FROM THE USAPA
FROM THE PRESIDENT
2017 USAPA
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
PRESIDENT
David Jordan
VICE PRESIDENT
Jack Thomas
SECRETARY
Laura Patterson
TREASURER
Darryl Noble
BOARD MEMBERS
(COMMITTEES)
AMBASSADORS
Carrie Jermstad
COMMUNICATIONS
Bob Nibarger
GRANTS
Ray Pereyra
RATINGS
Chris Thomas
TRAINING CHAIR
Pat Murphy
LEGAL COUNSEL, GRIEVANCE
Phil Mortenson
NON-VOTING
BOARD MEMBER
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Mark Friedenberg
STAFF
Executive Director, Justin Maloof
Managing Director of Competition,
Christine Barksdale
Business Manager, Linda Gartlan
USAPA PRESIDENT DAVE JORDAN
It is that time of year when the road is
calling and our motorhome is itching
to get its wheels rolling. So, on April
30 we left St. George, UT, and hit the
road on our way toward Cartersville,
GA, for the St. Jude National Indoor
Classic. Along the way, we make
stops to see old friends and make
new acquaintances while also visiting
family. It is going to be a busy summer
with tournaments, visits to pickleball
venues and family get-togethers—
an exciting summer—and we look
forward to new adventures along the
way.
As this sport has evolved and become such a popular activity, we have
begun to see some evidence of what this popularity has brought. We
see great new players joining the sport every day, we see the youth of
America starting to discover pickleball in their schools and colleges, we see
the young and old playing together and against each other, parents and
grandparents teaching the younger generation and, most importantly, we
see the friendships and social interaction among all folk. In pickleball the
term “generational gap” seems to disappear.
On the other side of the coin, let us look at how our growth has changed
the sport in less positive ways. Too often we see “groups” claiming territory
(e.g. “This is the 4.5 or 5.0 courts”), we see egos get in the way of having
a good time, we see the “money factor” taking over, we see spectators at
tournaments not cheering for their favorite team but cheering against the
opposing team, and sadly enough we are seeing the sport become more
about winning than about how to have fun. Don’t get me wrong: everyone
would rather win than lose, but there can be grace in winning rather than
gloat.
Every sport has its growing pains and pickleball is no different. I have met
some great people who have worked so hard to make this sport grow in
every state and town where it is played. I guess looking back over the last
14 years we have been involved, you might say that I sometimes yearn
for those days when showing up at a pickleball court was more of a social
activity than a die-hard competitive event. Not to say the competition
aspect of pickleball is not good, because it is—it definitely serves a purpose
and the rewards of competitive play are numerous, both physically and
psychologically. So where lies the answers for the future, I’m not real
sure, but what I do know is that pickleball is a unique sport with unique
characteristics and rules. We can only hope that the future will see a sport
with minor change to these unique features; after all, that is what makes
pickleball the great sport it is.
Hope to see you on the road this summer, so safe travels to all.
From our court to yours, be safe, enjoy what you do and stay out of the
kitchen.
Nancy & David Jordan
MAY/JUNE 2017 |
MAGAZINE
7