Regional
matters
continued
USAPA UNVEILS YOUTH PROGRAM PROVIDER
TRAINING IN PHOENIX
T
his year, District
Ambassador Denise
Smith, Community
Engagement Specialist
Steve Manolis, and additional
USAPA Ambassadors and volunteers
introduced pickleball to more than
150 physical education teachers
throughout the Greater Phoenix area.
Working with the Arizona Health
and Physical Education (AZHPE)
Executive Director Matt Mixer, Denise
and Steve were able to increase
awareness of the USAPA’s newly
developed youth program resources
with teachers.
They led the teachers through
the new Youth Program Provider
Training, which is based on activities
from the new “Let’s Play Youth
Pickleball Playbook.” Steve says,
“The USAPA’s new Youth Pickleball
Playbook has given an enormous
credibility boost as it legitimizes the
sport by adding to physical literacy
needs of youth. Pickleball is exciting,
gender friendly, and low-cost as a
startup game. PE teachers love it,
schools love it and the kids love it.”
The USAPA Youth Program
Provider Training gives examples
52
of how to implement pickleball
into physical education and after-
school programs. Several schools
and teachers had previously taught
some racquet and/or paddle skills;
however, the training provided them
with more insight on how to teach
pickleball skills and games more
efficiently and effectively. The USAPA
Youth Provider Training is very
versatile in that it can be offered in a
variety of locations, e.g., cafeterias,
gyms, blacktop surfaces and multi-
purpose rooms with varying space
limitations and various surfaces.
The Southwest Region has four
more workshop sessions scheduled
as well as plans to present at
the Arizona Health and Physical
Education Convention in November.
The region has a goal to reach
more than 500 physical education
teachers by the end of this year. If
the goal is attained, it will be the
third year in achieving or exceeding
that goal.
The USAPA is excited to support
physical education teachers and
youth program providers through
a new membership opportunity to
launch this fall. The USAPA Youth
TO SUBSCRIBE CALL 888.308.3720 OR GO TO THEPICKLEBALLMAG.COM
Program Provider membership will
provide teachers with a printed
copy of the “Let’s Play Youth
Pickleball Playbook,” eight dynamic
activity cards, access to equipment
discounts, and dynamic instructional
videos. The association is excited to
increase the exposure of pickleball
to youth through school and after-
school programming. You can check
out the new resources at usapa.org/
recplay.
The
USAPA
Congratulates
Recently
Certified
Referees
Virginia Corker
James Nabors
Derrell Wynne
Judy Michel
Andy Olson
Stefan Nagy
Julie Sribney