Do pickleball tournaments need ref's?

This past week I was a volunteer for the BC Seniors games for pickleball. At the players instructions at the start they were told that they would have to call their own lines, own faults, and even their own scores. What??? I realized that not all their pickleball volunteers actually knew anything about pickleball, but i know when I'm playing a pickleball tournament, I appreciate having a ref make the calls. In the heat of volleys you don't want to concentrate on lines, but instead concentrate on hitting the ball. I've attended some tournaments like Kelowna & Nanaimo and once you play a game, one of the winners becomes the ref for the following game, easy-peasy. If seniors were attending the games for softball would there be umpires? How about if they were there for the javelin throw, would there be anyone judging if they had faulted on their throw line? I might have been told to just simply collect the scores, but I acted upon instinct and called lines, faults, and scores after agreement from all participants. Players appreciated my reffing, and even asked too switch from their courts to be reffed on my court. Ref's are needed for pickleball tournaments! For those that are reading this and you don't know how to ref, start learning! It is very key to your own success in pickleball as well. What do you think about ref's in pickleball?

Drug Testing in Pickleball?

As the sporting world follows the story of Cycling's & Cancer survivor's  poster boy Lance Armstrong, we are in waiting to find out if his use of performance enhancing drugs did in fact take place. The news report on Thursday stated that Lance had indeed dropped his petition to fight the ruling, meaning that he is in fact guilty, or not wanting to fight against a witch hunt opposing him. If he is found guilty he will be stripped of all Tour de France medals, and other titles, and payback all winnings during a 9 year period. That same day that I heard that I was heading in for another day of Reffing for pickleball at the BC seniors games. I chuckled to myself of the thought of drug testing taking place in pickleball at a seniors games. There was already laughs flowing at the games when I arrived about the possibilities of that taking place. As was stated by the participants in attendance, you have seniors taking any number of medications for allergies, hypertension, asthma, cardiovascular disease, sleep disorders, inflamation, anti-depressants, sexual enhancements, anti-smoking, arthritis, bone density, cholesterol control, anti-ulcer, and list could fill the page. Very much amused by the joke of having drug testing take place at a seniors games pickleball event would mean that, "We would all Fail!", says one participant. Livestrong=Pickleball=Livestrong.

Doubles tournament coming to Kelowna

Brian Stovell (The gentlemen on the left) has informed me that there will be a 1 day doubles tournament in Kelowna tentatively booked for Saturday September 22, 2012. The reason that it is tentatively booked is that the kelowna school district has not released it's fall dates yet. This tournament will follow IFP (International Federation of Pickleball) rules, so there will be only sanctioned paddles used. It will be round robin format so you will be guaranteed 7 or 8 games. The folks up in Kelowna always put on a great pickleball tournament, so tentatively mark your calendars, we'll keep you posted.

Pickleball: Beware of Counterfeit Pickleball Organizations in Canada

The true national pickleball organization in Canada!!!

Last week I was shopping at Home Depot for some gardening supplies, and i went to the cashier to pay for my items. I was actually carrying cash with me rather then my debit card, which caused the young cashier a slight moment of confusion. She then proceeded to scan my $20 CDN bills through the counterfeit machine to check their authenticity. I was all good and asked how often they receive bogus bills? She said that she would show one that they had found counterfeit only hours before. To the untrained eye, you would not be able to see any differences in the bills, but upon closer examination you would notice glaring differences. Much the same as the problems that exist in Canada with the national Pickleball organization. To most people there is only 1 true pickleball organization in Canada: Pickleball Canada! But there is another crafty bogus organization that tries to be that same well respected organization. They call themselves Canada Pickleball. Pickleball Canada...Canada Pickleball isn't that the same thing you might ask? No!!! Pickleball Canada is made up of pickleball players from all over Canada who serve in various board functions to advance the sport of pickleball in Canada through sanctioned tournaments, player ratings, instructional clinics, new pickleball programs in communities throughout the provinces and territories. Pickleball Canada is associated with the USAPA (United States Association of Pickleball) and uses the IFP (International Federation of Pickleball) rules for pickleball play in recreational or tournament play. The bogus Canada Pickleball main platform revolves solely around the inclusion of the illegal pickleball paddles (Apike & Hush.) They have tried to make up their own rules so as to include their paddles. The rules set forth by the IFP are used throughout Canada, USA, India, and other countries, why do we need to change the rules? This has caused many divisions in Canada, and some snake oil salesman make Canada Pickleball out to be the same as Pickleball Canada, don't fall for the lies. Support Pickleball Canada, Canada's true national pickleball organization.

Pickleball: Henry Meerkerk Pickleball Coach Extrordinaire!

I want to introduce a great pickleball friend and coach: Henry Meerkerk. There are some people who will angrily tell you what you are doing wrong in pickleball, or make you feel like an idiot. But this gentle giant that hails from Abbotsford/Chilliwack, BC is a true example of encouragement. Henry (sometimes called the seagull or albatross because of his incredible wingspan) will straight talk you on how to play better pickleball in a humble mannerism. He self professes that he is far from a pro-pickleball player, but commands authority with coaching that makes all around him, especially myself eager to listen when he starts talking pickleball strategies. Henry towers at 6'4, with strong forearms & legs, and is at ease when playing that smash down the baseline, or hitting those diagonal non volley zone shots. Henry is a true ambassador of Pickleball in that he is approachable, humble, instructive, resourceful, and a man of integrity.

Pickleball: Medals or Prizes?

This past Olympics in London they handed out some really nice Olympic medals to the worlds top athletes in their respective sports. I've been to some Pickleball tournaments where they hand out some great looking pickleball medals, and then there are some tournaments where the awards are donated prizes by local businesses or individuals. There is something extra special about having a medal hang around your neck that shows your accomplishments through hard fought matches, grueling pickleball volleys. Don't get me wrong I enjoy getting a 21 piece ratchet set, and a car dealers frisbee for winning instead of a gold medal. Maybe I'm still young, and get a sense of pride winning a medal, that may only hang on my wall for years in my rec room, but it's better then having my dog chew my tournament frisbee. Thoughts...what would you rather receive?

Pickleball Rules Refresher: Tournament line call disagreements

At the BC seniors games today during mixed doubles pickleball play, a question arose regarding a line call. I was refereeing the match in which one team made a call that they called out. The other team verballized to themselves that they thought the ball was in, but were unsure if they should question the call. So they did question the call to their opponents, which of course argued one way. Is that as far as it goes? In regular play, honesty and integrity is all. In tournament play without a ref the latter also stands. But how about with a ref in a tournament setting? According to IFP rules it states, 14.F, "That if players make the line call, and there is a dispute, then the players may request the referee make a call. The referee's call will stand. In this situation the questioning players asked me for the call, which I in fact determined the ball was in fact in. As it turns out the opponents weren't really 100% sure of their call. In a tournament situation with a ref, question the call if you are unsure. Either way play fair!

Pickleball Paddle Review: DOT Pickleball 'Crush"

Pickleball International has some paddles available from DOT Pickleball from Kelowna BC. These paddles have a nomex honeycomb core, with composite wood exterior. They come in 2 colour variations: wood look, or painted. The edge is trimmed with heavy duty tape for a thin rimless edge. The paddles are the widebody design along the same shapes as Pickleball Inc.'s Champion or larger paddles like PickleballNow's XL Lite. The honeycomb nomex is a core that allows for power and more power. The drawback is the weight of these paddles, unless you like a heavier paddle. These paddles weigh 8.8-9.3 oz. Some players appreciate the heavier weight.  There will probably be no females playing with  These paddles have been approved by the USAPA, but under the new guidelines for tournament play will need to have the company name and model decaled onto the paddle. These paddles are for sale through Pickleball International for $40 CDN.

Portable pickleball net

Pickleball International has portable pickleball nets available. these great net systems called the 'PickleNet" are the exact same nets endorsed by the USAPA, but with different badging. The great thing about these nets is they are durable for outdoor courts, and extremely compact when finished with them. You can go from the  heavy duty zippered nylon bag (Think camp chair bag!) to court use in under 5 minutes and vice versa. They have a weighted powder coated steel leg base that will stand up to most winds and will not tip over. The center has a fiberglass beam that allows consistent net height. There is also adjustment straps on the net edge for excellent net tension. They sell for $160 CDN through Pickleball International.

Pickleball: Indoors or Outdoors?

Pickleball: Indoors vs. Outdoors. The debate rages over where players would rather play. I have played both and I love playing both. But I would probably define myself as an indoor pickleball player primarily, that loves the outdoor game of pickleball second. Being a younger player on the west coast of British Columbia, I do not have access to outdoor pickleball courts without having to drive a fair distance to have access to some outdoor courts, and I'm not old enough to be able to live 3-6 months of the year down south playing pickleball 24/7. Pickleball played indoors or outdoors is the same rules, with primarily the same equipment, but different in how you have to adjust your playing styles. When I'm playing indoors I regularly use the indoor Jugs ball on a hardwood gym floor, and I love to be able to dive for balls to get the point. Barring any malfunction in the air-conditioner I don't have to worry about any wind gusts that will not allow my ball to go where I aim it. Now take the outdoors, I have to take into account the higher bouncing dura ball against the hard pavement, the wind gusts, or the sun that may blind me. I am definitely not harping on outdoor pickleball or saying I love it less. i love playing outdoor pickleball for those unknowns I just mentioned. I played the other night and I almost could have appeared amateurish in my playing ability. In my singles match I was pulverized by my friend due to all my own unforced errors when I didn't take into account the wind, or his spin when it reacted to the pavement. We would love to hear from you! What do you love/dislike about playing pickleball indoors or love/dislike about pickleball outdoors?

Pickleballs: What's the difference?

Pickleballs, what's the difference? There are a variety of pickleballs made by different companies for different uses. Initially pickleballs were all the same ball, which was a Cosom fun ball. A soft ball with large holes, usually found in most schools and rec centers. Once the sport started gaining popularity, different balls were needed for different venues. Most widely used outdoor balls are the Dura balls, made by Pickleball Inc. These balls are a one piece ball usually sold in yellow, orange, and white, with holes drilled in to allow great strength, and durability. It is easy to identify these balls by the small holes. Pickleball Now is about to unveil a new outdoor ball that has been approved by the USAPA called the TNT ball. The balls have not been available for testing by pickleball International yet, but look for a review soon when they have been made available to us. The most common ball used indoors is the Jugs bulldog ball. These balls are available in white and dayglow green, with the latter colour being the most widely used indoors in Canada. These balls are 2 pieces fused together with larger holes. Pickleball Inc., also has ventured into the indoor pickleball arena with a large hole dura ball. In using these balls that are supposed to be slower, I personally didn't see much speed decreased, and still see them as an outdoor ball. maybe it's a slower outdoor ball, but used indoors on wood gym floors, or rubberized gym vs. outdoor paved courts the ball is still fast. The Jugs ball is great for indoors, as it allows for the finesse game to be key in the pickleball game. Anybody can play a bash and crash power game, but the true sport of pickleball is the intelligent player that can incorporate all elements in their game.Indoor Jugs balls are available from Pickleball International for $20 CDN/dozen. Outdoor Dura balls are available from Pickleball International for $25 CDN/dozen.

Pickleball International @ BC Seniors games 2012

Grant from Pickleball International will be volunteering as referee, and general assistance at the Pickleball competition of the BC Seniors games in Burnaby this Wednesday - Friday, August 22-24, 2012. Unfortunately there will be no booth set up to purchase any pickleball paddles, outdoor or indoor balls, and portable nets, but if you are coming from out of town and need to pick up some pickleball supplies, which other zones are doing, let us know by e-mail (pickleballinternational@gmail.com) what you are needing and Grant will meet up with you this week. Good luck to all participants.
Pickleball International: Canadian suppliers to the greatest game...with the strangest name.

Pickleball Strategy: Singles prep.

Are you thinking about playing singles? Be prepared!
Recently at a few tournaments I attended, several players injured themselves while playing in their singles event. The injuries forced them to withdraw from all the other events they had entered and left their partners to find subs on short notice. Since I play singles as well, I got to thinking more specifically about what singles play demands of the person’s body.
Playing singles is a whole different animal from playing doubles. First, you are required to cover the whole court. Yelling “YOURS” doesn’t cut it in singles. Second, you have to be able to run forward, back and side to side — quickly. Third, you need to be able to hit from the baseline for most of your shots, unless you rush the net at every opportunity you can. And fourth, you need to be able to last through what may be a very strenuous match.
So what this means to you is that you need to be in shape, you need to be flexible and you need endurance. You cannot just walk out on the court and – poof! – you’re a singles player. You will have to put in your time getting fit in order to play singles injury free. Still want to play singles? Read on.
1. Plyometrics (controlled high speed movements) are an important factor to prepare your joints for quick action moves. Single and double leg squat jumps are a good way to begin. Add skipping and side to side jumps and you are ready to go.

2. Stretching hamstrings and hips and quads after you work out is key to not pulling those pesky muscles.

3. Practice hitting from the baseline to a target on the other side of the net. Place a chair, towel or other object on the other side of the court and try to hit it. Move the object around and work to hit it everywhere on the court.
4. Endurance development requires long, slow distance increases to develop your breathing capacity. Start by slowly jogging around the pickleball court one direction 5 times, then change direction and repeat. Jog around the parking lot; increase your distance as you acclimate to your current distance. Only increase your speed when you are comfortable with your distance.
We need more singles players on the tournament circuit. Don’t shy away from singles; give it a try. Just make sure you’re physically prepared.

Pickleball Rules Refresher: Injury TO

At a recent tournament in Nanaimo I was playing in the men's singles tournament. During the tournament I was playing well through 6 games winning all my games fairly easily. During the gold medal game I wasn't able to play properly with a pulled calf muscle on my left leg. Seemingly easy shots I couldn't even get to as my leg screamed "Stop! What do you think you are trying to do?"  In a tournament match what are you allowed for a time out? According to IFP (International Federation of Pickleball) rules it states in 11.B. , " If a player is injured during a match, that player may call an injury time-out. The referee must agree that an injury did take place and that the player is not just stalling to rest or recuperate. If the referee agrees, then that player will be allowed no more than 15 minutes of rest during the injury time-out. If the player cannot resume play after the 15-minute injury time-out period, the match shall be awarded to the opponents.
*IFP Comment*: A player may take only one injury time-out per match. That time-out must be continuous and may be up to 15 minutes. For me I took the time out, and tried to play after that TO, but my leg was toast. At this point I really wanted the gold,  but knew i couldn't physically obtain it, nor provide a decent game to my opponent. I conceeded the gold to Rhyner W. (The young guy in the orange shirt.) My pride, and determination wanted me to continue, but luckily common sense won.  The moral: take the injury time out if you need it, but know your own limits. Congratulations Rhyner - Gold, Me (Grant) - Silver, Joe Wong - Bronze.

Nanaimo pickleball Tournament results

This past weekend in Nanaimo was their annual pickleball Tournament. Again a huge success, and well run by Alex Gendron & John Savoy and the Nanaimo pickleball volunteers. This year they ran it as a double elimination tournament rather than the round robin of past years.
Here's the results:
Singles: Ladies ...... Nancy Stern - Gold,    Jill Carr Hilton - Silver             Mens  ...... Ryner Wilson - Gold,    Grant Brittain - Silver,   Joe Wong-Bronze
Ladies Doubles: ... SJ Lehman & Theresa Orcutt - Gold...         Linda Strohm & Lynda Livingston - Silver
   ... Dianne Webber & Evelyn Katz - Bronze
Men's Doubles: ... Terry Glow & Kel Kruger - Gold  ... Mike Leichner & David McNeil - Silver  ... John Savoy & Alex Gendron - Bronze
Mixed Doubles: ... Theresa Orcutt & Will Orcutt - Gold ... S J Lehman & Rick Dunaway - Silver  ... Ron St Pierre and Lynda Livingston - Bronze
 

 

Sea-Tac Pickleball Skills tournament

Sea-Tac Pickleball Skills Tournament is happening Saturday & Sunday September 15 & 16, 2012. This will be the closest USAPA tournament to us in the Lower Mainland, BC.  There will be divisions in Men's doubles, women's doubles, mixed doubles, ladies singles, and mens singles. *You will need to be a member of the USAPA, which is a different membership than Pickleball Canada.* Of course each of those divisions are broken up further into USAPA ratings classes: 3.5 and under (beginner), 4.0 (intermediate), 4.5 (advanced) 5.0 (4.5 & 5.0 players only or the tops.) This tournament draws North Americas top pickleball players: Steve Wong, Chris Miller, Billy Jacobsen, Mark Friedenburg, Tim Nelson, Jenifer Lucore, Darcy Jacobsen, and many others. This tournament is proof that Canada needs to adopt the player ratings of the USAPA for all it's tournaments. Many pickleball groups in Canada have already started to adopt this rating, but many tournaments in Canada are just simply recreational or competitive, which can be very diverse in their abilities. If you are a competitive pickleballer in BC, and you want to up your skills, experience then make a push to be at this great semi-local tournament. Go to USAPA tournament schedule to download your entry form.