICKLEBALL

It was back in 1993 that George Hastings introduced the sport of Pickleball to the Highland Lakes Community. Joe and Marie Falcon and Kathy Hart were three of the original players who responded to a small newsletter article that George posted asking people to come out and see what the game was all about. Today it is one of the most popular sports in the community.

Determined to improve their playing conditions, players solicited help from the commnity tennis players and met with the Highland Lakes Board of Directors. They increased the number of courts to four, kept the courts full with eight to ten people waiting, secured better equipment and today play in this beautiful "Arena".

During their inital growth period, George Hastings moved back up north, so to keep the game going, the group implemented the practice of electing a "Chair Person". Joe and Marie Falcon were the first to take that lead role. The practice has continued and today Manny and Marie Cardoza hold that position.

Marie tells us "We are the spokesperson(s) for the group and responsible for the events during the year. We represent the group to the Homeowners Association. We are in charge of buying equipment. We play indoors, so we are responsible to see that the equipment in the arena is set up & taken down at the appropriate time allotted to us. Highland Lakes Pickleball is a Community Activity Club and there are no dues. We get some of our money by hosting Saturday breakfast once during the year. This money is used for our social events.

Every year we get money from the community to fund our sport; this money must be used for equipment only. We write up a report as to how much money we will need for this particular year and it goes to the board for approval".

The highlight of the year is the Annual Senior Olympics, open only to Highland Lakes players. Random draw determines your partner in this double elimination event. This years top performers are: (Photo's of first place winners).

Ladies Doubles: Gold: Sue Mc Ginnis and Belena Zeis, Silver: Connie O'Leary and Dena Randall, Bronz: Brenda Neafsey and Marie Cardoza.

Mens Doubles: Gold: Don Gullakson and Marvin McGinnis, Silver: Cal Blenis and Walter Tajmajer, Bronze:Harry Yorgensen and Joel Zimmerman.

Mixed Doubles: Gold: Marvin McGinnis and Anita Pasiak, Silver: Don Gullakson and Sue McGinnis, Bronze: Ed Buonopane and Connie O'Leary.

What a Great Idea!!!! Beginner Olympics was successfully introduced two years ago. Winners of the "Beginner Olympics" are: Gold" Kathy Garza and Donna Leach, Silver: Ann Parker and George Brown, Bronze:Dyan Zimmerman and Richard Ekstrand. Marie tell us, "This has worked out very well and it gives the beginners recognition for their hard work ".

And Another Great Idea!! There are approximately fifty active players right now. Like many Florida communities, 'snowbirds' who head back north for the summer, account for a large majority of community players. Joe Fuller, a player from nearby Pennbrooke Fairways Community in Leesburg, Fl, suggested the idea of Inter-Community play. The Cardoza's represented Highland Lakes at a meeting arranged with Pennbrooke Fairways, Hawthorne and Legacy, all communities in or around the Leesburg, Fl area, and a summer schedule was put in place where Inter-Community Play would be rotated among the communities.

" It is working out very well. Last Monday night June 8th we hosted ' Inter-Community play and had 12 players from Legacy, 4 players from Hawthorne, 8 players from Highland Lakes, a total of 24 players for that evening."

Hawthorne’s Inter-Community play is at 6:00 PM on Wednesday evening.

Pennbrookes Inter-Community play is on Thursday evenings at 6:00 PM.

Highland Lakes Inter-Community play is on Monday evenings at 6:30 PM. This will run throughout the summer months and right now it is strictly for fun. "

Speaking of fun.........

Highland Lakes players also enjoy their Pickleball Social

Events. The annual Picnic/Barbeque immediately follows the Senior Olympics and the Pot Luck Supper takes place each November. It is at the annual barbeque that anyone interested in running for the "Chair" position enters their name for election.

"We encourage anyone who is interested in playing including children and guests to the community to let us know and we will set aside one of the courts to teach them. Don Gullakson is our best teacher and enjoys giving instructions to the new players. All of our players help with teaching also and when a new player starts playing with our regular players, they will go slow with them so they do not get discouraged. Our first and major rule is that this is for fun and we all enjoy playing no matter who we play with and whether we win or lose" .

Pickleball is played every Monday evening and every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings. You can read more about Highland Lakes and Inter-Community Play by visiting the Highland Lakes website at http://www.hl-pickleball.blogspot.com/

A link has been added in our Photo Gallery or you can click here to see more pictures of this beautiful arena and Highland Lakes Pickleball

KINGS POINT LABOR DAY JAMBOREE

The Kings Point Pickleball League will be hosting its annual “renowned” Labor Day Pickleball Jamboree on September 5th, 2009 (rain date September 12th ). Registration will be available on the http://www.gotpickleball.com/ website, at the courts during morning open play, at the South Clubhouse receptionist’s desk or by calling Louann at 813-944-8626.

Registration will be open until August 25th.

Event fees are $5.00 per player and will be collected the morning of the event at the sign in table. Kings Point’s residents and non-residents/visitors, at both the recreational level and competitive level of play, are invited to participate and/or cheer on players.

Games in the men’s, women’s and mixed divisions will be included in the day’s events. Players needing a partner are encouraged to register early to allow proper match ups in their category.

Lunch specials will be available for players and spectators.

More details and player/partners listings will be available at the http://www.gotpickleball.com/ website throughout the registration period.

Any questions may be directed to: louann@gotpickleball.com or by phone at 813-944-8626.


Submitted by Louann Dubendorf, Kings Point Pickleball League
Sun City Center, Fl

July 2009

Thank You to Mark Friedenberg
by Bill Booth
President, USAPA

After 4½ years as president of the USAPA, Mark Friedenberg has stepped down as president. In early 2005, Mark and a group of enthusiastic players had the foresight to create the "new" USAPA to replace the original organization which was not well organized at the time. They created the original board of directors, shown here on the history page, to promote the sport and direct the policies and objectives of the USAPA.

In the following years, under the direction of Mark and the board, there were many achievements for pickleball and the USAPA.

• The USAPA has become recognized as the governing body for pickleball.
• Training material for players and referees is on training.usapa.org (free for all players).
• Rules were thoroughly reviewed and revised. The first rulebook was published in 2008 and a second printing and revision was published in 2009.
• Many marketing materials have been produced for sale and to promote memberships.
• An Ambassador program was created to spread the word about this exciting sport throughout the U.S. and Canada. The sport is truly growing at the grass-roots level.
• The membership base is currently well over 1500 members and growing rapidly (up over 120% in 12 months and 54% in the first 6 months of 2009).
• The national pickleball tournament in November will be the largest tournament ever attended.
• We have been successful at getting pickleball into the winter games of the National Senior Games Association and are working hard to get into the summer games.
• Coverage in the media has been increasing with newspaper articles and televised features as enthusiastic players tell their stories.
• Pickleball has become America’s fastest growing senior sport. Conservative estimates put the number of players at close to 40,000 and growing. That number is based on our Places to Play database with the actual number of players where known and conservative estimates where the number of players per court is not known.
• Our non-profit organization has grown monetarily to the point where we can finance activities important for the growth of pickleball. We are in the second year of financing assistance to players starting new programs to bring people into the sport. Plans are well under way to finance promotional efforts at the regional and local level to promote pickleball among the general public and recreation professionals.
• The website has become the best comprehensive source of information about pickleball including tournament schedules, tournament results, tournament software, ladder/league software, sanctioning information, featured news articles, places to play, official rules, rankings points, training for players and referees, player forum, and more.
• Young players are being introduced to the sport through an increasing number of programs in middle schools, high schools and colleges.
• Paddle testing procedures and specifications have been developed to preserve the character and integrity of the sport as we have all come to know it.
• Pickleball is growing internationally with the formation of Pickleball Canada and players in Kenya, Cyprus, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, India, England, Australia, and New Zealand.

Mark, thank you for your vision and dedication to promoting pickleball. The sport would not be where it is today without your leadership. Mark will continue to help promote the sport by serving on the board as Past President.

New Florida Ambassador

Meet Tom Gardner -
USAPA Ambassador
The Villages, Florida

"My wife Janet and I moved to the Villages on a part time basis in August, 2004 and made it permanent in December, 2007. We are both native Illinoisans and lived there our entire life until moving here. We have three children and 3 1/2 grandchildren.

I spent my professional career of 35 years at State Farm Insurance working in the investment dept. My wife was a homemaker(she claims this as the priority) but also had her own interior design business.

I have been active in sports all my life including baseball and basketball on the varsity level as an undergraduate at the Univ of Wisconsin. When my children were growing and involved in sports I was involved coaching various youth teams and also was one of four gentleman involved in the creation of the PONY baseball program in Bloomington, Il. This involved creating leagues for youth from the age of 5 to 18 and at the time I left included nearly 1000 kids.

With our background, it was important that we find an active community when we retired. The Villages fit the bill and it was here that we were introduced to pickleball. I have been playing it for nearly 5 years. It is on the courts where we have established many friendships. It is a great sport and one that we know can be enjoyed at many different levels "