Tag: Pickleball Terry

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Questions Players Ask Me About The Kitchen

Picture of Pickleball Terry

cartoon of coach for Sarasota PickleballIf I had a dollar for every time I am asked a question for clarity about the KITCHEN, A.K.A. the non-volley zone (NVZ), I’d be buying a home in Monaco. The kitchen rules are mind benders for beginners, and especially for former tennis players. I can tell by the way their eyes glaze over that THIS DOES NOT COMPUTE! My patience for repeating and reconfirming the rules again and again deserves an award for determination. Sometimes, my newbie will try to contest the rules, but I calmly repeat, “No, you cannot rush the net and slam the ball unless it bounces in the NVZ.” My newbie’s face, that a second ago had the look of VICTORY, turns into a sour frown. But, but, but….they respond.

Pickleball court for Sarasota Pickleball on kitchen rules

Along with figuring out how to keep score, keeping out of the NVZ ties with -scoring on hard to remember. That 7 feet by 20 feet area is a big hurdle to get over. No, you cannot go in the kitchen unless the ball bounces. Yes, you can hangout in the kitchen all you want but you still can’t hit the ball if it doesn’t first bounce in the kitchen. Oh, that confuses them more than the 2 bounce rule.

So, here are the most questions I answer about the kitchen as a pickleball coach.

Student: So you mean I can’t go into the kitchen?

Me: Yes you can but it’s not a good idea to hangout there because you can’t hit the ball during a volley.

Student: What’s a volley?

Me: It’s when you strike a ball in the air before it bounces.

Student: Can I go into the kitchen after the ball bounces in the kitchen?

Me: Yes, you can enter the kitchen if the ball bounces but it is a good idea to get right back out or you will be a target for the next shot.


Student: Why do you call if the non-volley zone sometimes?

Me: Because kitchen is another name for the non-volley zone or NVZ. A volley is striking the ball before it bounces.

Student: Yeah, but why “kitchen.”

Me: Because pickleball is several sports put together and KITCHEN comes from shuffle board. You are penalized for being in the kitchen in shuffleboard.

A picture of shuffleboard rules for Sarasota pickleball

Student: Can I go into the kitchen before the ball bounces?

Me: Yes you can.

Student: Do I have to go out of the kitchen and back in to hit a ball?

Me: If the ball bounces in the kitchen again you don’t have to go out and back into the kitchen.

Student: What if I hit it in the air?

Me: Then you do have to be out of the kitchen and both feet have to be on the ground to hit a volley ball right after you hit a ball that bounces in the kitchen.

Student: So, you’re saying I can’t rush the net?

Me: You can if the ball bounces in the kitchen.

Student: Can the ball go into the kitchen during a serve?

Me: No, that’s a fault.

Student: Can I return a ball into the kitchen after it is served to me?

Me: Yes.

Student: Can I go into the kitchen after I hit a volley outside of the kitchen?

Me: No, your momentum cannot take you into the kitchen.

Student: If my toe is on the NVZ line is that considered being in the kitchen?

Me: Yes.


Student: If the ball bounces outside of the kitchen in the court and I hit it then run into the kitchen is that okay.

Me: Yes.

Student: Can the ball strike the NVZ line on the serve?

Me: No. It’s a fault.

Student: If being in the kitchen is so dangerous, why are you always telling me to RUN UP TO THE KITCHEN?

Me: Because being at the kitchen line gives you the advantage of cutting your opponents reaction time and putting the ball away winning the point.

Some other things I point out.

You cannot drop anything in the kitchen during a volley like a hat, a ball that drops out of your pocket, a tissue, etc. It’s a fault.

Your partner cannot pull you out of the kitchen during a volley so you can hit the ball if he/she is standing in the kitchen. It’s a fault.

You cannot hit a dink then strike the net. That’s a fault. A dink is a light hit of the pickleball that drops it just over the net into the kitchen area.

If you have any comments or questions, feel free to email me at dinkpickleball.com.

Thanks for reading!

Pickleball Terry
Terry Ryan
dinkpickleball@gmail.com
941-400-0978
SarasotaPickleball.com – owner/Gearbox Dealer
Pickleball Terry for Sarasota Pickleball

Clinics
Group and private lessons
Tournaments
941-400-0978

 

 

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New Pickleball Rules For 2022

What's new in 2022 pickleball rules

Yes, the new rules by the International Federation of Pickleball and therefor the USA Pickleball Organization have been released.  The big question everyone wants to know…IS THE DROP SERVE STILL IN?  Yes, it is.

A picture of Terry Ryan, pickleball Terry for Sarasota pickleball
Pickleball Terry

Drop Serve

4.A.6.a. Servers must release the ball from one of the server’s hands or dropped off the server’s paddle face from any natural (unaided) height and hit the ball after the ball bounces. There is no restriction how many times the ball can bounce nor where the ball can bounce on the playing surface. The
server’s release of the ball must be visible to the referee and the receiver. In matches without a referee, the server’s release of the ball must be visible to the receiver. A replay shall be called before the return of serve if the release of the ball is not visible. The rules for feet placement (4.A.4) still apply.
4.A.6.b. The ball shall not be propelled (thrown)
downward or tossed or hit upward with the
paddle.
4.A.6.c. If the drop serve is used, the ball may be
struck with either a forehand or backhand
motion without any other restriction i.e., the
location restrictions of the ball and paddle.

No more chainsaw serves Zane

Is the Chainsaw Serve legal? No!

New Rule: The Volley Serve. The server shall use only one hand to release the ball to perform the serve. If the ball is visibly spun by the server during the release, the part(s) of the hand contacting the ball must be bare. The server’s release of the ball must be visible to the referee and the receiver. In matches without a referee, the server’s release of the ball must be visible to the receiver. A replay shall be called before there turn of serve if the release of the ball is not visible or if the referee (or receiver in non-officiated matches) cannot discern whether an item on the hand contacted a visibly
spun ball. Exception: A player who has the use of only one hand may use their hand or paddle to release the ball to perform the serve.

Can I bring 2 balls on the court with me? 

Yes, but the second ball must be hidden. You cannot at anytime have 2 balls in your hand. If the ball you are carrying in a pocket and out of view, suddenly slips out of your pocket and lands on the court, that is a fault.

Are headphones allowed?

No, Nope.

Calling the wrong score

YOU CAN’T STOP PLAY IF YOU THINK THE WRONG SCORE IS CALLED!!! You now must wait until the rally is over than say, hey I believe you called the wrong score. Correction is made then to the score. It is not a fault. If you do STOP play and say…hey, you called the wrong score, then the player who stopped the play receives a fault. (I know, right!)

Existing: Wrong Score Called. If the server or referee calls the wrong score, any player may stop play before the “third shot” occurs to ask for a correction.
New: Wrong Score Called. If the server or referee calls the wrong score, once the serve is made, play shall continue to the end of the rally and the correction made before the next serve. After the serve is made, a player who stops play based solely on an incorrect score call, will have committed a fault and shall lose the rally.

 

Did you know there is a difference between a fault and a FOUL?

A fault occurs when a player hits the ball out of the court, steps into the NVZ before a bounce, steps on the baseline during a serve, hits the ball into the net, touches the net during a shot, etc.  When that happens, the serving team either loses their serve or, if the opponents made the fault, the serving team wins a point. BUT if during a game, a player uses profanity (in a tournament) he receives a FOUL and a point is deducted from his team’s score. Or if he intentionally slams the ball after a point because of anger and doesn’t care where it ends up endangering his opponents or spectators, that is a FOUL.


Proposed changes that didn’t make it in. (Thank goodness!)

Rally scoring
Partners not rotating when winning a point

Surprising things

  • You can now change starting servers between games in tournaments.
  • You can take your 2 time outs between games. There are usually 3 minutes between games, but now if you think you’ll need more time (like for a bathroom break) you can add your 2 upcoming time outs (2 minutes total) to the time between games. Thought you’d like to know.

Something I wished made the cut

Saying the starting score as zero-zero-start. It stays as zero-zero-two. Why? I coach a lot of beginners. Saying zero-zero-start is easier when teaching scoring.

Click here for a copy of the Official 2022  RulesUSA-Pickleball-Rulebook

SIGNIFICANT RULE CHANGES FOR 2022
Spin Serves (4.A.5)
In 2022, the server shall use only one hand to release the ball to
perform the serve. If the ball is visibly spun by the server during
the release, the part(s) of the hand contacting the ball must be
bare.
The Drop Serve (4.A.6)
No changes were made to the drop serve other than to remove its
Provisional status.
Wrong Score Called (4.K)
The rules concerning what happens if the wrong score is called by
a player or a referee have changed. If a player thinks a wrong
score has been called, a player may stop play to ask for a
correction before the ball is served. If it has been served, the rally
is to be played out and the score correction (if any) is made before
the next serve occurs.
A Dropped Ball (7.N)
In non-officiated matches, it is not uncommon for a player to carry
an extra ball. If an extra ball is carried, it must not be visible to the
opponent. If a player accidentally drops an extra ball during a rally,
it will result in a fault. This does not apply in an officiated match
because the referee is responsible for removing any extra
pickleballs from play.
Medical Time-outs Called by a Referee (10.H.2.a)
If a referee, in the interest of player safety, determines that either
medical personnel or the Tournament Director should be
consulted for a player health issue, that time-out is not chargeable
to the player as a medical time-out. The player retains the right to
call their own medical time out later in the match, if needed.

There you go. NEW RULES FOR THE NEW YEAR
Thanks for reading! All the best!

Pickleball Terry
Owner of SarasotaPickleball.com
PPR Certified Coach

941-400-0978

Dinkpickleball@gmail.com

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Pickleball-The Cure For Senior Loneliness

Picture for Senior Loneliness for Pickleball Terry

On the courts one day, while I was sitting on the sideline waiting to play, and one of the older players leaned over to me and said, “You know, pickleball saved my life.” That statement out of the blue, took my breath away. Normally, I just go about my days filled with pickleball activities such as: playing pickleball, coaching pickleball, answering questions about pickleball, and fielding phone calls from visitors coming to Sarasota. I guess you could say I’m taking pickleball for granted. I forget how much it means to people.

Somebody asked me if this was a full-time job being Pickleball Terry, the self-described Sarasota Pickleball Ambassador. Job? Nahhhh. It’s too much fun to be considered a JOB!

Picture of Chris Farley pickleball at Sarasota Pickleball

So, when somebody reminds me on the courts, that pickleball means so much more to them then just a game well, it’s like a kick of reality.  That a small part of me is involved in something that means so much to people is absolutely humbling.

The player on the court who leaned over to me that day, went on to say that he did not know what would have happened if he didn’t have pickleball during COVID. He lives alone but thank goodness now has a satisfying social life through pickleball along with getting fresh air and exercise.

sarasota pickleball

There are approximately 76 million Baby Boomers; people born between 1946 to 1965. They now are retiring and moving to warmer climates to continue on the next chapters of their lives. They move away from family and friends, and find out that it’s not as easy to make friends for they don’t have the normal ways; kids in school, work friends, and maybe pub buddies. So, how do they make friends when they become seniors and move to a new place? Pickleball!
Try Prime Discounted Monthly Offering

baby boomer image on Sarasota PickleballBoomers are not ready to hang up their athletic gear. They are raring to go! No sitting in a rocking chair for them. Pickleball is a great solution. It is an activity setup with open, drop-in play. Anyone can join in for a game, and it is a way to make friends with a common interest.

I know a nurse that travels to different medical centers to work around the country, and she says all she does to get a social fix is find out where the pickleball courts are. Instant friends wherever she goes.

Another player shared with me that she was thinking of moving from Sarasota until she found pickleball. It opened up a whole new world to her and now she has a very active social life and plays pickleball with her friends several times a week. Life is good for her now in Sarasota.

When I coach,  usually I start out by saying, “I am a dealer and I’m going to make you a pickleball addict.” This is met by smirks and laughter as in…no you’re not. So funny because  I do hook them in. Months later I’ll still see them  playing on a pickleball court.

You see doc by Pickleball Terry

A woman took a lesson around a year ago. She arrived with a big floppy hat on and not the best shoes for the court. She was so quiet and timidly tried to hit the ball. I thought, I’ll never see her again. Well, she came back week after week and now the floppy hat is gone, new court shoes have been bought, and she can slam the ball. She is tricky too with angle shots, and gets into dinking. I’d say she plays well with others and has definitely come out of her “shell.” I love witnessing the transformations.

Other health benefits of playing pickleball.

It strengthens your bones. If your doctor tells you you have osteopenia  or osteoporosis which is bone loss, play pickleball. The pounding on the floor with your legs as you run after the ball causes a vibration that promotes bone growth.

Osteopenia  or Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become weak and brittle. The body constantly absorbs and replaces bone tissue. With osteoporosis, new bone creation doesn’t keep up with old bone removal.
Many people have no symptoms until they have a bone fracture.
Here’s a good example. A few years ago, a female player in Sarasota had a bone density test. Her doctor informed her that she had osteopenia. Unfortunately, while playing on the pickleball court she went back for a lob and fell backwards on both wrists causing them to fracture.  Six months later, and to the shock of her doctor, she went back to playing pickleball. When she had her next bone density test it showed bone mass improvement. Credit to her playing pickleball.

Cognitive thinking. We lose cognitive thinking as we get older. But pickleball helps:

  1. Remembering the score
  2. Recalling names
  3. Concentrating on the flight of the ball
  4. Remembering all the rules
Cognitive skills are the essential qualities your brain utilizes to think, listen, learn, understand, justify, question, and pay close attention. (From dictionary)
Pickleball boosts your happiness hormones.
Happiness Hormones for Sarasota Pickleball
And exercise…good old-fashioned exercise.
New students start huffing and puffing in the first 5 minutes of the lesson. “I thought pickleball was easier than this?” said my weary student. No, pickleball will get your heartrate up. You have to move, move, move. Don’t let that 1/2 a tennis court fool you. It’s a workout. We get sweaty together, and we will play for 3 hours or more. It is not unusual for my Fitbit to start buzzing announcing that I have racked up 10k steps after a few hours.  I wait for the buzz, not satisfied if I haven’t hit the 10k mark.

Let’s get back to the social aspect.
One of the most detrimental things to happen to a senior citizen is when they start to isolate themselves. Pickleball gives them a reason to get out of the house and meet friends. It goes beyond pickleball, too. Soon, after-game lunch dates are formed, Happy Hours, and celebrating birthdays become big deals. If you don’t show up for an extended time, players will start asking around. “Hey, have you seen George lately?” We will track you down. Best to tell us if you are going to be out of town for awhile or we start to worry. You are appreciated, welcomed, and missed.
Pickleball Terry
We take a passing away of a fellow pickleball player with great sadness and respect. They are deeply missed and always remembered.  I have contacts that I will never be able to delete on my phone even though they have passed on. I think of them every time I scroll past their name.
So please, keep active, keep social, and keep playing pickleball.
Sincerely,
Pickleball Terry
Owner of Sarasota Pickleball Organization LLC (Not the club)
PPR Pickleball Coach
941-400-0978
dinkpickleball@gmail.com
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Have You Signed-Up For The Pickleball Fest Tournament?

Join us on Saturday, November 13, 2021, at Newtown Estates Park in Sarasota for our inaugural Sertoma Kids’ Pickleball Fest! Space is limited to the first 64 registered players, so don’t wait! There are GREAT prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in each skill level, plus lots of free gifts and giveaways for ALL participants. Continental breakfast and after-party are included as well. Register today at sertomakids.org/pickleball. 

Only 64 players. Filling up fast.

Tournament


 

What is Sertoma Kids, LLC?

It is a non-profit that provides speech therapy for children who may not be able to afford services. Many of the children have autism or disabilities.

How did Pickleball Terry become involved with this tournament?

I was sent an invite for lunch at Lauren Johnson’s house for the first brain-storming meeting for the possibility to host a tournament as a fundraiser. Lauren and most of the other women at the meeting, were avid pickleball players, and I recognized them from playing on the courts. Great ideas were tossed around as we ate lunch, and the Sertoma Kids’ Pickleball Fest was born.

Sarasota Pickleball
Where it began

 

Now moths later, they have already secured sponsors, and joined up with the Flanzer Foundation that will match all funds that are taken in for this great tournament.

The Flanzers for Sarasota
Louis & Gloria Flanzer
The mission of the Flanzer Philanthropic Trust is to enhance the life of the people of the Suncoast through social services and healthcare initiatives

 

If you would like to be a sponsor for the Sertoma Kids Pickleball Fest, here are more details. Click Here.

What is the tournament format?

It is a fun round robin. You do not need to sign up with a partner, and will play with other liked skilled players. The winners from each skill level will compete with each other for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. They will receive great prizes!!!

Each person is guaranteed 6 games.

What else will be there?

It’s a festival… a pickleball festival! The Toasted Mango is providing breakfast to all tournament participants, the Surly Mermaid is providing lunch. All FREE for tournament participants! If you bring guests, they may purchase food from the vendors.

Silent Auction

Themed gift baskets and other surprises will be auctioned off.

MUSIC! DANCING! MUSIC! DANCING!

Do not miss out on the fun. Spots are filling up fast! Max 64 players.

How do you sign up?

Go here and sign up. NOTE: And this is important. When you sign-up, you will be directed to the Flanzer Foundation site. There is a drop down tab and you will have to filter through many non-profits. Make sure you select SERATOMA KIDS. That way you will get credit and be officially signed up for the tournament. If you have any questions. please email Lauren Johnson at  johnsonlauren642@icloud.com.

Lauren JohnsonLauren Johnson. Lauren is a recent retiree from the Sarasota County School District, having taught kindergarten through second grade for 44 wonderful years. She earned her master’s degree from USF in Gifted Education and was most passionate about gifted education and the sensory needs of gifted children. She also helped begin the first chartered middle school, Sarasota School for the Arts and Sciences, in Sarasota and worked tirelessly on that board of directors for three years. Lauren has been recognized for her accomplishments with children and the arts, being named Teacher of the Year at Fruitville Elementary School and Florida Studio Theatre’s Teacher of the Year. Now, she is loving retirement with her husband, Mark, and taking the time to frequently see their grandchildren. Playing pickleball, learning golf, biking, kayaking and recently joining the Sertoma Kids Board of Directors has kept Lauren quite active in the community.

Go here and sign-up and I’ll see you there!  sertomakids.org/pickleball. 

Thank you for supporting our tournament. 100% of funds donated for this tournament all go to the Sertoma Kids!

Thank you for reading.

Pickleball Terry is a Gearbox Dealer

Pickleball Terry
Pickleball Coach
SarasotaPickleball.com
Gearbox Paddles Dealer

 

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Will the Serve Rule Change in 2022?

Sarasota Pickleball

The serve has been controversial since  the drop serve was introduced in January 2021. Then Zane came up with the COVID serve, also know as the chainsaw serve…or the Zane serve. Now that  tournaments are beginning to outlaw the drop serve, the questions is…will the only serve allowed in 2022 be the standard and back to basics, underhand serve.

Here is a post I saw on Facebook and Morgan makes a good point.

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In The Beginning By Pickleball Terry

A picture of blog post In The Beginning By Sarasota Pickleball

I was standing on the court between pickleball games and passing the time by talking to a relative newbie to pickleball. I said to him, “Did you know when we all started playing pickleball in Sarasota we all played indoors?” He…dead silence and a look of shock on his face. But that is right, we did not play pickleball outdoors. We only played indoors, as shocking as that now sounds.

Picture of Chris Farley pickleball at Sarasota PickleballWe had a certain schedule and played inside at Arlington Park on certain days, and other days, we played inside at Colonial Oaks, RL Taylor, and YMCAs when they were the YMCAs. Then more places opened up and we had Newtown and Longwood Park. The Salvation Army on Tuttle offered pickleball on a couple of days. Never, NEVER did we venture out and play pickleball outdoors. Most of us didn’t have our own nets, and we preferred the air conditioning and no wind inside. Nets were provided at all the indoor facilities and the Salvation Army even started putting up the nets and taking them down for us. The cost was all of $2.00 and we paid with cash. You always had your bag of ones and quarters in your backpack.


 

And balls….we had one kind of ball. The standard green Jug ball that is cheap to buy. The facilities would supply them.  At first, they would leave a bucket of balls for the players to pick from and return them to afterwards. They didn’t last long as they quickly got soft or would crack, and some places started handing balls out one at a time, so you would have to bring a cracked ball to the desk to get a new Jug ball.

Also, for example, Arlington had four courts and it ranged from the beginner court located closest to the door, and the quality of the players got better as it got to the 4th/last court where the strongest players played. Things would get tricky when a not-so-good player would try to play on a court that he/she wasn’t really qualified to play on.  I would see fights break out, feelings getting hurt, and people complaining at the front desk. Oh boy. Lots of drama.

I also remember the LONG WAIT during the winter season. We would wait 45 minutes to an hour between games. UGH! But you got a lot of time to visit with fellow players. We also had pot lucks and a couple of us would reserve the indoor courts for private play. People would wait to see if they would get an invite. Some people wouldn’t. They still talk about that.

I had a women’s league inside at Colonial Oaks for 2 years that was a wonderful time. Someday, after COVID, I hope to resume that and expand on league play to include men’s and mixed.

Two years ago, one of the last things that Coach Russell and Terry W. did was approach Church of the Palms and ask them if they would consider having pickleball.  After a little negotiations, the Church offered pickleball in their beautiful new gym. It has been an outstanding relationship.

Speaking of Coach Russell, the man was instrumental in getting major pickleball pros to come to Sarasota and host clinics. I took clinics from Kyle Yates and Lucy Kitcher for all of $30.00. What an honor to meet people like them. Those clinics were held at RL Taylor Community Center which also is a wonderful place to play indoor pickleball.

I remember the first time i played outdoors. It was on the courts at Newtown. I was so thrown off. The net looked too high, the court looked too big. It was a totally different experience.  I didn’t like it. There was , wind and sun in my eyes and I preferred playing inside. Even all the tournaments I played in were indoors. Summer came in 2019 and the indoor facilities were closed because the kid’s camps were using the indoor space, except the Church of the Palms and the Ys had some limited time to play.

Then Dick Friede starting something amazing, he started borrowing portable nets and setting them up every morning outside at Colonial Oaks Park. It was a slow start but now has become a popular place to go. The success is mainly because Dick with his partner, Jan, are reliable and you can count on them being there everyday.

In the fall of 2019, the indoor facilities opened back up after school started again, and we all happily went back to playing indoors. Players began to become more interested in playing outside especially on the weekends when most facilities were closed, and we ventured to the courts of Siesta Key. Oh boy, did we clash with the tennis players who thought we were not worthy to play on their courts. God help you if a pickleball rolled on their court.

In 2020 COVID hit and everything changed. We were forced to play outside as the indoor facilities shut down. There were a couple of weeks when we were not allowed to play even on the outdoor courts as the country went into lockdown.

But life goes on, and here it is, the summer of 2021 and we are all now devoted outdoor pickleball players. We have learned to love playing outside and playing inside is no longer as desired. We play in the heat, the cold, the wind, and even the rain. We have pretty much taken over the courts at Colonial Oaks Park during the mornings, much to the dismay of the few tennis players that want to play there.  After all, we live in beautiful Sarasota, FL. Who wouldn’t want to play outdoors.

And the wait time is less. I never will wait 45 minutes to play a ten minute game as I did at Arlington. No thank you!

Hopefully soon, Sarasota will construct the outdoor courts they have been promising us. The Longwood project has been delayed for another year. and don’t hold your breath for the courts off of Pompano. That may be 3 years into the future.

As pickleball takes off as the fastest growing sport in the country, I have seen on the Internet, new outdoor massive  pickleball complexes  popping up. There is a trend of people buying or renting warehouse and putting courts in; some keeping them for private use and others charging for public to play. Malls are converting empty space into pickleball complexes. It’s really an exciting time to be involved in pickleball.

Lastly, along with all the different paddle brands out there (I’m a Gearbox authorized dealer), there are now over 300 brands of pickleballs. The Jugs balls I still use in my clinics and for my ball machine, but people are now very picky about what ball they are playing with indoor and outdoor.  I once saw one player throw a ball down and announce. “I won’t play with that ball!” Wow! How far we have all come.

Keep playing pickleball!

Pickleball Terry

 

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An Interview With Gold Medal Winner, Chris Hayashi

A picture of Chris Hayashi for Sarasotapickleball.com

Christine Hayashi played in the recent Minto US Open Pickleball Championship held in Naples. I sent her a few questions and here are her answers.

Chris Hayashi at the US Pickleball Open
Elizabeth and Chris

Christine Hayashi won Gold and Bronze at the Minto US Pickleball Championships in Naples held in April.
(Do you like Christine or Chris?) I like Chris, either is fine.
Pickleball Terry (PT) Chris, congratulations on your wins. Who were your partners?
Chris: Women’s 3.5 Age 55+ Elizabeth Warrier – Gold
Mixed 4.0 Age 19+ Ben De Jesus – Bronze
PT: Did you practice a lot with your partners before the tournament?
Chris: As the Open was approaching, Liz and I started practicing by playing a couple of tournaments,
playing in a weekly league, and practicing another night if possible.
Ben was a last-minute replacement and good friend who stepped in! We played together a couple of
times before the tournament and did some drilling. He is a great player. I am a good listener and
followed his lead for our mixed play ��


PT: What did you do to prepare yourself for the tournament?
Chris: For me, I simply love playing! I was fortunate to be invited to Sarah Saari’s Viking Pickleball
Clinics and she has been instrumental in my development. I very much enjoy playing different players
so I played at different locations with different groups and tournaments (Englewood, GT Bray, Indigo
(the community where I learned about Pickleball!), Island Walk, Palm Aire, Lakewood Ranch HS,
Sarasota Pickleball Club Newtown, Punta Gorda PicklePlex …)
PT: Athletes have rituals before a game. Do you have any like carry a lucky charm or anything?
Chris: No lucky charm. Just grateful to be playing in the Open and for the experience!
PT: Normally, how many times do you play pickleball a week?
Chris: I work full-time at Beall’s (check out their pickleball clothes etc.) so I play where there are good lights at night (GT Bray, Englewood) a couple of times a week and then most definitely as much as
possible on the weekends!
PT: Do you like playing with the same partner or do you like to play with different people?
Chris: For tournaments I think it’s so important to have a partner that you enjoy playing with and your style of games work together to be successful, while having fun!
Otherwise, for recreation play I love playing with different people and against different people. That’s one of the great gifts of pickleball are the people you meet and friends you make.
PT: What paddle do you use?
Chris: Prince Spectrum Pro
PT: What is the best shot is your wheelhouse?
Chris: If you know me, you know I love to dink and reset ��

PT: Do you like to dink or are you a banger?
Chris: Dink
PT: What was the best part of the US Open?
Chris: It was my first time being to the US Open. It was amazing to walk onto the venue with ZingZang Championship Court and to see so many players and people passionate about the sport and the
high level of play, amateurs and pros all playing on the 60 dedicated courts. To be able to play something you love, to dig in and never give up, at the largest PB tournament was so fun. And to do with partners I admire and am grateful for. And, in our Women’s event, we got a text for our 2nd
round match. Liz says, where is CC? Where are the lettered courts? Liz, that’s Championship Court!
That definitely was a highlight. We won there and went undefeated against some very tough
competition!


PT: What was the worst part?
Chris: Something we cannot control, the weather. It didn’t impact me, but for friends who waited
over a year to play in the Open, practiced and playing at the top of their game, to be told their event is
being rescheduled (at least it wasn’t cancelled), and unfortunately they were unable to play the next
day. They were very disappointed. Also be prepared for lengthy waits if there are weather delays (for
any tournament).
PT: Will you do it again?
Chris: You bet, if I can!
PT: What advice would you give to other players who are thinking about playing in next year’s open?
Chris: Do it! It’s Open to everyone. Even if you are eliminated after 2 matches, you played! If you enjoy pickleball and want to “experience” and be a part of the biggest pb event, it is so worth it in my
eyes. I am amazed at the level of play …. from the growing number of juniors to seniors! I’m inspired and motivated to continue to develop. So much joy!
Thank you, Chris. We are all so proud of you. Congratulations!
Thank you, Terry, for being our Ambassador. Without you and your passion for the sport many of us would not be playing. Thank you for all that you do for us and for promoting and growing the sport!


 

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Ode to Dick-Our Man at Colonial Oaks Park

It was a few years ago that Dick Friede and Jan Wilhelm showed up to play pickleball inside at Colonial Oaks Park. I must admit, we were all a little scared of his serves and drives. Boy, he could and still can hit the ball hard. He got many serves by us, but alas, things have changed and the rest of us have stepped up our game and now return Dick’s high-powered serves. Well, most of them. And thanks to Dick’s BLOCKING DRILLS, we are able to block his lighting-fast drives…again most of them.

 

One day, a few years ago, Dick asked me advertise in my newsletter, Intermediate and Advanced Play Everyday at Colonial Oaks Park outside on the courts, much to the dismay of the tennis players.

Now Dick religiously comes every morning at 7:30a.m. with 4 nets and sets them up. One side of the courts have painted lines for pickleball, but the other side, Dick manages to chalk in somewhat straight lines. No one questions them by pulling out a yardstick; we’re just happy he does it.

A picture of Dick and Jan of Sarasotapickleball.com

His lovely partner, Jan, is also a force to be reckoned with on the courts. Though small in stature, she is fast as a bullet, and from years of playing tennis, knows how to place a ball so it’s out of reach for the other team. Anyway, they make a good couple on and off the pickleball court.

On Saturday, May 8, the usual Colonial Oaks gang arrived around 7:30 only to find that someone was there before them and left a message for Dick. An anonymous message by the way.  It was a nice way to say, “Dick. you are appreciated!” (Jan, you too.)

Thanks Dick and Jan from all the players at Colonial Oaks Park.

 

Ode to Dick in Sarasotapickleball.com

Posted on

I Signed Up For The Club Med Sandpiper Tournament Championship

I did it! I signed up for the Lucy Kitcher Club Med Sandpiper Championship; the most difficult process I have ever gone through to sign up for a tournament in my life. Holy moly!

Pickleball Terry

First of all, I talked a few players into signing up for the tournament. Just look at the flyer. It sounds like a fantastic time. All inclusive for 4 days! Plus a sanctioned tournament.

This is the email I received from Lucy Kitcher, pickleball pro.

zerozero stay

AttachmentsMon, Apr 26, 2:40 PM (4 days ago)
to Dinkpickleball

Pickleball Tournament Club Med Port St. Lucie.

All Inclusive Pickleball Tournament and Trip

22 pickleball courts

Port St. Lucie, Florida

 

What’s included

This is a four day all inclusive tournament and trip for only $599 per person. Everything is included from the moment you arrive at the resort until you leave. It covers all day gourmet dining and open bar (both alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks), lovely accommodations,  daily pickleball tournament, play, and court rental, day and night entertainment, cocktail party, and unlimited water and land activities around the resort.  Plus medals and a t-shirt! A limited number of single  rooms are available for a  $100 supplement.

Location

This trip is held at the Club Med in Port St. Lucie, Florida not far from West Palm Beach on the east coast of Florida. The closest airport is Palm Beach International (PBI).  There is a resort shuttle from the airport available for an additional fee (shuttle is only included in international trips).  Advanced reservations are required. Another option is get an Uber from the airport. The ride is about  fifty minutes.

Alternatively, you can rent a car. If you do so, you will have a greater selection of flights to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando or Miami airports which are all approximately one hour thirty minutes. Miami is slightly more.

Arrival and departure info.

Check in on day one is at 3pm. If you want to arrive before three and use the facilities, they charge $20 per person. That gives you full access to the resort which includes meals, drinks (alcoholic and nonalcoholic) and the use of all the resort amenities. However your room may not be available until 3pm. You can leave your bags in your car or at the front desk. We will meet at the pickleball courts for open play at 3:30. Stop by after you arrive.  If you arrive early, feel free to go play!

Check out on the last day is 10am. You can stay and enjoy the resort all day for no additional charge, but you have to have your belongings out of your room by 10am.  If there is no one checking into your room that day, you can ask for late check out at noon. There are showers available around the resort and you are welcome to leave your luggage at the front desk until your departure.

Pickleball activities

The tournament will take place first thing in the morning.  In the afternoon there is optional open play.

On day three there will be an award ceremony at a cocktail party with drinks and hors d’oeuvres. There will be presentations for gold, silver and bronze medals for each skill group. There will also be a paddle give away on the last evening.

We have a reserved section in the restaurant for dinner and the option to sit together at breakfast and lunch. If you prefer to sit outside this is also an option.

Other activities

The following activities are included:

  • Golf: access to the driving range & lessons.
  • Tennis: free access to courts & lessons
  • Water sports: sailing, kayak & paddle boardIng
  • Trapeze: available in small groups
  • Collective sports: free access to courts, soccer, beach volleyball & basketball)
  • Pools
  • Outdoor Yoga
  • Outdoor Cardio & Fitness Classes

This list is during Covid. It may expand prior to our trip

Available for an additional fee:

  • Access to The Saints Golf course, 18-holes, 5 min from the resort
  • Water skiing
  • Spa

Deposit and payments

The total price of this trip is $599 per person based on double occupancy. There are a limited number of single rooms available for a supplement of $100. Your deposit of $199 is due when you book on PickleballTournaments.com (plus single supplement where applicable). Two additional payments of $200 each are due prior to the trip start date. You must be paid in full 60 days before travel. Your deposit is nonrefundable, however if you’re unable to attend, you are able to send someone else in your place, as long as you provide fourteen days advanced notice. After that, there is a $60 name change fee. If there are guests on the waitlist you will be provided a refund minus a $30 administrative fee. Included in the price of your trip is Club Med’s basic travel insurance which covers the cost of your stay at Club Med in case you are unable to attend the trip due to an injury that might prevent you from traveling, a death in the family, or similar.

Please refer to this website for more detailed information regarding the basic travel insurance. https://ns.clubmed.com/amn/rwd/terms/ClubMedTravelInsuranceBasicPlanUSA2009.pdf

If the resort closes for any reason, including COVID 19, you will be provided a credit to be used on a future LucyKitcher.com trip within two years.

Still have questions?

Visit https://lucykitcher.com 

If you have any other questions, feel free send an email.  ZeroZeroStay@yahoo.com

Ready to book?

For the tournament trip click here

https://www.pickleballtournaments.com/pbt_tlisting.pl?when=F&searchkeyword=Lucy&selsanctioning=&openregonly=false

Click here to go to the booking form for instructional trips

https://lucykitcher.com/book-a-trip/

Lucy Kitcher

ZeroZeroStay@yahoo.com

954-534-6292

A picture of Lucy Kitcher for Sarasota Pickleball

Okay, we were all in. Here comes the hard part. Signing up. Yep! FRUSTRATION! And I am dang good on the computer, so you know if I had a hard time….it had to be hard,.

(READ ABOUT LUCY KITCHER HERE)

To sign up you have to go through Pickleballtournaments.com. Okay, that’s not unusual because that’s where I sign up for most of my tournaments, Been there many times. And I went to pickleballtournaments,com and logged in. It went like this:

Log in
Go to FUTURE TOURNAMENTS
Type in LUCY in keyword
I find the Club Med Tournament…REGISTER

MUST BE MEMBER of USAPA or also know as USA Pickleball Association. Well, I am an AMBASSADOR. I am a member and on automatic renewal. I try many times and get the same message. MUST BE A MEMBER.

I log on to the USAPA site and click the button to renew for another 4 years just out of frustration, and I go back to Pickleballtourments,com to try again. Same message. What the????

I call Lucy. She looks into it and says it may take a day to reset.

That night at 7:00, I receive a call from USAPA that I have signed up for 4 years of magazines and not 4 years of membership. The USAPA will refund the $$$, and I am to go back in and renew the membership again. OH MY GOODNESS! By the way, I am also talking to Diane who is going through the same thing. She signed up for the magazine, too. She is also going though hell and high water to sign up for the Club Med tournament.

I have emailed Pickleballtournanments.com about my difficulties. They  responded by saying I have to contact the tournament director. By this time, I have Lucy Kitcher on speed dial so I have talked to her, texted her and emailed her.

Lucy explains that you must be a member of the USA Pickleball Association at the time of the tournament which is at the end of the January 2022. That’s right, we are planning ahead.  I tell Lucy, I better get a private room. She says she’ll save one for me. (I already know that one of my friends from New York is going to beg to come stay with me last moment and I’ll let them bunk in so private room….probably not.)

Outdoor Lounge Inspiration

My membership at USAPA was up for renewal 7/21. Even though I am on automatic renewal, when I tried to register for the Club Med, it said I wasn’t a member in January 2022. USAPA corrected that for me and I was back to Pickleballtournaments.com to try again and again and again.

Next snafu…you have to be a member of the SSIPA. What?! You cannot sign up unless you have a membership to the SUPER SENIOR INTERNATIONALPICKLEBALL ASSOCIATION.

Pickleball Terry

Another test of my patience…I went thought the steps and signed up for $20.00.

Back to Pickleballtournaments.com. (Any sane person would have given up by now.) We also ran into the issue of someone who was in our group was under 50, so did she have to join the SSIPA? Another Lucy text.

Now all things right at USAPA and SSIPA, I went through the process once again; chose PRIVATE ROOM, MIXED DOUBLES AND WOMENS DOUBLES to play in the tournament; paid the down payment, and I am happy to report—I am signed up and good to go!

Now that I have become a sort of EXPERT on signing up for this tournament, feel free to contact me if you run into problems. I have done this for a couple of people. Last time I checked, over 90 from all across the country have signed up. I am hoping to have a large group from Sarasota attend.

So, that’s my story. I must really want to go to go through all that rigmarole.

Please join us.

Pickleballtournaments.com

Pickleball Terry

USA Pickleball Ambassador
PPR Certified Coach
Owner of Sarasotapickleball.com

Dinkpickleball@gmail.com

Text or call me for lessons at 941-400-0978