Pickleball Magazine 2-4 | Page 8

FROM THE USAPA USAPA LAUNCHES MOBILE APPLICATION U SAPA is happy to announce the launch of its new mobile app. The app is specifically designed to provide USAPA members and the general public with direct and easy access to USAPA information. The app is FREE and de- signed to work with any smartphone or tablet and is available for download in Apple’s App Store and Google Play (An- droid) store – simply search “USAPA.” Features of the USAPA app include instant access to tournament informa- tion, pickleball news and a direct link to Places to Play. A “New Member Regis- tration” tab is also included. This makes it easy for anyone to become a USAPA member right from their device. USAPA members who download the app will have a single access point to their Member Profile and even the ability to edit their profile. In addition, members can access their USAPA Member Card, the new Member Rewards program and even have the ability to renew their USAPA membership. “We’re very excited to offer this great new tool to our members and the pickleball community,” said USAPA’s Executive Director Justin Maloof. “We hope the app makes the application process super easy and we really like giving members instant access to items they use on a regular basis.” For the time being, users may need to turn their phone horizontally to adequately view the Places to Play feature. However a new, enhanced Places to Play feature is currently under development and will address the issue later this year.  • 6 Pickleball Shoulder Injuries BY BARBARA WINTROUB T he most common injury site in the shoulder is not the rotator cuff muscles themselves but rather the tendons that attach these muscles to the upper arm. There is not a lot of space inside the shoulder. When muscles fatigue or improper technique is used, it is very easy for one of the rotator cuff tendons that pass through this space to get pinched. When this happens over and over again, it can injure the tendon. The labrum or cartilage in the shoulder socket also can become injured (torn) in overhead athletes, especially those with very loose shoulders and poor rotator cuff strength and shoulder stability. Many of the shoulder injuries seen in pickleball can be prevented with a proper stretching and strengthening program. The video at the fol- lowing address walks through some prevention – http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=xCNSIpNG9w0  • 2017 National Veterans Golden Age Games BY DEONNE LINENBERGER T hirty-one pickleball players from the Gulf Coast MS group held three days of exhibition games and clinics during the 2017 National Veterans Golden Age Games held in Biloxi, MS, in May. There were 120 wheelchair and ambulatory veterans taught the game of pickleball during this event, and 800 veterans 55 and older enrolled in the VA health care system competed in the Golden Age Games. Pickleball will be a competitive sport for the first time when the games are held in Albuquerque next year.  • TO SUBSCRIBE CALL 888.308.3720 OR GO TO THEPICKLEBALLMAG.COM