USA Pickleball Association Mid-South Region

The USAPA Mid-South Region includes Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. Tom Burkhart is the USAPA Mid-South Regional Ambassador. Coach Tom has a writing style that make you feel like you are sitting on the front porch with him, enjoying the pickleball courts across the way.

Tom's article, "What is the difference between recreational and tournament playing?", is a welcome addition to the Great Lakes' conversation about recreational and competitive pickleball. Enjoy Tom's article and the Mid-South Region's new website here: http://midsouth.usapa.org/Home/rec-vs-tourney

If you are a traveling pickleball tournament player, look for Tom and his wife, Susan, on your adventures. Competitive and recreational pickleball players are making the world a little smaller and a whole lot friendlier, one well placed dink after another.

1st Great Lakes Showcase Recreational Event Becomes the 1st Tournament Where Every Player Joins the USAPA

OPC Rochester MI "Spring Fling"!

1st "Great Lakes Region Showcase Recreational Event"

The USAPA Great Lakes Region places high value on both competitive AND recreational pickleball events for ALL ages and ALL skill levels. Today, OPC Rochester, MI successfully hosted the Region's 1st Showcase Recreational Event, the "Spring Fling" Pickleball Tournament!

"Great Lakes Region Showcase Recreational Event" Criteria:

• Open to USAPA members and non-members
• Discounts offered to USAPA members unless this is not doable because the event is part of a larger event like the senior or state games that include other sports
• USAPA rules enforced by players
• USAPA tournament software used so that results are posted on the USAPA website – requires that the Tournament Director is a USAPA member
• USAPA membership table available for on site registration
• Event is listed on the Great Lakes Regional website calendar, and a description before and after the event (with pictures) is posted on the website
• Branded label "Great Lakes Region Showcase Recreational Event" is used on flyers
  

In addition to being faithful to The Region's Showcase criteria, the OPC Rochester, MI "Spring Fling" Pickleball Tournament tacked on a "player criteria" that stirred up the excitement and encouraged new players to join in..."just for the FUN of it!' The "Spring Fling" was booked as a first pickleball tournament experience. More experienced players were encouraged to come and serve as volunteer tournament support, timekeepers, donut eaters, scorekeepers, FANS, etc.

The "Spring Fling" boasted a new round robin format "Mixed Up Doubles"! Partners were drawn randomly and continued to change with each of the games played. The clock was set. Players had 12 minutes to accumulate points. The buzzer signaled the five minute "time outs" that were built into the pace of the Tournament. Players enjoyed lively music and lively conversations during the "time outs", getting to know one another as they entered each round with a new partner. Each player enjoyed at least 6 rounds and scores were tallied to identify the TOP Three.

The TOP Three were awarded prizes, but the "Spring Fling" FUN Recreational Tournament results have more to do with laughter and friendships than points or scores. Players and FANS represented Ontario and the Michigan cities of Birmingham, Clarkston, Grand Rapids, Grosse Pointe, Macomb Twp., Oakland Twp., Rochester, Rochester Hills, Shelby and Troy. All the players went home with handmade refrigerator magnates featuring "Little Pickles" the OPC Pickleball mascot and a greater sense of the FUN of the great game of the Great Lakes - PICKLEBALL!

Now here's the frosting on the cake (USAPA Member Lou's birthday cake to be exact! Happy Birthday Lou!) -- a very special sur"prize"! Like the "Little Engine that Could", the OPC Little Pickles "Spring Fling" smiled it's way to the TOP of the Hill! By the end of the Tournament every person on the Player List could boast being a USA Pickleball Association Member! Welcome to the New USAPA Members that 'steamed the engine', including the TOP of today's TOP Three, Mary Stoolmiller! Go Mary! Go Recreational Players!

Enjoy the "Spring Fling" slideshow on the sidebar! And register to enjoy the FUN next week at OPC's "PoP! Till You Drop!" Tournament, the 2nd "Great Lakes Region Showcase Recreational Event"!

Play Pickleball! Garnsey Park in Joliet, IL

There's a new game in town! Pickleball!

Garnsey Park in Joliet, IL

Attention former tennis players or those interested in an exciting, new activity! There is a new game in town! Pickleball is played on a smaller court with a shorter-handled racket and a light weight ball. Lost your serve - an underhand serve is legal. This new game is popular in Florida and California. Pickleball is an official Senior Olympic event. Try it out for one day or come every week. Equipment and instructors provided. No need to have a partner. We promise a great time! Registration is recommended.

• Age: Adult
• Day: Wednesdays
• Dates: June 10th - September 16
• Time: 9:30am -11:30am


• Cost: FREE !!!

Garnsey Park is located at Curtis and Wilcox Street.

If you have questions or need more details, please contact Teresa Mrozik, Recreation Coordinator, Joliet Park District - Joliet, IL at tmrozik@jolietpark.org

Intramural Pickleball: University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse

Aaron Mittelstaedt is a USA Pickleball Association Ambassador for LaCrosse Wisconsin where he attends the University of Wisconsin. Aaron has been instrumental in getting Pickleball started as an intramural sport.

This is one way to attract younger players to explore Pickleball in their own environment and then to invite them out to play in Pickleball State Games for all ages plus the Regional and National tournaments.

Checkout Aaron's YouTube video: "Pickleball Tourney Promo09" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9eTxPqUnfk


Way to go, Aaron!



Dick Manasseri
USAPA Great Lakes Regional Ambassador

dmanasseri@usapa.org

Great Lakes Ambassador Pickleball News by Dick Manasseri

Welcome to our New Ambassadors

• Iowa - Ron Stiers, Coralville - Iowa City
• Illinois -Don Wilson, Huntley
• Indiana -Rodney Grubbs, SE Indiana - Brookville
• Michigan - Joyce Staffen, Mecosta County - Stanwood
• Michigan - Clark Maddox, Battle Creek
• Michigan -Barbara and Johnnie McKinney, SE Michigan - Brownstown
• Ohio - Joanne and Mike Tressler, Toledo

Thanks to these new volunteer leaders and to all of you for your ongoing enthusiastic efforts to spread the good news about Pickleball. Whether it’s finding new places to play, teaching a beginner’s clinic, starting a ladder, or organization a tournament, we salute each of you for enabling players of all ages to enjoy the fitness and social benefits of the game.



Regional Plan Update
The 2009 Great Lakes Regionalization Plan called for a very aggressive annual growth in USAPA Members.

The Great Lakes Region (235) is now #3, behind the South Atlantic Region (313) and jockeying back and forth with the Southwest Region (236).

The Great Lakes Region celebrated the 200th USAPA Member last month http://greatlakes.usapa.org/2009/02/200-great-lakes-region-usapa-members.html

and we recognized the growth of USAPA Members in Windsor, Ontario
http://greatlakes.usapa.org/2009/03/ontario-great-lakes-pickleball.html

Please send us your stories and photos about activities anywhere in the Great Lakes Region and we will post them on the Great Lakes website.

Watch for the story of the Michigan Membership Blitz in the next USAPA e-Newsletter.

On the Move
A number of you have been traveling and taking Pickleball with you. Just to mention a few……

Pat Sullivan (Royal Oak, Michigan) has won three Gold Medals in Arizona tournaments this winter. Pat has a 4.0 rating and she will be busy when she returns to Royal Oak in June teaching us the Arizona soft game, getting us started with USAPA ratings and serving as tournament director for our first Great Lakes Regional Tournament.

Jean Mulder (Holland, Michigan) who is wintering at the Torrey Oaks RV Resort in Florida has taught more than 70 people the game this winter. Jean traveled to the Heartland Senior Games in Sebring Florida to compete and watch her students compete. Jean will put her teaching skills to good use when she returns to Holland.

Wayne Roswell (Port Perry, ON), who will being joining us this summer as another Ambassador for Ontario, was the tournament director for the very successful Heartland Senior Games at the Tanglewood Club in Florida. Wayne manages the Ontario website and will be bringing his experience and energy back to Ontario soon.

Jack Licata (Northville, Michigan) and his partner, USAPA Member Patrick McPhail, represented Great Lakes Pickleball very well taking the Silver medal in the Heartland Senior Games in a very competitive match.

David Leach (Onamia, MN) and Tom and Jeanne Gearhart (Northfield, MN) all won medals in the Palm Creek Tournament in Arizona.


Sanctioned and Showcase Tournaments
The USAPA is recognizing the quality of Pickleball played in the Great Lakes by sanctioning 4 tournaments in the Region in the next 3 months. You can always check the schedule for upcoming tournaments at http://greatlakes.usapa.org/
where you will find the details for the following USAPA Tier 4 Sanctioned Tournaments

• Hartland, MI April 11th Ambassadors Owen and Patty Papke
• Northville, MI May 16th Ambassador Jack Licata
• Terre Haute, IN May 16th – 17th Ambassadors Paul Barksdale and Rex Lawler
• Auburn Hills, MI June 14th Ambassador Michelle Pozan
  
  

The Terre Haute tournament is special in that it is a skill level event for all ages. The Auburn Hills tournament is special in that it contains divisions for all ages and is the first in a series of Michigan Pickleball State Games.


All of the above tournaments have also been designated as Great Lakes Pickleball Showcase Events, events that the Region spotlights for its players as the best we have to offer in terms of organization, hospitality, and competition.

Players are coming to know that at Showcase Events the USAPA rules are enforced by trained referees and USAPA Members receive discounts on registration fees.


Other upcoming Showcase Events include

• Kalamazoo, MI May 29th – 30th, Ambassadors Melissa Muha and Bob Northrop
• Sun Prairie Wisconsin June 10th, Wisconsin Senior Games, Ambassador Fred Fry
• Columbia, MO June 11th, Missouri Senior Games, Ambassadors Skip & Jerri Deming
• Hamilton, IN June 13th, Indiana Senior Olympics, Ambassadors Paul Barksdale and Rex Lawler
• Rochester, MI July 7th -10th, Michigan Senior Olympics
• Middletown, OH August 1st, SW Ohio Senior Games, Ambassador Stanley Volkens
• Royal Oak, MI TBD, Great Lakes Regional Tournament, Ambassador Pat Sullivan

We have developed a Showcase Event Tournament Director's Guide

http://usapa.org/file/mi/Tournament_Director_Guide.pdf

Please let me if you find it helpful and if you have any suggestions.

The USAPA Board has provide the Region with USAPA banners which will be provided to the above Ambassadors so that they can display the banners during their beginner and referee clinics, their drop-in play and at the events listed above. The banners can be a consistent reminder that the USAPA via its website, training videos, volunteers, etc. is delivering ongoing value for both the recreational and competitive player and is worthy of their support via membership enrollment. Please contact one of the above Ambassadors if you would like to borrow one of the banners for activities in your area.


Please consider traveling to the above events to show your support; I look forward to meeting you there if the price of gas doesn’t get in the way.

Cheers,

Dick Manasseri
USAPA Great Lakes Regional Ambassador

Ontario Great Lakes Pickleball Anticipating Spring Growth

The Detroit Tigers go to Spring Training in FL and then come home to the Great Lakes to PLAY Baseball! Wayne Roswell goes to PLAY Pickleball in FL for the winter months and then comes home to the Great Lakes Region to PLAY MORE Pickleball!

Ontario Great Lakes Pickleball is in for a treat! Mid-April, Wayne Roswell will return home to Ontario with a wealth of experience as the Tournament Director and Lead Referee of Florida's first USAPA Sanctioned (Tier 4) Pickleball Tournament, The Heartland Senior Games in Sebring, FL. http://usapa.org/file/mi/Go_Wayne.pdf

Wayne is in for a treat too! Puce, Ontario has a new place to PLAY Pickleball, and six new Ontario Great Lakes Region USA Pickleball Association Members!!!!!!


The Puce Picklers invite you to PLAY Puce Pickleball:

Puce Sports and Leisure Community Centre Drop-in Pickleball

From WT09 By Stan Wilson, Jr

The Official Pickleball Website for The Province of Ontario http://pickleballontario.blogspot.com/