ATLANTIC SOUTH PICKLEBALL
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
March 15, 2011
The Newsletter is distributed on the 15th of each month to all ASR Ambassadors. this newsletter is intended to keep all of you apprised of what is happening in your Region, and to consolidate our news into a once/monthly communication. Please forward this information to all USAPA members, all pickleball players/clubs in your regions and post to your local pickleball Blogs or Websites.
Welcome New Ambassadors:
Jerry and Virginia Corker join us from Mobile,AL - Back in October of 2010, AL Ambassador, Bob Huskey met up with these two at the Pensacola Senior Games in Florida. He saw how much they loved the game and how hooked they were on our favorite pastime and he encouraged them to join him as Ambassadors for AL. From there Jerry and Virginia went on to the State Games in Louisiana and from there to becoming new grandparents! Now it was time to get serious and join Bob as our newest Ambassadors in AL. We look forward to hearing more about the growth of pickleball in Mobile!
Paul Meredith hails from Del Webb Spruce Creek, Summerville in Central Florida. Paul has played pickleball for the past five years, and for the past two years served as the President of the SCCCA Pickleball Club at Spruce Creek. During his tenure membership grew to over 300. He actively encouraged fellow Spruce Creek resident Jim Claycomb to run the annual Geezer Meister tournament, providing the club momentum to support him in making this year's first ever USAPA Sanctioned event in January 2011 highly successful. During his tenure, inter-community play was implemented along with beginner lessons that evolved into a "league of their own".
"Getting new people to play is what grows the sport. Then provide an
environment for personal growth and comradeship." Click Here for Ambassador Profile.
Scott Nelson joins our Ambassador family representing the Space Coast of Florida. He has only been playing pickleball for about 9 months.....but played Racquetball for 38 years and 35 of them competitively. He's been a teaching professional for 25 years and holds at least 200 tournament awards, has coached youth and racquetball clinics and a traveling youth team that consistently placed very high in competition. He's already been promoting the sport locally and is ready to support and grow pickleball on Florida's east coast.
Frank Kinder hails from Sun City Carolina Lakes in Indian Land, SC and comes very highly recommended by his joint Ambassador, Jane Harvey. Frank is an avid promoter of USAPA and loves the competition of the game. He has already joined up with fellow SC Ambassador from Myrtle Beach as a tournament director for the South Carolina Senior Sports Classics. Pickleball will be included in the States Senior Games for the very first time in May. Frank has also taken a lead role in generating inter-community play/competition in his area. Franks BIO has been added to our Ambassador Page. Click Here for Ambassador Profile.
We extend a very warm welcome to all of you to our Atlantic South Ambassador Family!!!
Pickleball on the High Seas:
By Jim Hisman, Ambassador- Charleston, SC
Del Webb held it's 50th Anniversary Cruise on February 14th through February 19th. There were 6 Del Webb communities involved in this cruise on Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas. There was Del Webb Charleston, Sun City Hilton Head, Sun City Carolina Lakes, Del Webb Deaton Creek and Del Webb Carolina Preserve.
When we were getting ready for the cruise, a friend of mine and a fellow officer of the Del Webb Charleston Pickleball Club came to me with an idea of playing Pickleball on this cruise. I said "what are you, crazy?" He went ahead and contacted all of the other Dell Webb's and there was a lot of interest. So I packed up th USAPA portable net system with a few
On the first morning of the cruise we went up to the basketball court area to set up our court and was pleasantly surprised when there were over 20 pickleball pl-ayes just waiting for us! So we set up the net and lined off the court. We started playing and did not quit until the final day of the cruise.
Pickleball became the talk of the ship. It was brought up at shows, in the restaurants, in the dining room, in the elevators, at the pool, everywhere! We talked to the activities and cruise directors and they seemed real interested in adding it to future cruises. Even the Captain watched some play. Everyone had a great time, and we got to meet a lot of new friends and new pickleball players.
Click Here - to read Jim's complete article and see more pickleball cruise pictures!
Recently in the Atlantic South News:
Collier County Sweetbay Senior/Open Games, Naples, Fl- This tournament took place on February 12th and 13th. Sanctioned by the Florida Sports Foundation, this was only the second year that pickleball was included in the games. Thanks to the hard work of tournament directors Nancy Meyer and Cindy Eddleman and Jim Thomas from the Parks and Recreation Department pickleball has found a home in Naples. This note from Nancy Meyer says it all.
"To all the Participants of the Collier County Senior Games,
We would like to thank you all for your participation in the Collier County Tournament and making it a fun and exciting event! The listing of all the division winners are posted on the USAPA website under "Results". The tournament grew from 32 participant's last year to the official count of 94 this year!
The Collier County Parks and Rec has informed us that they will be lining 5 of the tennis courts to make 10 pickleball courts and purchasing the nets to go with it, at the East Napes site where the tournament was held."
For stories, pictures and tournament winners, Click Here
Lee County Senior Games, Ft. Myers, Fl Tournament: Nancy Meyer and Cindy Eddleman were also the tournament directors for this Florida Sports Foundation Sanctioned Senior Games event that took place at the Wa-Ke Hatchee Recreation Center in Ft. Myers on February26th and 27. The two day double elimination tournament included doubles, mixed doubles and singles competition and more than 100 players registered to play this year. The largest turnout for this event to date. For story, pictures and winners, Click Here.
Spruce Creek Senior Games for Charity - Summerfield, Fl - Spruce Creek Pickleball Club hosted the pickleball event at their Del Webb Community in Summerville, Fl. from March 1-4, 2011. The tournament included men's and ladies doubles and mixed doubles competition in both the open age age bracket categories. Information and winners are posted on the SCCC Pickleball website.
South Central Florida Pickleball League Championship, Avon Park, Fl
It was just a short time ago, back in November of 2010 that Dave Majick had an idea. "The intent is to grow the sport of pickleball and o test our metal against the best in our area." And so he took on the lead role in creating league play in Central Florida. He met with pickleball leaders from their respective communities, and on January 22, 2011 the South Central Florida Pickleball League (S.C.F.P.L.) played their very first matches.
So to the winners! Congratulations Solivita. Display your banner with pride! Well earned! Well done!
(A sincere thanks to: Mark Telfer, Tim Diefenderfer, Larry Judd, Lloyd Forsyth, and my club at Highlands Ridge)" Click Here to read MORE.......
Polk County Senior Games, Poinciana, Fl - Pickleball was played on March 8th and 9th and sponsored by Publix and Solivita/Avatar Properties. This was a modified double elimination tournament featuring doubles, mixed doubles, and singles competition on the beautiful courts at the Solivita Community in Poinciana, Fl. The Senior Games this year continue to bring in more players, and the Polk County Games were no exception. Hats off to the Solivita Smashers Pickleball Club on a well organized and well run event. Winners will be posted at http://www.polkseniorgames.org/ For story and pictures Click Here.
Polk County will also be the Host Community for the 2011 Florida State Championship Games.
Heartland Senior Games, Sebring, Fl , Played in Highlands County on March 11th and 12th at the courts of Tanlgewood in Sebring Florida. This was a double elimination tournament for both ladies and men's doubles and mixed doubles competition, best two out of three games in the winners bracket and all medal matches, and one game to 15 in the consolation bracket . Congratulations to tournament director, Mark Telfer and all of the volunteers from the Tanglewood Pickleball Club for two fun filled days and a very well organized event. Watch the Atlantic South website for story and pictures.........coming soon.
Upcoming Tournaments/Events:
For more information and registration links go to our Atlantic South Website: www.south.usapa.org
- Beginner Workshop and Skills Workshop,Tringali Rec Center, Englewood, Fl., March 14, 2011
- Collier County Games, Punta Gorda, Fl., March 19-20, 2011
- Peace River OPEN (ages 35-49), Punta Gorda, Fl, March 19-20
- Good Life Games, Seminole, Fl., March 21-22, 2011.
- Pickleball Beginner Classes, Spruce Creek PB Club, Summerfield, Fl, March 21,22, and 23, 2011
- Cherokee County Senior Olympics, Canton, Ga., April 8, 2011
- Annual Mid South Regional Pickleball Tournament, April 8-10, Mandeville, LA
- Kings Point Pickleball Leagues Spring into Summer pickleball Shindig, Sun City Center, Fl April 9, 20
- In-House Pickleball Tournament, Seminole Rec Center, Seminole, Fl., April 12, 2011
Do you have a tournament/round robin or social event that should be listed here?
International Pickleball Week!!!
Reporting in from the Region:
By David Johnson, USAPA Board Chair Media Relations
Google Doodle created by Steve Stone of Pickleball Iowa for International Pickleball Week. Nice work, Steve!!
We are scheduling the 2nd annual International Pickleball Week for April 11-17th this year. This is a terrific opportunity to generate awareness and publicity on a local, regional and national level. We encourage local clubs and organizations to schedule special events during this week.
Google Doodle created by Steve Stone of Pickleball Iowa for International Pickleball Week. Nice work, Steve!!We are scheduling the 2nd annual International Pickleball Week for April 11-17th this year. This is a terrific opportunity to generate awareness and publicity on a local, regional and national level. We encourage local clubs and organizations to schedule special events during this week.
Some options to consider at the local level:
- Press releases to local media (I can help here with templates, media contacts, etc.)
- Intro clinics - For the public, For schools and PE Teachers, For recreation centers, YMCAs, summer camps, etc.
- Tournaments
- Local and state proclamations
Contact me (media@usapa.org) with questions, suggestions or requests for help. I look forward to seeing some exciting activities at the local level.
South Carolina USAPA Volunteers love to teach pickleball......
By Jane Harvey, Ambassador, Indian Land, SC
In February, we started a program on Wednesday afternoons at the Riverside Rec Center for the Boys and Girls Club of York County. Our wonderful SCCL Pickleball Club has loaned us with 2 portable nets to use. The
kids are enthusiastic about playing, though this is definitely a learning experience for the adults—the challenge being, how to grab and sustain the attention of 9-11 year-olds!
We are measuring success by small steps but know that the exercise and attention from caring adults are benefiting these children. We’re developing drills to help them focus and we’re working on control. (This is not baseball!) Having a high ratio of adults has been very helpful. I’m delighted to have had fantastic support from local USAPA members--Carl Thiel, Mary Anne Lindsey, Bob Bringas, Stan Wilson, Luis Lopez, Dorinda Reed, Fred Harvey, and co-ambassador Frank Kinder-- who have so generously volunteered to help with this program.
We just completed another session of our popular Pickleball 102 Clinic in SCCL. So far, 85 players have completed the course and we have another one scheduled with 18 more players this month. Designed to help players move more quickly beyond “novice” status, the clinic has proven to be very popular with a waiting list to get in. At every session, we talk about the work of the USAPA to grow the sport, encourage folks to check out the web site, and explain the benefits of joining. Click Here for story and photos.
Reporting in from the Region:
Alabama
Tom and Ann Earley (N. Georgia pickleball club) are in Arizona right now where Tom, with his partner Wayne, took first place in the Palm Creek 8th Annual pickleball tournament. Following the win, Tom has taken on the task of "coaching" providing pickleball clinics including a 3.5 Dink Clinic and Drop Shot Clinic. Yes - Tom puts in several hours of prep time......but he will repeat these clinics for his club back home in Georgia.
Florida
Rich and Donna Donald - RV'ers Love Pickleball too!! The courts at the Peace River Preserve in Wauchula Florida have seen a lot of pickleball this winter. With only two courts the paddles line up fast. As the wait time increases game points are reduces to 9 and sometimes to rally scoring. Players compete in tournaments and round robins and beginner and skills clinics are held regularly. The most recent skills clinic was held on March 4th. The Florida Senior Games do not require Florida residency - so several of the players have competed successfully in the Collier, Lee, Polk and Highland County games and will next be off to Punta Gorda for the Charlotte County Games.
North Carolina,
Rick Laskey reports that in April, pickleball will be added once a week to the after school program and the Jacksonville Commons Gym in Jacksonville, NC.
Sylvia Fletcher The Warrenton, SCCS Wellness Pickleball Club held an introduction to pickleball on March 5th at the Warren County Memorial Library and she featured a Support Raffle. Money from the raffle will be used to pay for an additional net so that two courts can be set up for the players.
South Carolina,
Jim Hisman -The winners of the March Drop In Tournament were Mike Brice and Judd Hunt. Since we only had 5 teams this month we played a round robin with every team playing every other team. In the Finals Mike Brice and Judd Hunt beat Jim Hisman and Barb Hubbell 11-8 for the Championship.
Members of the Cane Bay Pickleball Club were scheduled to provide a pickleball demonstration and workshop at the Mt. Pleasant Tennis Courts on March 3rd.
If you have any news/information from your area that you want to share with our readers please send it to Donna Donald at: rddonald2@gmail.com
