Terry Ryan – Sarasota Pickleball Organization, LLC

September 10, 2023

The Question I Get Asked Most Coaching Pickleball

As a pickleball instructor and having taught over 1k students so far, the question I get asked most by novice to intermediate players is, WHY DO WE PRACTICE DINKING IF WE NEVER DINK DURING A GAME?

What is dinking? A dink shot in pickleball is a type of shot that is used to control the pace of the game and to gain an advantage over the opponent. The shot is executed close to the net, usually with a soft touch and with the aim of landing the ball just over the net.

Good question and so true. Warmup in my bootcamps/clinics/private lessons starts with dinking. Usually 100 times back and forth. followed by cross-court dinking, I can image that it is boring to some or even futile as when they play on the public courts, all they do and their opponents do is BANG! Slam! Hit as hard as the can.

Make sure you signup for the tournament at Pompano Park in Sarasota.

I explain, hitting the ball as hard as you can works well during lower level play, but not in advanced intermediate to advanced. If you are not seeing dinking in your games, you are playing in a lower level. Period.

In advanced games, dinking is an essential strategy. Keeping the ball low is mandatory, and one pop-up is what your opponents were waiting for, and it’s no second chances.

EASY BLUEPRINT What should you do?

1.Serve deep
2 Return deep
3. 3rd Shot Drop
4.Dinking with patience
5.Waiting for your opponents to make the unforced errors

To win in a dinking battle a player must practice dinking in a non-game setting like in one of my clinics. We drill, drill, drill.

If you would like to join one of my BOOTCAMPS, send me your email address and I’ll add you to the list. We practice keeping the ball low, speedups and resets, target practice, put-a-ways, doubles strategies, and 3rd Shot Drops.

Thanks for reading and keep playing pickleball.

Pickleball Terry

941-400-0978
Dinkpickleball@gmail.com

July 9, 2023

5 Ways to Keep Your Eye on The Ball in Pickleball

IMAGE OR 5 TIPS ON KEEPING YOUR EYE ON THE BALL IN PICKLEBALL

I was on the court today and my opponent popped a ball way up. Already picturing my graceful and accurate put-a-way, I raised my paddle and watched the ball descend, but at the last moment I looked down and completely missed. Victory was not mine, not to mention, it’s embarrassing.

What happened? I was so sure I had it that I got over confident. Rookie move! I and many players have done it. GOT IT! Oops!

Sometimes you can’t help but look away when someone lobs the ball directly into the sun. Below is a video of opponents who used the sun as part of their strategy much to the annoyance of Leigh Waters.

Other times, it’s just sloppy playing. Don’t be sloppy.

Here are five ways to keep your eye on the pickleball while playing:

Focus! Don’t get distracted by spectators, your opponents, or even your partner. Laser focus. Concentrate on tracking the ball’s trajectory, speed, and spin. A good drill is to write different numbers on the balls and play. The players have to spot the number
Track the ball with your paddle. Here’s a good tip from Sarah Ansboury, pro player, who said to follow the flight of the ball with your paddle. I use this with beginners and novices and it works!
Ball! Another tip, say BALL as you are watching the flight to your paddle. It’s hard to think of anything else if you are saying BALL.
Positioning. Position your body in a way that allows you to see the ball clearly. Keep your head up, eyes forward, and body balanced. Stay on the balls of your feet with eyes on the ball. Try to stay ahead of the ball in thought and action.
And my last tip is, it isn’t fair to your partner to NOT keep your eye on the ball. Yes, sometimes good old guilt works the best, but truthfully, you are not being a good partner or player for that matter, if you aren’t keeping your eye on the ball.

Remember, consistent practice and concentration are key to keeping your eye on the ball. By honing your visual skills and staying focused, you’ll be able to react quickly and effectively during the game, and we all want to play a good game.

Thanks for reading,

Pickleball Terry
Terry Ryan, Founder of Sarasota Pickleball Organization, LLC
PPR Certified Coach (over a thousand students so far)
Dinkpickleball@Gmail.com

picture of pickleball Terry

June 25, 2023

Plantar Fasciitis Can Ruin Your Pickleball Game

“What’s wrong, John?” I said after I saw a player grimace between shots on the pickleball court. “My foot is killing me,” he said through clenched teeth.

Turns out he has plantar fasciitis. An extremely painful foot condition characterized by pain and inflammation in the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot, connecting your heel bone to your toes. The plantar fascia provides support to the arch of your foot and helps absorb shock during walking and playing pickleball.

Luckily and fingers crossed, I have never experienced that kind of pain, but so many pickleball players have and it is debilitating usually causing them to suspend playing pickleball. Yikes! Having plantar fasciitis can ruin your pickleball game!

When the plantar fascia is excessively strained, it can develop small tears and become irritated, leading to plantar fasciitis. This condition is often caused by repetitive stress or overuse, such as playing pickleball too much. It can also be associated with certain risk factors, including flat feet, high arches, obesity, tight calf muscles, and wearing improper or unsupportive footwear.

The primary symptom of plantar fasciitis is pain on the bottom of the heel, which may be sharp or dull. The pain is usually worse in the morning when taking the first steps after waking up or after prolonged periods of rest. It may also worsen with activity and improve with rest. In some cases, the pain can extend along the arch of the foot.

Treatment for plantar fasciitis typically involves:

Rest and activity modification: Avoiding activities that worsen the pain and giving the foot adequate rest.
Applying ice packs to the affected area to reduce inflammation and pain.
Stretching and strengthening exercises: Performing specific exercises to stretch the calf muscles and plantar fascia and strengthen the foot muscles.
Orthotic devices: Wearing supportive shoes or using orthotic inserts to provide better arch support and cushioning.
Medications: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be recommended to alleviate pain and reduce inflammation.
Make an appointment with a podiatrist or a physical therapist. They may provide additional treatment modalities like ultrasound therapy, massage, or taping techniques.
Night splints: These devices keep the foot in a stretched position while sleeping to alleviate morning pain and stiffness.
In severe cases, corticosteroid injections may be used to reduce pain and inflammation.

9. Surgery is rarely necessary and is typically reserved for cases that do not respond to conservative treatments after several months. I have met a couple of people who have had surgery though, with great results.

(Another good article to read. The Amazing Benefits of Rolling Out Your Feet)

How to avoid plantar fasciitis.

Maintain a healthy weight.
Choose supportive footwear or use inserts specially made for plantar fasciitis.
Gradually increase activity levels: When starting a new exercise routine or increasing your physical activity, do so gradually. Sudden, intense activities can strain the plantar fascia. Allow your body time to adjust and strengthen gradually.
Warm up and stretch: Before engaging in any physical activity, warm up your muscles and perform stretching exercises for your feet and calves. This helps prepare your muscles and reduces the risk of injury.
Avoid prolonged standing or walking on hard surfaces: If your job or daily activities involve long periods of standing or walking on hard surfaces, try to take breaks, wear supportive shoes, or use cushioned mats to reduce the impact on your feet.
Maintain a healthy foot posture: Practice good foot posture by avoiding excessive rolling inwards (pronation) or outwards (supination) of the feet. If you have any foot abnormalities or imbalances, consider using orthotic inserts or arch supports prescribed by a podiatrist.
Strengthen your foot and leg muscles: Perform exercises to strengthen the muscles in your feet and lower legs, as strong muscles provide better support to the plantar fascia. Calf stretches, toe curls, and toe towel scrunches are some examples of exercises that can help.
Take regular breaks from repetitive activities: If you have a job or hobby that involves repetitive foot movements (such as running or standing for long periods), try to take regular breaks and vary your activities to avoid overstraining the plantar fascia.
Listen to your body: Pay attention to any foot pain or discomfort. If you experience persistent heel pain or other symptoms associated with plantar fasciitis, seek early treatment and avoid activities that worsen the pain.

If you’re experiencing persistent foot pain or suspect plantar fasciitis, it’s always important to consult a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Treat it before plantar fasciitis places you on the bench.

Thanks for reading,

Pickleball Terry, Founder and owner of Sarasota Pickleball Organization

941-400-0978 or dinkpickleball@gmail.com

April 16, 2023April 17, 2023

Pickleball: The Long Road to The Olympics

Pickleball in South Africa playing with paddles from Pickleball Terry

By Terry Ryan

On a sunny afternoon in Sarasota, FL, Lieve Olivera and I, Terry Ryan, A.K.A. Pickleball Terry, gave a presentation on pickleball in a conference room in the Selby Library. Julianne Bosch, of the Sister Cities Association of Sarasota, had called me a couple of months before and asked if I would be willing to give a talk on pickleball. I replied, “Sure!” I figured I would just give a presentation on what was pickleball all about. However, she requested I put an international spin on the presentation because it was a Sister Cities Association. That’s when I suggested that Julianne get in contact with our local pickleball connection, Lieve Olivera, a certified pickleball coach for Special Olympics, and a Global Pickleball Diplomat appointed by the International Federation of Pickleball.

A few days before the event, I put together a power point presentation. Basically, it was how pickleball started, how it grew, and my start and role in pickleball. But as I was digging in to putting all the info in the slides, it occurred to me how many global connections I have made because of pickleball. Looking at the subscribers to my weekly newsletters, I have subscribers from Thailand and Australia, England and Ireland. I have met people from all over the world at tournaments and played with people like Karen Mitchel from PickleballEngland.org in the World Pickleball Tournament. The tournament director put us together. I would never have met her and other people who live in different countries if it wasn’t for pickleball.

I sent these paddles to South Africa with stars and stripes on them because I heard that they love anything that represents USA.

My last US Open partner was from Canada and spoke only French. I soon learned that cuisine was French for kitchen. We are still all friends through Facebook. And I know that I could fly into Ireland and soon find a pickleball court and play games; make friends. That’s the power of pickleball.

But enough about my presentation, Lieve gave a more interesting presentation about the Road to The Olympics.

Steps to the Olympics

Number of countries that already play/have pickleball.
Currently there are 195 countries (conflicting info…193/195) and presently according to the IFP (International Federation of Pickleball, there are 76 countries that play pickleball.

Many rules and regulations control whether the sport will become part of the Olympic Games. The Olympic Charter indicates that in order to be accepted, a sport must be widely practiced by men in at least 75 countries and on four continents and by women in no fewer than 40 countries and on three continents. The sport must also increase the ‘‘value and appeal’’ of the Olympic Games and retain and reflect its modern traditions. (source: https://www.britannica.com/story/how-are-sports-chosen-for-the-olympics)

2. Financial
What is the cost to host pickleball tournaments? What is the draw? Is it popular enough for the Olympics? Is it a spectator sport?

3. Does it look good on TV? Will advertisers pay to have their commercials on when pickleball is being played?

In the picture above is Theresa Capozzoli, USAPA Ambassador and Special Olympics Pickleball Coach, Lieve Olivera, Special Olympics Pickleball Coach and Global Pickleball Diplomat, and me, Terry Ryan, PPR Certified Coach and owner of SarasotaPickleball.com.

Light up pickleballs CLICK ON THE PICTURE

Lieve said we have a long ways to go. Many hurdles to overcome. Somebody in the audience mentioned curling. How did curling pass all these requirements? (Good question!) Lieve said it could be as simple as someone who liked curling to be on the board of directors for the Olympics to pass it through. I asked if changing the name of pickleball to something else might speed up the process? After all, ping pong was changed to table tennis. She didn’t know.

Lieve Olivera giving a presentation on pickleball and the Olympics at the Selby Library in Sarasota — Lieve Olivera

This is from the internet.

In recent years the IOC (International Olympic Committee) has worked to manage the scope of the Olympics by permitting new sports only in conjunction with the simultaneous discontinuation of others. Sports that have already been part of the Games are periodically reviewed to determine whether they should be retained. The Olympic Programme Commission notes that problems have arisen when trying to find venues to accommodate some sports’ specific needs, such as baseball and softball, which were discontinued from Olympic programming after the 2008 Beijing Games. When choosing sports to include in the program, the IOC must take into consideration media and public interest, since these are a key drive behind the Olympic Games, but must simultaneously manage costs.

Anyway, I googled Summer Olympics and I read that breakdancing in now an Olympic sport so I think that maybe in 10 years or less, pickleball just might be in the Olympics. But as Lieve reminded the audience, it’s a long road to the Olympics.

https://www.britannica.com/list/7-canceled-or-reintroduced-olympic-sports

Above link: 7 Canceled or Reintroduce Olympic Sports

To contact me: Dinkpickleball@gmail.com

July 3, 2022July 3, 2022

10 Things Novice Players Do That Ruin Their Pickleball Game

As a pickleball coach, I have been coaching for around 3 years. I am a fully insured PPR Certified Coach, and love introducing people to pickleball. I have taught over 500 people so far, and besides a few students falling, there has not been many bad moments. It’s always a good time teaching pickleball. I believe I have found my calling. Let’s just say, if you play pickleball, retirement is great!

Am Image of Sarah Ansboury — Sarah Ansboury

After observing student after student on the court, there are 10 things that a novice student should stop doing that SCREAMS I’m a novice player. Here they are:

Not standing on the balls of their feet.
I tell my students, if you are not putting pressure on the balls of your feet and standing flat-footed, you are not in a ready position. Sarah Ansboury says pretend that there is a button on the bottom of your big toe and press that button.
Standing too close to the baseline.
If you are standing too close to the baseline when you are receiving a deep serve, you are going to either miss the serve, hit it before it bounces, or hit the ball up in the air and out of bounds. Always stand a foot behind the baseline. My students say, “But what happens if they serve short?” Then you run like you’re 18 years old and get to the ball, I always say jokingly. But, if you see someone who constantly serves a weak and short serve, take a step inside the baseline.
Creeping up after you serve.
Oh, seasoned pickleball players love to see their opponents do this…take a couple of steps forward onto the court after they serve. That’s a sign of definite weakness. Your receiver is going to return the ball deep back to you who is already a couple of steps too far forward, therefore you hit the ball before it bounces. FAULT! The saying is SERVE AND STAY!
Not getting up to the NVZ line.
This is a drill I do over and over with my students. It’s return and RUN. Or I like to say…RUN LIKE HECK! Now, this is when I’m teaching people who can run and who want to become aggressive players. If you are not returning the ball deep and running up to the kitchen, it says…I’m still learning.
Standing like a statue.
They hit the ball and don’t move as they watch their ball fly over the net. Why? They are admiring their shot. Then what happens? They are not prepared for the return shot and miss it. Stop admiring your shot and immediately move and be ready for the ball coming back.
Not keeping their paddle up.
If I see a player standing with their paddles down by their side, I know they are not ready to return a fast ball coming at them. In pickleball, a player does not have the time to bring the paddle up from the side of their leg, to return a fast ball coming at their backhand. Keep your paddle up! A coaching trick I use is telling my students to put their finger tips of their non paddle hand on the back of their paddle after every return. If this doesn’t work, I give them a ball that they have to hold on the back of their paddle so they remember to keep their paddle up. And this one seems to work…I tell them keeping their paddle up makes them look 10 years younger.
Not Focusing.
Sometimes I see a ball fly by a student and they try to hit it after the pass. You know, the whiffing stroke. They look at the paddle like there must be a hole in it. How could they possibly miss that ball? They look at me, their coach, in disbelief. But seconds before, I could tell their mind was someplace else. I ask them, what were you just thinking of? They admit, they were thinking they had to get an oil change, or make a dentist appointment. Definitely not on the game at hand. You have to stay laser focused in the game. If not, it’s not fair to your partner, you or your opponents that are there because they want a good game.
Hitting the ball back to your opponent (politely).
Isn’t that what you are suppose to do? No! During warmup we hit the ball back and forth to each other because we are WARMING UP. After that, make your opponents move. Don’t give them an easy shot to return. And go for their backhand, the weaker side. When I’m playing, I will hit to one opponent and if he gets it back, I’ll switch direction and hit to the other opponent. Keep them guessing. {Select Ray-Ban Oakley & Costa active polarized sunglasses}
Hitting into the net.
Time after time, I witness a novice player go for a put-a-way and they hit the ball with extreme force right into the net. That will hurt your ego. Then I look at their feet and find them standing a foot behind the NVZ line. If they were rather standing an inch back from the line as they should have, they would have gotten that ball over the the net and past their opponents. Win! Get as close to the NVZ line as you can.
Not watching the ball.
A ball comes towards you and you swing and miss it. Why? You thought you were watching the ball but just as it comes a foot from your paddle, you look across the court towards your opponents, and you completely miss the ball. What happened? You took your eyes off the ball. Another good hint from Sarah Ansboury is point your paddle paddle at the ball as it goes back and forth. This is good practice for your brain to train it to keep track of the ball.

If you are a novice, above are 10 things you should work on if you want to STOP looking like a novice. If you master the above 10, you are no longer a novice player and moving in to the intermediate zone.

If you have any questions, feel free to call me at 941-400-0978 or email at dinkpickleball@gmail.com.

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Thanks for reading, Pickleball Terry

Pickleball Terry, Founder and owner of Sarasota Pickleball Organization, LLC

March 27, 2022

Depression and Pickleball

Mary woke up with the same feeling of dread she felt every morning since her husband passed away. His death came so suddenly. He was experiencing pain in his side followed by a trip to the emergency room, tests and more test, and the horrible diagnoses of pancreatic cancer. They were holding hands as the doctor delivered the bad news. Prognosis wasn’t good; only months to live. He was sadly gone in one month. Mary was devastated. Here she was, in the dream home she and her husband had always wanted in beautiful Sarasota after they both retired from their jobs, and she was now all alone. What to do?

New to the area, she didn’t have many friends, but someone told her about pickleball. This was interesting because Mary wasn’t ready to sit in a rocking chair. She looked up Sarasota Pickleball and soon found me, Pickleball Terry. After her first lesson she felt more alive than she had in months, and she was hooked. Pickleball became her new way to exercise mixed with a social network.

What is depression? (from the internet)

A mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life.

Possible causes include a combination of biological, psychological, and social sources of distress. Increasingly, research suggests these factors may cause changes in brain function, including altered activity of certain neural circuits in the brain.

Social isolation and depression in older adults

Everyone needs social connections to survive and thrive. But as people age, they often find themselves spending more time alone. Studies show that loneliness and social isolation are associated with higher rates of depression.

What happens as we get older or as I like to put it, seasoned? Loneliness? Feeling isolated? Feeling unwanted or not needed? We have spent all of our lives hurrying through the days of our youth and middle age, when we finally achieve our retirement years. Now what to do? Read the entire New York Times everyday? Then what? Puzzles? What about social interactions? Or something to live for? No wonder people get depressed.

Is pickleball the cure for depression?

I am not so bold to say that pickleball is the cure for depression, but it can’t hurt. As long as you’re physically able, pickleball is a great way to stimulate dopamine, the happiness hormone. It also great for keeping you busy. The part of the brain that causes anxiety and depression is amygdala, hippocampus, and the dorsomedial thalamus. Amygdala is what is called the lizard brain that sends out danger signals. But unfortunately, these signals continue through the day for no reason. Thinking about what the score is, who is serving, trying to get the 3rd shot drop in can give your brain something to do besides worrying.

Things that set off depression can be a big life change like moving to a new town, divorce, or the loss of a spouse. Sometimes there is no reason you can put your finger on why you are depressed.

I was talking to another player who told me that her way to manage her depression was to get up every morning and get moving. She heads to the pickleball court where she mingles with fellow players and gets her daily exercise quota mixed with fun.

Everyone needs a purpose

It also supplies a purpose in life. Implementing pickleball as your new hobby is an excellent way to get out of the house and to see other people. I know when I go to Colonial Oaks Park, it’s an uplifting experience. I’m happy to see everyone, and I talk and laugh with the other players. Before I know it, my Fitbit is buzzing letting me know I hit 10k steps. But I take it lightly until I talk to someone who lets me know how pickleball has changed their life. That takes my breath away. When I hear some of the struggles people have gone through or are going through, and then tell me how much pickleball has helped them, it send shivers down my spine. I realize just how important pickleball is to the seniors in Sarasota and to the rest of the country. It’s bigger than I ever realized. Not just a game.

You are not alone

So, if you think your the only one who is using pickleball to help your depression or anxiety, you are not alone. My pickleball circle is large and I talk to many players. Some players are going through incredible hardships and they still show up on the court. That’s their “ME” time. A time to not think about dying relatives or their next chemo treatment. You never know what the player next to you is going through.

COVID and pickleball

Pickleball was a saving grace during COVID. What the heck would we all have done without pickleball. I took all of 2 weeks off and I was back on the courts as soon as the county allowed us. And I have spoken to players who have said if it wasn’t for pickleball they didn’t know how they would have gotten through COVID.

What other sport do you know where you can just go anywhere and drop in for a game? I was in Pompano and looked up pickleball courts nearby. With in 30 minutes I was playing on a court with new people making friends and having fun. This sport is amazing.

Sure, my upstate NY friends think I’m crazy. They have actually said they would come and visit me but they won’t play pickleball. Boy, they don’t know what they are missing. I’m busy and happy. I’m in a good place.

Thanks for reading!

Pickleball Terry

Clinics

Lessons

941-400-0978

pickleball Terry

February 27, 2022

A Night to Remember

One night a couple of months ago, I was playing pickleball with a few people at Colonial Oaks Park. The lights were on and the mosquitoes where biting. I saw a older man and a young man around 15 peering through the fence with great interest as to what we were doing. After about 5 minutes I couldn’t stand it anymore and I asked them if they wanted to give it a try. “Really?” they responded with surprise mixed with enthusiasm.

They were soon on the court with paddles. I learned that it was a grandfather and his grandson. Their names I cannot remember now as I tell you this story. What I do remember is that the grandson was cocky and rebellious. He was my partner, and as I tried to explain the rules he would look away or roll his eyes. When I tried to help him serve with some tips, he would angrily answer with. “I know what I’m doing.” Jeeezzz Louiseee! I thought. I began to regret that I extended the offer for them to play.

And then I looked down at the grandson’s feet. A-ha! He had flip flops on. A good reason to suspend his play. Besides, I had other players showing up. I said to him, “You can’t play with flip flops. Can you go home and put of some sneakers?”

He replies, “If I go home, I’m not coming back.” So what do I care if he comes back, but I look across the court and I see his grandfather trying to send me a message. His eyes are pleading with me to let his grandson stay and he mouths PLEASE!

I say, “OKAY, you can stay.” Boy, I must have been in a good mood that night to let a teenager with attitude stay and play. A teenager I didn’t even know and his grandfather.

Eventually, another net was put up and we had around 10 people playing. The teenager greatly improved as the night went on. Granddad called the rest of the family and soon uncle, aunts, mom, dad, the cousins all arrived and played with balls and tennis racquets and frisbees on the other side. All ages were running and yelling. It was a total zoo. But then I saw it. A smile across the cranky teenager’s face. His eyes were lit up and even with flip flops on he was getting the ball past his opponents. He latched on to one of the male players that had come that was a really good player, and together they were the dual to beat.

His grandfather had come over to me as we were getting ready to take down the nets…oh yes, they stayed for hours…and told me that what happened tonight was amazing. He said that they were concerned about his grandson who was very depressed and wasn’t socializing anymore. To see him playing and interacting with the other pickleball players brought tears to his eyes. He had called the rest of the family to observe this “miracle.” By then, the teenager was smiling and joking with all of us. He was now transformed from a moody kid to a fun to be around person.

Then this happened…he came over and hugged me and said, “thank you!” I froze for a second before I wrapped my arms around him and looked past him to see his mom and dad smiling at him. They were so happy.

I invited him to come back anytime he wanted to play with proper shoes, I joked, but I have not seen him since.

The other day, I was talking to somebody who explained to me that pickleball is the sport that brings the athlete out of the average person who didn’t know they were an athlete. Pickleball is more than just a sport. It is a way to be social. It molds an introvert into an extrovert.

I’ll never forget that night, the eyes of the grandfather pleading with me, the smile on the sulky teenager, the laughter and banter from the pickleball players. And I’ll never forget to bring bug spray again to Colonial Oaks Park. Ouch!

Here’s to playing pickleball with flip flops and may that never happen again.

Thanks for reading.

Pickleball Terry
Terry Ryan
Coach Terry owner of Sarasotapickleball.com
Clinics/Lessons
941-400-0978
Dinkpickleball@gmail.com

January 9, 2022January 9, 2022

New Pickleball Rules For 2022

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.

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.<br />

A slice of pickleball pie. Pickleball Terry

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

July 18, 2021August 3, 2021

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.

We 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.

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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

April 30, 2021April 30, 2021

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!

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

Attachments Mon, 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:

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.

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