dinks
What’s News in Pickleball
USAPA AMBASSADORS CONDUCT CLINIC IN LOS
ANGELES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
T
he Alfonso Perez
Learning Center in the
Los Angeles Unified
School District (LAUSD)
recently held a pickleball clinic
featuring USAPA Ambassadors
Beverley Vigil, Mary Barsaleau,
Rosie Roper and Jeaney Garcia. With
assistance from the Adapted Physical
Education teachers from Alfonso
Perez—Alex Cabral, Rigoberto
Sanchez and Marcelino Acosta—
the group was joined by members
of the Unified Sports Leadership
Committee for LAUSD, Patrick
Merrill, Susan Woo, and Menh Vong.
Over 75 students of varying
abilities, including student athletes
in wheelchairs, participated
in learning basic pickleball
skills, including ball handling,
dinking, serving, volleying, ball
machine drills, games, and a mini
tournament. All in all, it was a clinic
that spanned nearly four hours.
The pickleball
demonstration and clinic
was coordinated by Vigil,
herself an adapted physical
education teacher. “The
opportunity to introduce
pickleball to these students
was simply marvelous. I
couldn’t have asked for a
better day and really need
to thank all who helped us
16
stage this wonderful event. We hope
to do many more within the school
district in the foreseeable future,”
she said.
After watching a demonstration
and participating in modified
ball handling with foam balls and
balloons, the students with different
levels of abilities were split into five
groups and rotated through five
stations.
“The smiles on the faces of
students who were able to achieve
basic skills, from serving over the
net to hitting winners off the ball
machine, were enough thanks for
us as Ambassadors. We learned
just as much as the kids that day,”
added Vigil.
Following the clinic was a
positive motivation presentation
coordinated by the Dodgers
Foundation-sponsored Positive
Coaching Alliance (PCA). The
interactive and fun workshop
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for the students and staff taught
everyone important tools, like
the “tornado spiral,” where being
welcoming and making people feel
valued are essential to creating a
caring environment. PCA research
behind positivity was also shared
and why positive communication,
both verbal and non-verbal,
provides for connection and
inclusiveness.
“I fell in love with the game a
year and a half ago and figured out
a way to bring it to my students
and co-workers in the elementary
and high schools,” said Vigil. “We
need to continue at the regional
level to reach out to school districts
to provide free demonstrations
and clinics, to get the word out
that pickleball is open for people
of all abilities. The USAPA is eager
to share their love and passion of
this sport with others. This activity
and interaction with students of
varying abilities is an invaluable
experience.”