dinks
continued
IPTPA’S JUNIOR CERTIFICATION TEACHING PROGRAM
BY SEYMOUR RIFKIND
I
PTPA introduced its Junior
Certification Teaching
Program a few years
ago. The idea came
to light when IPTPA
Director Simone Jardim
told me about teenage
phenom Ben Johns.
Ben wanted to get IPTPA
certified, but at the time
the insurance carrier
wouldn’t insure a player
under 21. After discussing
the issue with the insurance
company, we developed a program
whereby prospective junior players would go through all the
required tests and, if they passed, would get certified under the
condition that a current IPTPA member would mentor them until
they became age eligible. The program has been a tremendous
success.
We all know the explosive growth of pickleball in the 55+
communities, however, the future of the game
lies with our youth. Kids listen to and are
influenced by their peers, especially those wearing medals
around their necks. When you have the best junior players in
the world exposing their friends to the game of pickleball, a
tidal wave of new young players will result. Here are a few of
our most recent juniors who’ve become IPTPA certified—and
the IPTPA instructors responsible for mentoring them.
LeEllen Lane, mentored by mom Stephanie Lane
Kyle Stoddard, mentored by dad Dave Stoddard
Wyatt Stone, mentored by Matt Lazarine
Caden Nemoff, mentored by dad Terry Nemoff
You’ll notice that a parent is the mentor for three out of the four
juniors. One of the things I love most about pickleball is how the
sport brings families closer together.
Last February, in Surprise, AZ, I witnessed four generations
of women playing pickleball, laughing, bonding and enjoying
each other’s company, while nurturing that special family
relationship. Yvonne Hackenberg has earned multiple
national titles, and is in several sport halls of fame, but I bet
it was equally special for her to have her mom, daughter
and granddaughter join her for a game on the Surprise City
pickleball court.
Senior Players
Set the Bar
A
crowd of more than 100
fans turned out to cheer on
the four oldest “geezers”
who set a “World Record”
in a club tournament called Golden
Geezer 360—the age total of the four
participants. The “World Record”
is for the oldest average age of the
four players, which is 91 years,
214.5 days. As far as we know, no
other seniors have competed to beat
this record. These gentlemen play
several times a week on a regular
basis.
14
Golden Geezers after a Round Robin of three games.
Left to right: Bob Ginaco, 88; Ralf Sleeper, 92; Kurt Unvericht, 92;
Ernie Hayns, 93.
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