Tournament Action! Middletown, Ohio

Great Lakes Pickleball

Tournament Action

Middletown Pickleball Club

2nd Annual Senior over 50 Pickleball Tournament

Lefferson Park

2201 S Breiel Blvd

Middletown, Ohio 45044

July 31 Singles and August 1 Doubles

Read more here: http://www.usapa.org/file/oh/2009_0731_middletown.pdf

PROFILE OF A CHAMPION: Marika's Story

USA Pickleball Association Member Spotlight

PROFILE OF A CHAMPION: Marika's Story

"I have always looked upon life as a gift and I have vowed to live each day to its fullest. I take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way; take part in every unique experience, and make sure that those around me have a smile on their face. I was born in Budapest Hungary during a period of social unrest. My family escaped from the country to provide a better life for me and for my sisters, but during our escape, I was exposed to a bombing and lost my hearing. However, I was fortunate to have parents who refused to see me as a poor little Deaf child and they treated me like my sisters and had high expectations of me. Since they refused to let my Deafness be an obstacle, I too refused to ever let it define who I was or what I could do. To this day, even though I face discrimination I will not let it deter me.

"Communication was difficult for me. My parents spoke Hungarian. We arrived in America where English was spoken. As a Deaf child I was taught American Sign Language. It could have been a challenge for me. But I found an outlet and a way of expressing myself. I immersed myself in sports and I excelled.

"I always enjoyed playing games, sports and enjoying a competitive challenge. Some people compete in various sports or games because they have an inner burning to defeat their opponents or challengers; it is what drives them. I have, however, always felt a love for THE challenge, to better myself emotionally and physically, and to how show everyone how teamwork can bring you joy or selfishness can bring you defeat. I am open to losing and a good sport because it reminds my inner child that there is always room for improvement. To congratulate a challenger who has bested me with a smile is not easy for some to do, but for me, I smile inside because they deserved it.

"Not only have I competed in sports for the love of the games and for myself, I have competed competitively. I was involved in sports at the Michigan School for the Deaf where I won numerous awards; in the Deaf Olympics (an international competition) in my younger years, Oakland County’s senior games and now the Michigan Senior Olympics. I have been working and training and competing my whole life. I also volunteer my time with numerous charities. I have been given so much in life and its imperative that I give back.

"Here’s a little more about me. I am currently an instructor at Macomb Community College where I have taught the advanced American Sign Language Classes for over 20 years. I was the first certified Deaf substance abuse counselor in the State of Michigan where I practiced for over two decades. I was a gubernatorial appointee to both the Michigan Board of Mental Health and the Division on Deafness where I served for eight years. Additionally I have held many board positions in organizations of and for Deaf people. I am a current Board member of Deaf Community Advocacy Network (DEAF C.A.N.!) and the Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services (DWAS), an active volunteer and Committee Chair for “Relay for Life” and an advisor for the American Sign Language Club at Macomb Community College. I am the proud mother of three children, the grandmother of three. In my spare time, I travel abroad and have visited over 20 foreign countries.

"I wanted to share with you a recent milestone in my life – a personal goal I set for myself a few years ago. When I was a child, a Deaf child, my mother always encouraged me by saying “Mari(k)a, you can do anything you set your mind to do”. She always supported my next challenge and said “go for it, do your best and keep trying, that is all I expect”. Throughout my teen-age years, high school, college and after, I received various medals in Karate, Fencing, Javelin and other sports. About 5 years ago, I set a goal for myself to reach 100 medals in total and promised both my Father and Mother that I would strive for that goal. To be quite honest, I never really thought it was possible as I’m not a spring chicken anymore ;-)

"The really nice effect of continuing with these various sports and activities was the support from my own family, my husband and children, who kept telling me to go for it and keep trying….How strange is it see your child sign to you that they are proud of you and supported you through all your struggles and challenges? Inside, it feels good and often I wonder, who is the parent now? Aren’t I supposed to be telling them I am proud? My inner soul is smiling.

"This update is not to brag about how many medals I have won, or to make a place in history….it is to remind my friends and community to find the activities that make you smile and to challenge yourself always to become a better person. I am so happy that the little child inside me still has that flame which burns with a competitive edge; it keeps my soul young and happy." Marika

Marika displaying her 100 Senior Olympic Medals

"Marika won her first senior Olympic medal in 1997. This year she medaled in Shot Put, Javelin, Discus, 5K Cycling, Women’s Doubles Pickleball, Women’s Singles Pickleball, and 100M Dash bringing her medal total to 100. In the past MSO games she has also medaled in 1500m Race Walk, Long Jump and Basketball Free Throw. We all have a story to tell, this is Marika’s and it can be inspiration and encouragement to others – seniors and younger athletes." Marilyn Holladay, USA Pickleball Association.

Missouri Pickleball in the News!

!! PLAY Missouri Pickleball !!

Missouri Show-Me State Games, Columbia

July 30 - August 2

USAPA Places to Play MO Pickleball

• For more information on the Missouri Show-Me State Games contact USA Pickleball Ambassador Skip Deming at skipandjerri@mac.com
• For more information on Kansas City pickleball contact USA Pickleball Ambassador Sherri Davis at davis@kcpickleball.com.
• For more information on playing at Belton's High Blue Wellness Center, contact Belton Parks recreation specialist Jess Myers at 816-348-7400

" Pickleball Mania Popular game creates buzz in Belton" By Brad Seiner, The Belton Star Herald, July 24, 2009

"Having a ball Pickleball, latest sport to sweep the nation, is served up on Columbia courts " By Caroline Dohack, Columbia Daily Tribune, July 26, 2009

Jessica Vargas, of Columbia and Janice Phelps of Harrisburg

Photo by Don Shrubshell , Columbia Daily Tribune

“You’ll like these people,” Skip Deming told the group as they discussed the upcoming Missouri Show-Me State Games. “They are just great, and some are really great players.”

Pickleball Terms by Wayne Roswell, Pickleball Ontario

Canadian Pickleball Vocabulary

By Pickleball Ontario's Wayne Roswell

http://pickleballontario.blogspot.com/

Those of us that play pickleball in Florida or Arizona often call the NV-Zone the kitchen, a shuffleboard term. Let’s change that to No Volley in the Non-Volley, eh.

Pickleitis – another term for the painful symptom of Pickleball Withdrawal. From all the e-mails I get from snow birds wanting to know where they can play Pickleball near them in Canada, I am sure we need to form the Pickleitis Society of Canada. This will be a hotline where players can contact each other to talk about their symptoms and share methods that help relieve the pain.

Spectatoritis – the ability of spectators to call the ball in or out from their seat on the sidelines. They are also able to combine this with the ability to tell you what you should have done on that last rally.

Lazeritis or Visionitis – the ability of an opponent wearing tri-focals to call the ball clearly IN at your baseline from his vantage point behind his. Lazer vision from 44 plus feet away. The stare that comes after you make the out call, might be referred to as Stareitis.

WI Pickleball! Ripon Roaring Growth!

Ripon Pickleball Association News
Official Web Page of the Ripon Pickleball Association

2009 Summer Pickleball Participants
By USAPA Ambassador Dave Lukoski

• Chuck Larson
• Dave Lukoski
• Kent Galloway
• Dick Swanson
• Sherry Lukoski
• Tim Lyke
• Cindy Swanson
• Kayla Lukoski
• Jim Borrell
• Tom Kramer
• Ben Lukoski
• Kathy Schaub
• Bob Ollerman
• Issac Minor
• Dan Meyer
• Buzz Neuman
• Lind Krause
• Jolene Meyer
• Vickie Neuman
• Tony Hron
• Bill Boesch
• Pat Kubisiak
• Lori Hron
• Jean Kubisiak
• James Hron
• Vince Kubisiak
• Daniel Hron

"If I have left anyone out I apologize and email me at dlukoski@charter.net and I will add your name. As you can see, Pickleball in Ripon is growing at a fast rate. Our next goal will be to get a number of our members to join the USAPA. For the rest of you in Wisconsin we challenge you to put a group together like we have in Ripon and when you do we look forward to Statewide Pickleball competition." Dave Lukoski

"It's the Minnesota Pickleball" Eden Prairie News

Eden Prairie News

It's the Minnesota Pickleball
Eden Prairie Senior Center offers new sport to try

By Karla Wennerstrom

It’s been around since the ’60s, but ask most people if they’ve heard of pickleball, and you’ll get a confused look. Well, first of all, it does not involve any pickles.

The name, according to the USA Pickleball Association’s www.usapa.org , comes from a cocker spaniel named Pickles, who was the dog of the man who helped invent the sport.

“Whenever a ball would come his way, he would take the ball and run off with it, because you see, it was Pickles’ ball. And that is how the game got its name,” the site states.

The creation of the sport is credited to Joel Pritchard, a Washington congressman, and Bill Bell, a businessman. Barney McCallum helped them create the rules. They wanted a game the whole family could play.

Local seniors pick it up
The first thing you notice as you approach Pioneer Park behind the Eden Prairie Senior Center is the sound. This is not the usual pop of a tennis game.

Then you see that the group is using blue lines on the court, in a slightly smaller formation than the standard tennis court, the size of a badminton court.

Then, of course, comes the trash talking.

“Trash talking is part of it,” says Jerry Maas, who helps organize pickleball in Eden Prairie.

He’s one of the local seniors who persuaded the city to paint the tennis courts in Pioneer Park for pickleball use.

The net is lowered to 34 inches as well for the game. There are specific pieces of equipment and rules.

Serves must be underhand, according to the rules page. The ball must hit once on each side before it can be volleyed (hit without letting it bounce). A “non-volley zone” is seven feet on either side of the net. This is also known as the “kitchen.” Serves must go beyond the kitchen. You only score when serving and play to 11 points.

Players last Tuesday included Maas, his wife Carol, Orv Askeland, Shirley Jacobs and Bob and Judy Weeks.

Three of the pickleball players learned the game while visiting Florida. The other three learned it in Arizona. The group also plays in Bloomington twice a week.

“Beginners are welcome,” Maas said. “All you need is a pair of tennis shoes.”

A reporter attempting the game found it fun and easy to pick up – as long as the veterans were willing to explain the rules a few times. Carol said the game is “very, very popular in retirement communities.”

And, added Jacobs, “Pickleball players are just nice folks.”
The USAPA estimates that more than 40,000 people worldwide are addicted to pickleball.

Pickleball participation
A group meets from 9-11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays from June to September in Pioneer Park, behind the Eden Prairie Senior Center, 8950 Eden Prairie Road, Eden Prairie. You can bring your own equipment, or use the group’s. No experience necessary. Just wear comfortable clothing and white-soled tennis shoes. All ages welcome. For information, call 952-918-0500 (Jerry Maas) or 952-279-8050 (Senior Center).

Some highlights in pickleball history

• 1967 – The first permanent pickleball court was constructed in Joel Pritchard’s backyard in Seattle, Wash., during the winter of 1967.
• 1975 – The National Observer published an article about pickleball followed by a 1976 article in Tennis magazine about “America’s newest racquet sport.”
• 1984 – USAPA “was organized to perpetuate the growth and advancement of pickleball on a national level.” The first rulebook was published in March, 1984.
• 1990 – By 1990, pickleball was being played in all 50 states.
• 2008 – There are now 420 places to play in North American as listed on the USAPA website. This represents 43 States and 4 Canadian Provinces and about 1500 individual courts. This does not take into account those places that are adding courts or the many courts at private homes.
  -------------
  
  Source URL:
  http://www.edenprairienews.com/news/activities/it-s-minnesota-pickleball-107

"Senior Pickleball Tourney in Middletown"

SENIOR PICKLEBALL TOURNEY

Middletown, Ohio

Middletown Journal

The public is invited to compete in the Senior Pickleball Tournament July 31 and August 1 at Middletown’s Lefferson Park. Free lessons are available at Lefferson. Courts are open at 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; and at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Tournament entry deadline is July 25. Call (480) 298-0911 to register.

Read MORE:

"Middletown Ohio Pickleball Rocks"

By USAPA Ambassador Rondey "Rocket" Grubbs

Pickleball Open House, Rockford, IL

USAPA Ambassador Shalda Nelson spotlights a Rockford, Illinois Pickleball Open House on 13 News Today.

Pickleball Open House

WREX.com Video Clip

• Pickleball Open House
• July 17, 2009
• 7:00pm - 9:00pm
• Guilford Tennis Courts
• 5702 Spring Creek Road

Indy Pickleball: "Pickleball courts fans of racket sports" by Mark Dent

Pickleball courts fans of racket sports

IndyStar.com

By Mark Dent
mark.dent@indystar.com

The pickleball story begins in a high school gymnasium.

Rick would take attendance and then make us run.

He was the physical education teacher at my high school, the old school P.E. teacher. I suspect plenty of us have had gym teachers like Rick. He owned a dry wit that even British adults wouldn't find funny and almost never called students by their first names.

Rick (I'll keep the last name out of this) made us run laps every day. We ran until we answered one of his trivia questions correctly. It was always something that sounded easy -- Who was the first NCAA Tournament champion in basketball? -- but difficult enough to never get the answer. We ran a lot of laps.

Rick smirked when we ran. He loved knowing the answer and, even more, he loved knowing we didn't. Rick also loved pickleball.

------------

Rex Lawler is the one with sports goggles the size of magnifying glasses. He's wearing a lime green T-shirt -- make that pickle green -- and right now, as the sun fades on this June night and the cars keep pulling up to the converted tennis courts, he's volleying the plastic ball with his miniature racket for another winner.

"You bring somebody good with you?" Lawler jokingly asks a friend who just arrived.

Lawler loves this. This is pickleball, his game. He's out here at Brittlebank Park in Terre Haute, the capital for Indiana pickleball, with his friends, converted racquetball and tennis players like Paul Barksdale, Mona Drake and Steve Ackman. Some come twice a day, 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., to play their new favorite sport. Tonight, like every Wednesday, they're playing mixed doubles and laughing with good company.

"You got greedy there, Mona," Ackman says after a point. "It looked like a big watermelon in front of you."

Maybe you've never heard of pickleball. Think of it this way: Pickleball is like miniature tennis -- smaller racket, smaller court and a plastic ball that sounds like hitting a pingpong ball in a megaphone when you smack it. You play to 11 and can score only while serving. The best strategy is to rush the net so you can volley the ball at a fast speed. Although the game is popular in physical education classes, senior citizens are most likely to play it.

Lawler, 71, first saw pickleball about five years ago. He was in St. George, Utah, for the World Senior Games. He was a racquetball player then, a good one. Years ago, Lawler won national championships in the sport. But injuries wore him down, he had to get an artificial ball in his shoulder, and racquetball became a grind.

So Lawler watched the pickleball game. He saw the smaller courts and thought it might be a fun way to transition from racquetball.

Barksdale knew about the game, too. He played it in Arizona, where he has lived every winter for the past few years.

One day, back in Terre Haute, he went to Lawler's sporting goods store, trying to introduce Lawler to the game and start a pickleball club. Lawler not only knew about pickleball, but he had just bought rackets and balls, and they were sitting in boxes.

"(Barksdale) about fell over when he saw the equipment," Lawler said.

------------

There was one way to avoid the laps. Actually, probably more than one. But I remember this one way. If someone in my class beat Rick in pickleball, no one would have to run a lap the rest of the year. It was that easy.

------------

The two men organized a group. They started by drawing chalk lines on the tennis courts at Deming Park. Then, in 2006, they wanted their own courts. Barksdale and Lawler petitioned the city to fix Brittlebank Park. The city gave the men some money, and last year, Terre Haute had its first official pickleball courts.

The players are making good use of them. They hosted a tournament earlier this summer, and about 45 people play regularly, either in the morning or night. They find newcomers wherever they can.

"Mike Effner works at a funeral home," Barksdale said, "and I recruited him out of a funeral."

"I've been out every day since," Effner said.

------------

No one beat Rick.

He would stay on the baseline and whack the plastic ball over the net and past any of his opponents. None of us knew how to play. None us had a real chance.

All of us had to run.

------------

The sun slips down further, until it almost tucks completely behind the nearby houses. Most of the cars have pulled away from the grass, but Lawler still has time for one more game.

He knows pickleball. He knows all the tricks, all the strategies. That's why at 71, he says he can still beat Deli Stinnett, a 19-year-old top racquetball player.

In this doubles game, I watch Lawler, sports goggles wrapped around his head, rush the net and slam the ball for another point, rarely making an error.

Because of this I know. If Lawler faced Rick on the pickleball court, Lawler would destroy him.

Additional Facts
What is Pickleball?

Think tennis with a smaller racket, smaller court and a plastic ball. Games are played to 11 and the best strategy is to rush the net. The sport was invented in 1965 in Washington state and got its name from a co-inventor's dog, Pickles.

Where to play

Jim Thompson leads games at Wellington Northeast in Noblesville most weekdays. If interested, e-mail Thompson at jt9999@prodigy.net

Brittlebank Park in Terre Haute has pickleball games daily at 8 a.m., and on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 6 p.m.

More on pickleball

Go to the USA Pickleball Association's Web site: usapa.org.

New USAPA Ambassador Shalda Nelson - Rockford, IL

Take A Bite Out Of Pickleball (Jul 10, 2009 Rockford, IL, www.rrstar.com) Rockford resident Shalda Nelson is a snowbird...She hopes to have more people in the Rock River Valley playing the game with the help of the Rockford Park District. The Park District will conduct an open house for pickleball from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 17, at the Guilford Tennis Center to draw interest for the game.

Minnesota Senior Pickleball Games: Registration Information Link

Minnesota Senior Pickleball Games

Monday, July 20, 2009

Event Coordinators:

Randy Hall and Lee Reients

Singles - Doubles - Mixed Doubles

• Discovery Middle School
• 501 N McKay Avenue
• Alexandria, MN 56308

"Age division for doubles events shall be determined by the age of the youngest partner. Participants may enter one or all events, but only once in each event. If you would like to play in the doubles event, but do not have a partner, indicate so on the registration form and pay for the event. We will attempt to find a partner for you, but cannot guarantee our success in that effort."

Registration Deadline: July 14, 2009

Registration Information Link: http://www.mnseniorgames.com/

USAPA Board Members and Committe Responsibilities

Great Lakes Pickleball

Celebrates and Appreciates

USAPA Board Members

Board Members and Committee Responsibilities

• Bill Booth
  President, Website – 2009-2010
• Vacant
  Vice President
• Fran Myer
  Secretary – 2008-2009
• Ken Furnia
  Treasurer – 2009-2010
• Phil Mortenson
  Legal Counsel, Grievance – 2008-2009
• Ron Farra
  Media Relations – 2009-2010
• David Jordan
  Marketing/Sales – 2009-2010
• Nancy Jordan
  Membership – 2009-2010
• Dick Manasseri
  National/International Relations Ambassadors – 2008-2009
• Marilyn Holladay
  Rankings – 2008-2009
• Vacant
  Ratings – 2008-2009
• Dennis Duey
  Rules – 2008-2009
• Barney Myer
  Tournaments – 2008-2009
• Norm Davis
  Training – 2009-2010
• Vacant
  Newsletter – 2009-2010

Mark Friedenberg, Past President
Thank You to Mark Friedenberg

Thank You to Mark Friedenberg

USAPA E-Pickleball News

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.