What is USA Pickleball, and why is it so important?
I have a specific reason why I am highlighting USA Pickleball this week. Please visit their website to familiarize yourself with all they offer.
On a recent podcast called “Pickle Pod”, Zane Navratil stated that the USAP ambassadors are not relevant and wondered what exactly they do? He had to walk that back when an ambassador wrote in, and it was quite a wakeup call for those who think pickleball is mainly about the professionals. (I love Zane and use his instructional videos regularly in my column.)
At minute 29 or close to that in this video, you will see his comment.
The ambassador who wrote in cited that there are quite a few more (millions) of players who play for fun, and do not participate in tournaments. That is who USA ambassadors serve. (FYI: USAPA is the old designation – we are now just USA Pickleball).
When I started playing in tournaments in 2012, I joined the then USAPA (United States of America Pickleball Association) because I wanted to support the national organization, and I needed to join to participate in sanctioned tournaments. It is an annual membership fee, and I got a discount for joining for five years. I knew I was hooked.
In addition to playing in tournaments which was so fun then, I wanted to run round-robin tournaments, so that players would not be eliminated. My contribution to pickleball was going to be someone who offered these events. I became an ambassador in 2014, and I have been running round robins since then.
USA Pickleball Ambassadors serve many roles. They promote growth of our sport in their specific area, they help cities to add more courts, they offer free clinics and demonstrations to schools and clubs and they often offer free instruction. They volunteer at regional and national tournaments and attend conventions. They support growth in other countries, which will lead to Olympic pickleball in the future. They also play pickleball.
One of the things I contribute as an ambassador is writing this column for the Desert Sun . . . no, I do not get paid, but I get a lot of satisfaction sharing stories and coaching tips with the public.
What is the point? The organization is a wealth of information, and it has grown as the sport has grown. On the website, you will find:
** Places to Play
** Tournaments
** Grant programs for schools and clubs
** Rules
** Skill level ratings definitions
** Sponsorship programs
** Education/training programs
** Referee training
** Instructor programs
** Ambassador training
** Membership
Be sure to check out the link for the USA Pickleball website. If you want to support our sport, please join USA Pickleball.
Coach Mary's Tip of the Week
High backhand volleys are quite tough.
In these two videos from Jordan Briones and in these videos from Simone Jardim and Zane Navratil, you get a great breakdown on high backhand volleys.
High backhand volleys are tougher than forehand volleys. You do not have the same ability to use your shoulders to create power. Jordan offers this suggestion: use two hands. You can generate more power, and attack with more power.
Simone demonstrates and explains how you need to keep your elbow down, and instead of pushing the ball, you are attacking and using your hips and shoulders to generate power to attack on the backhand side.
Lastly, check out the Tomahawk. Instead of having your knuckles face the net, you change your paddle face, and execute a Tomahawk rather than a backhand volley. More power, more shoulders.
Note: My October round robin will be held at Palm Desert Civic Center Park on the new outdoor courts. All of my round robin events are posted on PickleballBrackets.com. Email me to enter at mgbarsaleau@gmail.com
If I get 12 courts, I will be able to offer senior divisions too.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: What is USA Pickleball, and why is it so important?
