Pickleball Hamilton Successful Clinic S U M M E R 2 0 1 7 I S S U E 2 5 T O U R N A M E N T S South Central OSGA Games August 22 Hamilton Provincial Championships Sept. 15-17 Markham KWPA Tournament of Champions Kitchener Oct. 21-23 Check out this website for hundreds of upcoming events. www.pickleballtournaments.com The Hill Park schedule, programming, last minute changes can all be found here. Download https://teamup.com/ ks4602efc49f650c06 Like us on Facebook at Pickleball Hamilton 708 Friends Our Facebook page contains great pictures, videos of lessons for each skill, strategy ideas from the best players, ideas from other clubs, information for members and so much more. Check it out. Pickleball Hamilton is always looking for ways to promote the game of pball within the Hamilton area. Once again this year, on July 9th, we ran a three hour clinic for members and non-members who wished to learn the skills and strategies associated with pball. The 40 participants had an opportunity to get instruction on their serve, lob, smash, dink, volley and their groundstrokes. They also had an opportunity to discuss the strategy behind each stroke. Skill and strategy development have to be developed together. There is no use in having a particular skill if you don t know when to use it; and likewise, no use knowing when to use the correct shot if you can t execute it. Instruction was provided by some of the best players in the community. Thanks go to Ellen, Jessica and Linda Kawamoto, Ron Vloothuis, Derek and Jeff Morgan and Marylyn Prowse,. Thanks also to John Boyle and John Sullivan for organizing the clinic. Summer Season The Hill Park outdoor courts are in full swing. Most mornings and evenings are filled with players honing their skills, sharing some laughs and making new friends. The new court surfaces, along with new windscreens, and 6 permanent nets have made for a great venue for pickleball enthusiasts. Pickleball Hamilton is also offering a wide range of programming to meet the needs of its members. Picklefit and Thursday night pub night are turning out to be well enjoyed by all. We thank the Ye Olde Squire, a nearby drinking establishment for the complimentary food every Thursday night. All programming, membership information and everything to do with pickleball in Hamilton can be found at www.pickleballhamilton.com. It s not too late to enjoy some outdoor pickleball!!
Ontario Pickleball League Inaugural Season was a Great Success 3.5+ and 4.0+ Pickleball players from three cities, Hamilton, Kitchener and London participated in an inaugural pilot project for 2016-2017, from October 2016 to June 2017. Kitchener hosted the games every other Sunday at the KWC courts. The playoffs were held in late June, Hamilton finished first, Kitchener a close second and London third. Hamilton team regular players: Tom and Wayne Hodgson, Marty McCann, Cathy Johnston, Frank Piunno, Erick Griffoen, Liz Ling, Sue and Steve Sztricsko and Kam Keyhan. Throughout the season many Hamilton pickleball club members substituted for absent regular members. Jessica, Ellen, Tom Kawamoto and Ron V were great subs for the finals. Big thanks to Patricia Archambault the league organizer; for hosting and scheduling the regular season games, keeping the scores, hosting final playoffs and end of season party. Kam Keyhan took on the role of organizing and coordinating the Pickleball Hamilton team. We thank Kam for stepping forward and taking on this task and leading the team to the Gold Medal in the first season. For those historian buffs the first Stanley Cup was won by the Montreal Hockey Club in 1893. The first Grey Cup by the University of Toronto Varsity Blues in 1909. Pickleball Hamilton just won the first Pickleball League Championship. Initial planning for 2017-2018 season is underway, stay tuned. 5 Steps for Beginners 1. Go to Pickleball Hamilton website and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all pickleball information. 2. Learn the basic rules. Watch learning videos and tutorials. 3. On the website find a location and time to play that fits your schedule. 4. Purchase proper court shoes and a suitable paddle. Pickleball Hamilton offers demo Singleton paddles for you to try. 5. Get a summer membership and get out to Hill Park as often as you can to practice and play.
2 nd Annual Club Championship Saturday, September 9 th, 2017 Start 9:00 A.M. Mixed, Ladies and Men s Doubles Categories Men s and Ladies Singles Categories Rain date: Sunday, September 10th Annual General Meeting Pickleball Hamilton Tuesday, August 8 th 6:00 pm- 8:00 pm Westmount Recreation Centre Meeting Room D This meeting provides the membership with an opportunity to select the Executive Team, discuss Strategic Directives and become involved in the operational side of Pickleball Hamilton. Attendance is encouraged. TEAM PICKLEBALL CHALLENGE Date: Sunday, July 30 th Time: 9:00 am 3:00 pm Who: Pickleball Hamilton Members Cost: $20/team How: Pick your own team of at least two males and two females (3 of each is probably better) Format: Teams play each other in the following order Ladies Doubles, Men s Doubles, Ladies Singles, Men s Singles and Mixed Doubles. Points are accumulated through wins and total points conceded. Games are to 11 (Win by two with a cap at fifteen) 1 hour is set aside for each team match play efficiently! There is room for 8 teams 2 pools of 4 teams. Each team is guaranteed 3 round-robin matches in the morning, followed by semi-finals and finals in the afternoon. Get your team together, name your team (something fun or witty) and enter as soon as possible. Contact Jeff Morgan at jmorgan@pickleballhamilton.com for more information. CANUSA Games Pickleball has been added to this year s event! This is a unique opportunity to travel to Michigan, U.S.A. and compete against their best pickleballers. The event will be hosted at the Genesys Athletic Club in beautiful Grand Blanc, Michigan. We are looking to fill spots in the aged 19+ Categories. We are also hoping for a Team Captain to put it all together. Ladies and Men s Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Ladies and Men s Singles divisions are being offered. If you are interested, please email Jeff Morgan-- jmorgan@pickleballhamilton.com Code of Conduct Just a reminder that Pickleball Hamilton has expectations that all members are obligated to follow at all times. We strive to provide a welcoming, inclusive, friendly environment for all.
Player Profile: Caroline Fanson I grew up in a weird and wacky family! I'm the youngest of six, tragically 2 passed away before I was born, and the only girl; for awhile. I have 3 older brothers that would beat me at everything, so I learned to lose at a very young age and gracefully! One day my dad was looking for something in the want ads in the Hamilton Spectator and lo and behold he saw an ad for a monkey for sale, off he went and we had a new addition to the family! Then he bought another and another and soon we had eight. We didn't have all of them at one time but one summer we did have 4 monkeys and a raccoon. You can imagine that the neighbours loved us! My parents went on a vacation one year and came home with a new sister for us, a 13 year old girl from St Lucia. A couple of years later my dad took a job transfer to Sweden, and off we went, my new sister, a brother, our monkey, my parents and myself. It was a whole new experience! Sweden, the land of the free...and naked, everywhere you turned people were taking their clothes off for a sauna and a swim in the lake! Not knowing anyone there, my family played a lot of cards and ping pong! My brother would spot me 20 points and play left handed for quite some time until I started to beat him. A few years later, I returned to Hamilton and started my life here! I had a daughter, started my career at Sears and played for the first time on a baseball team, which I'm still playing! I met some wonderful women who got me involved in volleyball and golf! Again my brothers would spot me so many strokes off per game so it would be competitive. Just the other day my brother said I'll give you a stroke a hole but I didn't need it as I beat him by 2 strokes...he wasn't happy, but I was! 2 more daughters came my way, as well as 3 grandsons, what a blessing! I dabbled in a few more sports until pickleball came around. I overheard some friends talk about going to Hill Park and playing Pickleball, so I tagged along and played for the first time two years ago! It felt like playing ping pong without the table, I loved it, I was hooked! The best part about Pickleball are the people, they are so welcoming, it seems like such a big family, it's like "Cheers," the bar, with Norm! But last May I got my eyes opened, I played in the Steeltown pickleball tournament and the level of play was amazing. I got whooped in every category, it was very humbling! I'm not going to be a pickleball pro, but I'm going to enjoy the game and the people around me! Play Safely 1. Do not cross courts at any time to get the ball or to go from one court to the next. Also, always wait for a point to end before walking behind the court. 2. Call ball on court in a loud voice to warn others of this situation. 3. If ball on court is called for your court, stop playing immediately. Return the ball. Replay. 4. Unless there is a very large area, do not walk behind another court to retrieve the ball. Follow #3 above. Let the players on that court return the ball to you. 5. Always wear proper outdoor court shoes and never play on a wet, slippery surface.
Dr. Rule Says: I was playing in a game recently and while my opponent was in the process of serving someone on another court called his name, Marti. He did not swing at the ball but the ball fell to the ground. He picked it up and served again. I think his first serve should have been a fault. Am I right? You are wrong, as long as Marti didn t swing his paddle, it is not a fault. 4.E Service Faults. During the service, it is a fault if: 4.E.1. the server misses the ball while trying to hit it. If the ball lands on the ground without the server swinging at the ball, it is not a fault. International Federation of Pickleball Did you know that Pickleball is #44 on the ParticipACTION Play 150 List to celebrate Canada s 150th birthday? Get out and play. Summer Membership Once again this year Pickleball Hamilton is offering the opportunity to enjoy pickleball outdoors on 6 courts, 7 days a week, 12 hours a day. Get your membership as soon as possible and get in on the fun. Features Still Time Windscreens & 6 Permanent Nets 6 courts, Outdoor balls supplied Open drop in play daily Teaching Clinics, Drills & Fitness Thursday Pub Night Social & Family open play Ladder play for all levels Lighted courts until 9:30 PM Tournaments & Inter Club play Club Championship, Special Events Regular adult membership is only $60 for the entire summer. However, we offer discounts for youth, students and families. Check out all the details, see the programming schedule and get a membership form on-line at: www.pickleballhamilton.com