FROM THE USAPA
In Athens , Georgia , in our recent third-annual Pickled Peach Pickleball Tournament , we had an entrant who was 90 years old ! NINETY ! How do you offer a 90-yearold a level playing field ? A chance to compete and medal ? You automatically give him a Gold medal for the 90-year-old age group at his skill level . He had no peer competition , yet he still got to play down in the 70 + age group and lost . He got to play , to compete and won the gold . Being the only 90-year-old present , do you ignore ( and disregard ) his age when he has little chance of winning games against younger players ? No ! In a level playing field , he wins the Gold , plain and simple !
Let ’ s say four 90-year-old players , two 80-year-old players and eight 70-year-old players entered the same tournament . Logically , you establish brackets for their play as 70 + at their skill level ; in this case all are 3.0 players . You keep track of their scores and compare their results only in their age categories , e . g . the two teams of 90-year-old players are going to win Gold and Silver medals ; the 80-year-olds team wins Gold medals ; and the 70-year-olds teams will win Gold , Silver and Bronze medals . The playing fields can be leveled by decades or half a decade , such as 70-74 brackets and 75-79 brackets or 70-79 brackets and so forth .
A level playing field needs to be established per age groups and their skill levels being competitive among themselves . This could be regulated by the USAPA , recognizing that Open play will not and should not be affected by these new guidelines because , as in any sport , the best of the best rises to the top regardless of age . Their level playing field is self-established and maintained by their 5.0 plus skill level .
Pickleball is a valuable asset to the sports world and especially to the communities holding tournaments . A fully attended tournament boosts the local economy in housing , eateries , tourist shopping , gas stops and the tournament sponsors with their wares . A level playing field will ensure full tournaments . Without leveling the playing field I predict that many players will stop playing in tournaments where they are matched with younger players ; in which case , everyone loses . I am hopeful that this article is the beginning of a needed change to the way most tournaments are currently established . I am also hopeful that the USAPA will be supportive of “ leveling the playing field ” as it is good for the game , good for all . •
Jerry L . Brinegar , Ph . D . -M . Div . -LMFT 706.202.9193 jbrinegar @ bellsouth . net athensareapickleball . com
Back in the Swing
For a friend battling cancer , pickleball ‘ helped give it all back .’
BY ANDREA ( ANDY ) JONES , USAPA AMBASSADOR - OREFIELD , PA
My pickleball friend , Debbie Becker from LBI , NJ , shared her inspirational story about how pickleball helped her physically and emotionally after being diagnosed with breast cancer . She gave me permission to share her story . IN HER OWN WORDS :
After a whirlwind nine months , starting with a breast cancer diagnosis and resulting treatment ( which included a double mastectomy , 12 weeks of very difficult chemotherapy , reconstruction , and an oophorectomy ), I found pickleball to be instrumental in my return to mental and physical well-being .
Stepping onto the court shortly after my last surgery , my baseball cap hiding my lack of hair , I found being able to hit the ball , working with a teammate and scoring points incredibly empowering . Focusing on mastering the mechanics , as well as the art of the game , engaged me mentally and physically and transformed me from feeling powerless and weak to someone who was strategic and strong . My fellow players were generous with compliments , honest with critique and willing to work with me to hone specific skills of the game — bringing my play to another level and my self to another level of wellness and confidence that had eluded me in the past year .
Pickleball , while initially seeming to be a huge distraction , was in fact taking me within myself , healing and strengthening me . I loved waking up every morning and becoming exhausted after hours of play . I loved my fellow players . I loved the day we played in the misty rain because none of us wanted to miss even a day of this sport . Pickleball made me feel so happy , grateful , strong and smart . What I hated most about my cancer was that it hijacked my body and mind ; pickleball helped give it all back to me . •
MAY / JUNE 2017 | MAGAZINE 31