Tuesday, February 28, 2017

The ABC Suncoast View presents the sport of Pickleball!

Today (Tuesday, Feb 28th) at 4PM and tomorrow (Wednesday, March 1st) at 9AM the ABC Suncoast View will present a special segment on the sport of Pickleball.

This segment will include the Suncoast Pickleball Association and local pickleball players including Russell Elefterion, Brian and Becky Roderick, Terry Wingate and Cathy Denault.

If you are not near a TV at these times you can live stream the program at http://www.mysuncoast.com/live_stream/.

Following the episode, links to full episodes can be found at www.suncoastview.com.

Be sure to watch the promotion of Pickleball in the Sunshine State!

Monday, February 27, 2017

Trussville (AL) Pickleball Charity Classic set for March 17-19

Published February 23, 2017 - www.cahabasun.com

 
Enjoy tennis? Try an underhanded serve, requiring the ball to bounce once after a serve and return serve, and imagine only being able to slam a shot when more than seven feet away from the net. Now, shorten the racquet, shrink the court and substitute the ball with a Wiffle-type ball. That, in short, is pickleball, an action-packed sport taking the Trussville community by storm.

“It’s like playing ping pong standing on the table,” said Jarick Rager, who hosts TrussvillePickleball.org, a website that serves Trussville’s four pickleball locations. “Within Birmingham, it’s beginning to catch on and grow, and pretty soon it’s going to take off in a big way, and we’re kind of at the forefront of it all.”

Pickleball is offered six days a week, eight different times at four locations: CrossPoint Church, First Baptist Church Trussville, Trussville YMCA and Trussville Civic Center.

Rager is one of four tournament co-directors from Trussville, along with Forrest Bender, Jodi Krayer and Erica McNeal, who are organizing the community’s first tournament, the 2017 Trussville Pickleball Charity Classic, March 17-19 at CrossPoint Church. The charity event aims to help grow the sport while benefiting two local charities — Trussville-based Faith Like a Child and Special Equestrians in Indian Springs.

CLICK HERE to read more.

Monday, February 20, 2017

Welcome New Ambassadors

Dorian Hardy • Venice, FL

Vaughn Duff • Tarpons Springs, FL

Thomas Tittle • Loganville, GA

Lindy Brooks • Archdale, NC

Walter Fenn • New Bern, NC

Susan Dillard • Oriental, NC

Elwood "Nick" Chambers • Glenville, NC

William Bohlayer • Concord, NC

Linda Reisdorf • Rock Hill, SC


Thursday, February 16, 2017

Coastal Alabama Pickleball Club supasses 600 member mark

Published February 15, 2017 - www.mulletwrapper.net

The Coastal Alabama Pickleball Club, the 7th largest Club in the U.S. surpassed the 600 Member mark on February 13, 2017. The Club was founded on February 1, 2015 and has reached its current number of Members (604) in less than 25 months. Per a March 2014 NBC TV News Report by Brian Williams, there were 250,000 people playing Pickleball in the U.S. as that time. The U.S. Pickleball “population” is expected to exceed 8 million people by the end of 2017. Pickleball is far and away America’s fastest growing sport. 67% of the public tennis courts in the U.S. are being modified to accommodate both Tennis and Pickleball or being converted to dedicated Pickleball Courts.

CLICK HERE to read more.

Tournament raises funds for mental health

Published February 16, 2017 - www.wschronicle.com

Pickleball continues to grow in popularity throughout the state of North Carolina. The tournament at the Gateway YWCA, originally scheduled for Jan. 7 but was canceled due to snow, finally took place on Friday, Feb. 10.

Close to 80 individuals from all across North Carolina along with participants from as far away as South Carolina participated in the event. The round robin style tournament had people of all ages in a number of different ability levels.

The tournament was held to benefit the GreenTree Peer Center, 930 S. Broad St. GreenTree Peer Center is a gathering place for people who are seeking to improve themselves and their lives after they have been impacted by mental health or substance use challenges or other unique circumstances.

“You can sense when you are around everyone here that they have already become a community and that’s part of why they love to have these gatherings,” said Laurie Coker, director of GreenTree Peer Center. “We are doing something that is innovative and different that is also about community, so its cool having this kind of sport rallying around mental health recovery.”

CLICK HERE to read more.

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Want to win the Battle for the Brick? Pickeball tournament is on

Published February 10, 2017 - www.npbc.blog.palmbeachpost.com

Now that pickleball has really caught on, you might find the competition is fiercer than you thought.

Palm Beach Gardens (FL) will have its second annual Battle for the Brick Pickleball Championships March 3 and 4 at Lilac Park, 4175 Lilac St. The cost is $30 per player, and players should register by Feb. 22. Winning players will receive an engraved brick.

CLICK HERE to read more.

Friday, February 10, 2017

Pickled Peach Pickleball Tournament at Classic Center this weekend

Published February 8, 2017 - www.onlineathens.com


The Athens Area Pickleball Association is hosting the 3rd Pickled Peach Valentine Classic Tournament at The Classic Center Friday through Sunday.

Pickleball is a combination sport of ping-pong, tennis and badminton played on a miniature tennis court with an oversized paddle and a ball that is similar to a whiffle ball.

“We are thrilled to have so much support from the community and all of our sponsors,” said co-chair Diane Carroll.

“Our main goal is to generate funds in hope of acquiring a dedicated pickleball venue and court in our community,” co-chair Iva King explains. “The Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services has been very supportive of AAPA and the promotion of pickleball in the Athens area.”

 CLICK HERE to read more.

Sunday, February 5, 2017

Annual pickleball tournament brings 120 players to Destin

Published February 4, 2017 - www.nwfdailynews.com


DESTIN (FL) - Pickleball paddles were in full swing Saturday during the Emerald Coast Pickleball Classic in the Life Center at Destin United Methodist Church.

Players of all ages and skill levels were welcome to see what the sport is all about.

"This year we had 120 players come from 11 different states and Canada, "said Karen Parrish, the regional director for USA Pickleball Association. " It's starting to grow more each year."

Parrish said this year's event attracted players from their 20's up into their late 70's.

CLICK HERE to read more.