Pickleball! Great Game of the Great Lakes!

Dear USAPA Great Lakes Region Members,

Today is a good day to say, "THANK YOU!"

Today, thanks to your participation and support, Great Lakes is Number One in regard to USAPA Members. Great Lakes gently edged in front of Atlantic South for the first time on August 10th and (amazingly) has held the lead for 10 days. Today, USAPA has a total of 1649 Members. The top three regions are Great Lakes (342), Atlantic South (334) and Southwest (263).

Today, thanks to your participation and support, PICKLEBALL is firmly rooted and growing in the Great Lakes. I raise my paddle to the USAPA Board Members and Pickleball Players across ALL USAPA Regions and Pickleball Canada for making this growth possible. Atlantic! Atlantic South! Great Lakes! Mid-South! Northwest! Great Plains! Southwest! West! Canada West! Pickleball Canada! We certainly do belong to a FANTASTIC Pickleball Community!

Today, thanks to your participation and support, PICKLEBALL is making a lasting difference in the well being of the men, women, boys, and girls across the Great Lakes Region.

• USAPA Great Lakes Region includes nine states, IA, IL, IN, KY, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI, and the province of Ontario. ALL ten areas in the Region are experiencing USAPA Membership growth.


• USAPA Great Lakes Region is home to 2 USAPA Board Members, Marilyn Holladay and Dick Manasseri, 58 Local USAPA Ambassadors, 342 USAPA Members, and approximately 4159 Pickleball Players.


• USAPA Great Lakes Region is hosting USAPA Sanctioned competitive tournaments with trained referees.


• USAPA Great Lakes Region created and is developing two new recreational pickleball divisions, "Mixed Generation Pickleball" and "Recreational Speed Pickleball".


• USAPA Great Lakes Region is hosting more Ladder Leagues than and other region.


• USAPA Great Lakes Region is dramatically increasing the number of 'Places to Play' walk-in pickleball.
  
• USAPA Great Lakes Region is enjoying a slow-but-sure increase in the number of outdoor courts painted for pickleball.
  
• USAPA Great Lakes Region is reaching out in a focused effort to grow the sport among youth, adults, seniors, families, neighbors, parks and recreation departments, schools, and congregations.
  
• USAPA Great Lakes Region Action Network is collaborating to offer an abundance of community demo clinics, beginner lessons, drills clinics, and instructional skills clinics.

Great Lakes Pickleball Players are demonstrating their Midwest ingenuity, skill, exemplary sports ethics and enthusiasm as, together, we grow and develop the Great Game of the Great Lakes! PICKLEBALL! THANK YOU!

Yours in pickleball, Janet Razz

Great Lakes Pickleball Quotable!

"Health! Care about It - Play Pickleball!"

Dick Manasseri, USA Pickleball Association

New OUTDOOR Pickleball Court! Morton, IL

August 10, 2009

Peoria Journal Star
http://www.pjstar.com/


Hunger for pickleball is growing
Morton has new court for paddle sport with humorous name
By Steve Stein of The Journal Star


MORTON, IL — Pickles aren't addictive, but pickleball players say their sport is.

The village has a new outdoor pickleball court in Birchwood Park that Morton Park District Director of Parks and Recreation Gary Watson says is the only one south of Interstate 80 and north of Interstate 70.

"I guess you could call us a pickleball Mecca," Watson said.

So what is pickleball? It's an easy-to-learn paddle sport that mixes elements of badminton, ping pong and tennis into a game that can be played by young and old alike.

The plastic ball used in pickleball is similar to a whiffle ball. Wooden-composite pickleball paddles resemble those used in ping pong, but they're larger. The court is about a third the size of a tennis court, and the net is 34 inches high at the center.

Singles and doubles matches are played indoors and outdoors, and men and women can compete against each other. Points are earned only by the serving team.

The game was invented in 1965 by Washington Congressman Joel Pritchard and businessman Bill Bell. Pickles, the Pritchard family's cocker spaniel, would often grab the ball and run off with it. That's how the game became known as pickleball.

Pickleball is popular in schools (including Morton's District 709) as a physical education activity and in retirement communities like The Villages in central Florida, where longtime Morton resident Ned Middendorf plays about five times a week when he's there during the winter months.

"There are 98 courts in The Villages, and sometimes you have to wait to get on one," Middendorf said.

For about two years, Middendorf and other Morton snowbirds gently lobbied Watson to get the Park District to put up a pickleball court.

Watson and his staff finally decided to convert a basketball court in Birchwood Park to a pickleball court, and the court opened last month. No registration is needed to play.

The posts for the court's net are recycled from the soon-to-be-demolished Morton Pool. The court runs north and south, so players don't need to deal with a rising or setting sun in their eyes.

Middendorf, 68, describes the court as "rustic, but a start."

If the court proves as popular as Middendorf hopes, Watson says he will look into putting up other courts, probably in Birchwood Park.

Middendorf, a retired banker, is able to play pickleball even though he had a hip replacement about five years ago.

"I used to play tennis," he said. "Pickleball is an easier game to play than tennis.

"If you have any athletic ability, it's very easy to pick up," he added. "It relies more on hand-eye coordination than speed and power. Points are longer and slower than tennis because you only need two or three steps to get to shot instead of 20. And serving (done underhanded) isn't an offensive weapon."

Serves must bounce once on the opposing side of the net in a designated area before they are returned. To make the game safer for players, there is a non-volley zone on each side of the net where shots cannot be returned in the air.

Middendorf has agreed to become the face of pickleball in Morton. He's conducted two introductory lessons at the new court, using his own three paddles and three pickle balls and borrowed equipment.

"Somebody has to be the tip of the spear on this. I appreciate Ned doing that," Watson said.

Middendorf [a USA Pickleball Association Member] is happy to be Morton's go-to guy on pickleball.

"I originally got involved here to find some people with play against. I've already accomplished that," he said.


Copyright © 2009 GateHouse Media, Inc. Some Rights Reserved.
Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.

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Learn more about PICKLEBALL at the USA Pickleball Association website!

• http://usapa.org/

USAPA Banner Boasts: Terre Haute, IN

USAPA Great Lakes Region Banner Boasts

Terre Haute, Indiana

"I am including a picture of our Sunday evening players in Terre Haute, IN. We play Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday at 6 PM. This particular evening we had 18 players, please notice the banner hanging above the group. Looking at the picture, you will see a lot of young players who are learning to love the game as much as we do. We try to mix up the group by playing in a round robin format, where everyone plays with many different partners. We also have a morning group that plays at 8 AM seven days a week. This group is comprised mostly of ages 50+ and retirees. Terre Haute is very proud of our six new pickleball courts and we see the game growing rapidly." USAPA Ambassador Paul Barksdale

Terre Haute, Indiana PICKLEBALL contact:

• USAPA Ambassador Paul Barksdale at Paulbark@aol.com

Minnesota Senior Games Goes Green! By Tracey Thompson

MINNESOTA SENIOR GAMES GOES GREEN!

By USAPA Ambassador Tracey Thompson - St. Cloud, MN

Pickle green, that is. Despite the fact that 2009 marked the first year that pickleball was included as a sport in the Minnesota Senior Games, it boasted the second highest number of participants of all the sports, behind only track and field. Thanks to the stellar organizing efforts of Lee Rients and Randy Hall, the tournament went off without a hitch. Twenty teams of doubles and mixed doubles competed in the all-day event in the beautiful lakes area of Alexandria, Minnesota with entrants from all over the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes as well as from South Dakota and Wisconsin. Medals were awarded not only in age brackets, but in an overall round robin format as well. Competition was fierce and friendly, a great time was had by all, and many new friendships were made. Thanks Lee and Randy! See you in Mankato next year!

MO Pickleball! Show-Me State Games Debut!

Columbia Missourian! August 3, 2009

Pickleball makes Show-Me State Games Debut
By Robert Givens

COLUMBIA, MO - The paddles resemble those used in ping-pong. The net is from badminton, but lowered from the regulation height of 60 inches to 36. Throw in a wiffle ball for good measure. This is Pickleball.

After watching the plastic balls whizzing back and forth last year at the Missouri State Senior Games, Ken Ash, executive director of the Show Me State Games, Dave Gill, the competition coordinator, and Russ Stott, the director of the senior state games, decided they had to include the sport in the annual event. Pickleball made its debut over the weekend.

The pace of the game is fast, just like the game’s growth around the country.

“Pickleball appeals to so many people because it allows anyone to play. No matter your age or skill level, you’ll have fun,” said Skip Deming, the USA Pickleball Association’s ambassador for Columbia.

Click here to read the complete Columbia Missourian article:

• Pickleball makes Show-Me State Games Debut by Robert Givens

Middletown Pickleball Club Tournament Results in Regional Participation

2nd Annual Middletown, Ohio Pickleball Tournament Results
July 31 and August 1, 2009

"Stanley and Cheryl, I see winners from OH, IA, PA, AZ, IL, IN, MI. Middletown is now clearly on the map as the place to be for great courts, hospitality and competition. Congratulations!" Dick Manasseri, USAPA Director

Women's Singles Winners Bracket
Gold Robbie McClain (Middletown, OH)
Silver Cheryl Wyatt (Middletown, OH)

Women's Singles Consolation Bracket
Gold Brenda Byrd (Middletown, OH)
Silver Nancy Darling (Tucson, AZ)

Men's Singles Winners Bracket
Gold Jeff Sieber (Brookville, IN)
Silver Don Walker (Wooster, OH)

Men's Singles Consolation Bracket
Gold Rodney Grubbs (Brookville, IN)
Silver Al Hager (Pemberville, OH)

Mixed Doubles Winners Bracket
Gold Ron and Debbie Arnold (Surprise, AZ)
Silver Robbie McClain (Middletown, OH)/Doug Lear (Monroe, OH)

Mixed Doubles Consolation Bracket
Gold Gary Ball (Monroe, MI)/Vicki Sterner (York, PA)
Silver Nancy Darling (Tucson, AZ)/Al Hager (Pemberville, OH)

Women's Doubles Winners Bracket
Gold Robbie McClain (Middletown, OH)/Kay Gallagher (Middletown, OH)
Silver Brenda Byrd (Middletown, OH)/Linda Laymon (Surprise, AZ)

Women's Doubles Consolation Bracket
Gold Nancy Darling (Tucson, AZ)/Cheryl Wyatt (Middletown,OH)
Silver Kathy Blitgen (Bellevue, IA)/Donna Elleman (Troy, OH)

Men's Doubles Winners Bracket
Gold Jeff Siebert (Brookville, IN)/Rodney Grubbs (Brookville, IN)
Silver Al Hager (Pemberville, OH)/Lynn Carlson (Greenville, IL)

Men's Doubles Consolation Bracket
Gold Dick Lewis (Cincinnati, OH)/Rob Gartlan (Surprise, AZ)
Silver Gary Ball (Monroe, MI)/Johnny McKinney (Brownstown, MI)

Click here to read a first hand report by USAPA Ambassador Rodney Grubbs
PickleballRocks.com

Rodney "Rocket" Grubbs Competes and Reports

USAPA Ambassador Rodney "Rocket" Grubbs

Competes and Reports

Middletown Pickleball 2nd Annual Tournament Rocks !!!

The USA Pickleball Association Great Lakes Region recognizes and appreciates the creative contributions Rodney "Rocket" Grubbs is making to the lively pickleball conversation in the Midwest! Rondey's contributions include websites, Facebook, Twitter, very cool PICKLEBALL ROCKS apparel and more! The USAPA Great Lakes Region is growing in the number of pickleball offerings and the quality of those offerings thanks to Rodney "Rocket" Grubbs!

• http://www.pickleballrocks.com/
• http://www.allaboutpickleball.com/
  

The USA Pickleball Association Great Lakes Region Membership numbers are growing too!

• Current USAPA Members 1624
• Current USAPA Members Great Lakes Region 325

You are invited to belong to the largest Pickleball Community in the world! Support Your Sport! Join USA Pickleball Association..."just for the Midwest FUN of it!"

• http://usapa.org/memberships/index.php

More Pickleball Terms by Wayne Roswell, Pickleball Ontario

"Pickleball A Canadian Game - eh!"

More Canadian Pickleball Vocabulary

By Pickleball Ontario's Wayne Roswell
http://pickleballontario.blogspot.com/

This month I have played Pickleball in a hockey rink and I received an e-mail from Dave Hall from Little Current, Manitoulin Island telling me they were playing in a curling rink. These two venues should be good for a few new Pickleball terms, don’t you think.

Puckleball – a Canadian version of Pickleball played with a hockey puck instead of a ball.

The Box – the Canadian term for the Non-Volley Zone. As they say in hockey, “stay out of the box!”

Hurry…, Hurry…, Hard…! –a new term to yell at your partner when the ball is lobbed over your head and you are not even going to attempt to run it down.

Double, Double – using a Tim Horton term to announce that the score is 2 – 2. If you play in the US, they will have no idea what the heck you are talking about. How about 7 Up when the score is tied 7-7.

Pickleball – in Ontario at least, this has become the Canadian way of announcing the final point in a game. The server announces 10 – 8 – Pickleball. I declare this a Canadian Pickleball tradition.

Click on this link to enjoy more of Wayne's Pickleball Terms and to learn the meaning of Pickleitis :) !

August 1, 2009