Westside Hospitality! Northville Pickleball Tournament!

Great Lakes Region 2009 Showcase Event!

USAPA Sanctioned Tier 4

Northville Pickleball Tournament

Saturday, May 16

Men's Doubles

&

Women's Doubles

Here's the Player List:

Northville Pickleball Tournament Player List Link

Here's the Registration Form:

Northville Pickleball Tournament Registration Form Link

USAPA Member Tournament Registration Fee Discount!

Register TODAY...just for the FUN of it!

Michigan is now 186 USAPA Members strong and growing everyday! To learn more about becoming a USA Pickleball Association Member and receive your Northville Tournament USAPA Member regsitration fee discount click here: http://usapa.org/memberships/index.php Belong to the community of players that supports the fastest growing sport in Michigan - PICKLEBALL!

Ready! Set!! Play Spring MI PICKLEBALL!!!

Great Lakes Pickleball USAPA Referee Training: Northville MI

Dick Manasseri and Lisa McCoy From WT09 By Stan Wilson, Jr

Great Lakes Pickleball USAPA Referee Training

Presented by USAPA Members Steve Balasia and Don Ritter

• Northville, MI
• Wednesday, April 29 at 11:00am
• Students will be able to practice by shadowing the instructiors during live matches.
• If you are interested in participating, please contact Joe Barberio at jbarberio@ci.northville.mi.us

Nancy Thoenes, Lynn Wittkowski, Lisa McCoy From WT09 By Gary Grobson

Northville Parks and Recreation

Pickleball Tournament

Pickleball Tournament Registration Flyer:

http://usapa.org/file/mi/Northville_SP09_Tournament.pdf

• Great Lakes Region 2009 Showcase Event
• USA Pickleball Associations Sanctioned (Tier 4)
• USAPA Member Discount
• Hillside Middle School - Recreation Center
• Saturday, May 16
• Sign-up Today! Registration deadline, May 4
• Men's and Women's 50+ Doubles

"Support Your Sport! Join USAPA...just for the FUN of it!" http://usapa.org/memberships/index.php

"Superb!" MI Pickleball Community of Players

"Today's pickleball clinic was superb! The way the assembly was broken into controlled groups on the 4 courts was an excellent idea. Everyone got a chance to practice whatever points were being emphasized (taught) and were even able to have their moves individually critiqued. Quite an accomplishment for that size crowd. And, you know, it was good to see a lot of OPC’s seasoned players in attendance. Those are the smart ones who realize that no matter how good you are, there is always room for improvement. As for me, I surely picked up a lot of good tips. Thanks to all! Well done!" Maryanne O’D

This heartfelt note of appreciation came to my inbox, after today's Instructional Skills Clinic presented by USAPA Members Vic Wittkowski, Lynn Wittkowski, and Jim Luzod. I'm in full agreement! Today was a gift! The Clinic was BRILLIANT! Over 80 Pickleball Players set aside all other cares and pleasures to enter into a celebration of pickleball for three glorious hours, on this the 2nd "nice day of Spring" after a long, cold, snowy winter. The sheer volume of "active and smiling" seniors created a sense of awe at the grandeur of the Michigan Great Lakes Pickleball Community of Players. WoWie! ZoWiE!

Photos and Vic's training outline will be posted soon, but for now I just need to echo Maryanne O’D and say "Thanks to all! Well Done!" Thanks to the USA Pickleball Association for being the live energy behind the the sport! Thanks to Ann Robertson for joining the USAPA at the Clinic and becoming the 181st Michigan USAPA Member! Thanks to Dick Manasseri for his vision and leadership! Thanks to OPC Rochester for their ever generous hospitality! Thanks to the Senior Centers, Community Centers, and Parks & Rec Departments of SE Michigan that filled the information table with flyers boasting sizzling summer pickleball! Thanks to Vic, Lynn, and Jim for sharing their knowledge, skill, and exemplary court etiquette!!! Thanks to The Players for being a FANTASTIC community and "ever a surprise!" Thanks to USAPA Members Jim and Yvonne Hackenberg for driving in from Kalamazoo - a pleasure to meet you! Thanks to Gary and Pam Piger, of Lapeer, for bringing a group of friends to learn more about playing the game we love -- PICKLEBALL!

::: ::: :::

Pickleball Skills Clinic Outline by Vic Wittkowski:
 http://usapa.org/file/mi/Skills_Clinic_Wittkowski_2009.pdf

Model of Success: Pickleball Tournament Partner Search Process

Michigan Great Lakes Pickleball is a model of success!

Best Practices PLUS Action Network = MI Pickleball Growth Model

• 195 USAPA Members and GROWING Everyday (197%)
• 35 USAPA "Places to Play" Listings and GROWING Everyday
• USAPA Ladder Leagues in Northville, Rochester, and Troy
• Inter-community SE Michigan Pickleball League (SEMPL)
• 7 USAPA Pickleball Tournaments in 2008
• 6 Completed 2009 USAPA Pickleball Tournaments, including 2 Recreational Tournaments..."just for the FUN of it!"
• 5 Upcoming 2009 USAPA Pickleball Tournaments Scheduled, including the Greater Rochester Pickleball Festival for ALL Ages and ALL Skill Levels in late August
• USAPA Trained Referee Corp
• USAPA Ambassador/Member Sponsored Pickleball Beginner Demo Clinics
• USAPA Ambassador/Member Sponsored Instructional Skills Clinics
• "Best Practice Pickleball Safety Clinic" Presented by Deb Lane
• Parks and Recreation Department Offerings Springing Up
• Outdoor Courts with Painted Pickleball Lines
• Family Celebration 'Driveway Games'
• Hundreds of Active & Smiling Seniors AND 'Younger Friends'

Each of us that enjoy Pickleball acknowledge and appreciate the masterful servant leadership of Dick Manasseri and his brilliant energy that has driven Michigan Great Lakes Pickleball's success.

Each of us that enjoy Pickleball acknowledge and appreciate the MANY MANY MANY Players and Program Coordinators that have devoted countless collaborative hours (on and off the clock) resulting in the explosive growth of Pickleball in Michigan.

Pickleball truly is Michigan's good news story: "Pickleball! FUN! Friends! Fitness!"

And the "PoP! pOP! POp!" continues: Tomorrow, April 23 at 1:00pm-4:00pm, the OPC Rochester is hosting a Pickleball Instructional Skills Clinic presented by USAPA Members Jim Luzod and Lynn & Vic Wittkowski. Age 50+ Players are Welcome to come and enjoy. $5 at the door, no pre-registration necessary.

The Michigan Great Lakes Pickleball Tournament Partner Search Process will be explained at tomorrow's OPC Rochester Instructional Skills Clinic. Here's a sneak preview of the Michigan Pickleball Tournament Partner Search Form http://usapa.org/file/mi/Pickleball_Partner_Search_2009.pdf

Have questions? What more details? Email Janet Razz at MIPickleball@gmail.com

Oxford Recreation Department Spring and Summer 50+ Drop-in Pickleball

Oxford Recreation Department

Spring and Summer 50+ Drop-in PICKLEBALL

Join us for the exciting paddle game called Pickleball. Now you and your friends can join thousands of other people nationwide playing this net court game. Pickleball is a fun game that is played on a badminton court with the net lowered to 34 inches at the center. It is played with a perforated plastic baseball (similar to a whiffle ball) and wood or composite paddles. It is easy for beginners to learn, but can develop into a quick, fast-paced, competitive game for experienced players.

Participate in friendly drop in games for the skilled and unskilled players. Bring a friend or come alone. Equal participation is stressed. We will have two courts set up, with rotating play. The first few minutes will be spent demonstrating and explaining pickleball as necessary.

Who: Active Adults 50+
Cost: $5. Drop-in Fee

Spring
Where: Lakeville Elementary Gymnasium
When: Mondays April 13 - June 8 (Dates subject to be skipped due to facility availability. No Pickleball when the school is closed)
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Summer
Where: Seymour Lake Township Park, Basketball Court
When: Mondays June 15-August 24 (Dates subject to be skipped due to inclement weather.)
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.


Beginner Demo Clinics:
Monday, April 27 at 6:00-8:00pm
Monday, June 15 at 6:00-8:00pm

FREE Beginner Pickleball Clinics at Northville, MI

PICKLEBALL

SENIORS: Do you like to play ping-pong, tennis, badminton???

Pickleball is HERE and you will love it!

• It’s a new form of exercise
• It’s contagious! It’s fun! It’s a great workout!
• It’s growing in all senior communties in the area
  

COME AND JOIN US!

FREE PICKLEBALL CLINICS

Monday, May 4th and Wednesday May 6th

1:00 PM

NORTHVILLE SENIOR CENTER

Note: Pre-Registration Required

Family Pickleball FUN Right Outside on the Driveway

Carolyn Boots is a relatively new Pickleball player who gets it –
Pickleball is ultimately a family game developed on a driveway for everyone’s enjoyment.

On two occasions, Carolyn has borrowed the USAPA-provided portable net, paddles, and balls that are available for family use. Carolyn prepares a nice dinner for her family and then it’s out to the driveway for children and grandchildren to have fun on the chalk-lined Pickleball court.

Carolyn is telling her family that they can also find outdoor play at Recreation Centers and Parks with summer programs or they can just temporarily use masking tape on tennis courts to get a few games going among friends.

If you are near Rochester and you would like to borrow the USAPA portable net and paddles, just contact Dick Manasseri at dmanasseri@usapa.org.

Introductory Pickleball Clinics at Lexington-Green Park, Portage, MI

Tuesday, May 12th

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, May 12th at Lexington Green. Representing the USAPA (USA Pickleball Association), Pickleball Ambassadors (and others) will be presenting 2 introductory clinics at Lexington Green Park.

First in the morning from 10am-Noon and second in the evening from 6-8pm. Please share this information with newcomers.

We are introducing the sport to new players. If you are available to help with the clinic, please call or email me.

We'll have extra paddles for people to use, extra balls and we'll need people to demonstrate, coach and encourage.

Lexington-Green Park is located in the Lexington-Green neighborhood of northeast Portage and contains a ball field, basketball and tennis courts, play equipment, 2 Pickleball courts, as well as trails, picnic shelters and restroom facilities. Located at 1750 Pittsford Street, north of Milham off Meredith on Pittsford.

Melissa Muha
Pickleball Ambassador - Portage MI
picklemaster@where2pickle.org

http://www.where2pickle.com/

Countdown: MSO 2009 Summer Pickleball Games

A real webmaster would insert a counter on this page to let you know how many more days until Michigan Senior Olympic 2009 Summer Pickleball Games. But, I'm a humble blogger on a 1998 beater computer. So I'll just give you this head's up:

• MSO Early Bird Registration Deadline is May 1.

1. Need more details? Contact the MSO 2009 Summer Pickleball Tournament Directors: Krystee Dorland and Michelle Pozan!!
2. Need a partner? Complete a pickleball partner seach form at the OPC Rochester Instructional Pickleball Clinic on April 23 http://usapa.org/file/mi/Pickleball_Skills_Clinic_2009.pdf
3. Need Pre-MSO Tournament experience with your partner? Enter the Northville Spring Pickleball Tournament May 16 AND the Kalamazoo Spring Pickleball Tournament May 30!!

Northville http://usapa.org/file/mi/Northville_SP09_Tournament.pdf

KaZoo http://www.where2pickle.com/flyer.pdf

MI Pickleball Growth and Development!!

Delighting in the growth and development of Pickleball in Michigan! The Spring air is still chilly, but thanks to MI Pickleball Players, USAPA Members and USAPA AMbassadors, MI Pickleball is sizzling!

MI Pickleball Growth: The Michigan USAPA Member numbers are up to 173. Wasn't it just yesterday that we celebrated our 100th MI Member!?! Have you looked at the USAPA Places to Play in Michigan page lately!?! It's true what they say: "Don't Blink!

MI Places to Play!

MI Pickleball Development: USAPA Ambassadors and USAPA Members put six Spring Pickleball Tournaments on the Calendar between the MSO 2009 Winter Games and the MSO 2009 Summer Games! Plus two Instructional Skills Clinics!

Ready! Set!! Play Spring Pickleball!!!

April 23: OPC Rochester Instructional Skills Clinic
http://usapa.org/file/mi/Pickleball_Skills_Clinic_2009.pdf

May 16: Northville Tournament
http://usapa.org/file/mi/Northville_SP09_Tournament.pdf

May 29: Kalamazoo Instructional Skills Clinic
May 30: Kalamazoo Tournament
http://www.where2pickle.com/flyer.pdf

June 14: Auburn Hills Tournament
http://usapa.org/file/mi/Pickleball_Tournament-_Summer_Smash_2009.pdf

PLUS! Parks & Recreation Sizzling Summer Pickleball

Rochester Avon Recreation Authority Pickleball

http://usapa.org/file/mi/RARA_Summer09_Pickleball.pdf

Troy 50+ Summer Pickleball

http://usapa.org/file/mi/Troy_Pickleball_Summer09.pdf

Troy Summer Pickleball for 6th-12th Graders

http://usapa.org/file/mi/Troy_Pickleball_Summer_2009.pdf

Dick Manasseri, USAPA Regional Ambassador, makes it easy to start up a pickleball program in your area. In addition to the ever growing Great Lakes Region "Action Network" being available to assist you and answer your questions, Dick wrote several helpful guides and checklists including:

http://usapa.org/file/mi/MRPA_Guide.pdf

http://usapa.org/file/mi/Beginner_Lesson_Instructor_Checklist.pdf

http://usapa.org/file/mi/Tournament_Director_Guide.pdf

Is Papa Razz pleased with his grandbaby's growth and development!?! You Betcha!!! Is the USAPA pleased with Michigan Pickleball's growth and development!?! You Betcha!!! And we've only just begun... ... ...

Grandbaby Delight!

Quote of the day: "You sure know how to make an old man happy!" Papa Razz to our sweet little grandbaby, as she c r a w l e d in the room to greet him with her sweet baby gibberish.

What does this have to do with pickleball?!?

Delighting in the miracle of growth and development!!!

Hartland Spring Pickleball Tournament Results

"It was a great day for Hartland. The organization, hospitality and competition were outstanding and Pickleball players from all over Michigan now know that Hartland is a great place to play Pickleball. Tournament Directors Alice Andrews and Owen and Patty Papke deserve credit for a job well done." Dick Manasseri, USAPA Great Lakes Region Ambassador

Hartland Spring Pickleball Tournament Results

Victory!

"...He has risen, just as He said..."

Troy Sizzling Summer Pickleball

Troy Summer 50+ Pickleball

http://usapa.org/file/mi/Troy_Pickleball_Summer09.pdf

Troy Summer Pickleball for

6th through 12th grade students

http://usapa.org/file/mi/Troy_Pickleball_Summer_2009.pdf

Hartland Spring Pickleball Tournament

Hartland Senior Center Spring Pickleball Tournament

Saturday, April 11, 2009

• Hartland Education Support Service Center
• 9525 Highland Rd. (M-59), Howell, MI 48843
  
  
• 3 Fantastic Tournament Co-Directors
• 25 Mixed Doubles Teams Players!
• 32 of the 50 Players are USAPA Members
• 17+ Cities/Townships Represented
• 4 Age Divisions Brackets!
  
  

Thank you! Alice Andrews!

Thank you!! Owen and Patty Papke!!

Ready! Set!! PLAY Spring Pickleball!!!

Kalamazoo Doubles Pickleball Tournament

SPECIAL SPONSOR NEWS: the Spicy Pickle is providing all participants with a box lunch on Saturday, a T-Shirt & coupons! It just keeps getting better!

Thank you to all of you who have expressed interest in being a Referee for the first ever Kalamazoo Doubles Pickleball Tournament! If you would like to volunteer as a Referee please respond via email picklemaster@where2pickle.org

Can you compete & Referee at the tournament? Yes, we will work the referee schedule so that you will be free to compete!

Training will consist of a one hour training session followed by some "on court" referee work! You will receive training materials that include a current copy of the rules. Referees will be needed during tournament play on Saturday the 30th of May. We will have four shifts of four refs - the length of the shift will be determined by the number of matches that will be played.

Training will be Wednesday, May 6th from 6-7pm at the Maple Street YMCA. If you cannot make that session, I will work with you individually.

Being a good referee makes the competitors happy! We will focus on the rules and being an excellent observer of each match.

You may view the training outline at this link: http://where2pickle.org/training.pdf This material was developed by USAPA Member Don Ritter and USAPA Member Steve Balasia.

In advance of the training session, please read and re-read the USAPA Pickleball Rules at this link: http://usapa.org/officialrules/

Best regards,
Bob Northrop & Melissa Muha
Pickleball Ambassadors of Kalamazoo & Portage

"Guess What Appeared!" by Dawn Ulmer

"Such hardy little trumpeting daffodils, nodding in the wind.

What a welcome sight!"

Dawn Ulmer

Kalamazoo Hosting 1st Pickleball Tournament!

Call for volunteers:

Kalamazoo is hosting it's first ever Pickleball Tournament May 29-30, 2009 at the Kalamazoo YMCA. This is a doubles - only tournament for Men's, Women's and Mixed doubles with two age groupings: "open" for age 21++ and "Senior" for age 50+.

The tournament committee is seeking volunteers to help with running the round-robin event, including hospitality, scoring, referee duty, set-up and tear-down. There will be two training sessions for referees and many opportunities to practice, since there are regular Pickleball sessions 7 days/week in Kalamazoo/Portage.

All volunteers are welcome. Players are expected from all over the state of Michigan.

On Friday the 29th there will be a clinic presented by Lewis Forest of Rochester MI plus open play from 6-9:30pm. The clinic is free to entrants and $10 to the general public.

The tournament begins at 8am Saturday May 30th, but volunteers will report at 7am.

More information and entry forms are available at:

• http://www.where2pickle.com/
• http://www.where2pickle.com/flyer.pdf
  
  

Also, please note that we are honored to have the Spicy Pickle Restaurant as a sponsor for this event. Recognition awards is also a sponsor and is donating Award Plaques. Sponsors are needed for water & refreshments.

Please email Melissa Muha at gardenwebb@hotmail.com if you are available to volunteer!

Melissa Muha & Bob Northrop

Tournament Directors

Opening Day: OPC Rochester Spring ACTION Pickleball Ladders

a. hippies at a bus stop?!?

OR

b. pickleball players

s t r e t c h i n g !?!

Dear OPC Rochester Spring ACTION Pickelball Ladder Players,

We all know that warm-ups/cool-downs, stretching and relaxing are an important part of every fitness routine. However, pickleball players really do have brains that become somewhat rewired when we get the paddle in our hands and see an available court, or wall for that matter. This morning, is 'opening day' for the OPC Rochester Spring ACTION Pickleball Ladder Tournaments. I have the appropriate 'opening day' jitters and the appropriate 'opening day' prayers for each player's health and well being!

78 Players are registered to fill the OPC Rochester Spring ACTION Pickleball Ladder courts. WoWie ZoWie! 50 of those 78 are USA Pickleball Association Members. Each skill level is represented from the beginner that took one introductory lesson to the Spring "A"ction Singles Player. There are a lot of numbers involved in managing the ladders, stats, scores, percentages, rankings, ticket numbers, times, court numbers, foursomes, even phone numbers...but numbers never tell the real story. The real story is told by, YOU, the individuals players on the awesome player list. There is a deep sense of privilege and honor to be among you.

Its fair to say the SE Michigan pickleball community is building relationships with one another that are 'holy' - set apart. Like all families 'being together multiplies joys and divides troubles'. One of my favorite authors, George MacDonald teaches: "There is no massing of men with God. When He speaks of gathered men, it is as a spiritual body, not as a mass." Same apples with pickleball players. Okay -- I'm getting as mushy as this banana I'm eating. (You are eating a healthy breakfast before getting on the courts - right!?!) Enough mush. I'm scheduled to play in less than an hour, at 9:00am, and I'm still sitting here in my 'jamas finishing off my almond butter on toast.

Opening Day of a three month season of OPC Pickleball! FUN! Friends!! Fitness!!!

Ready! Set!! PLAY Spring ACTION Pickleball!!!

Yours in pickleball, Janet Razz