A BIG HURRAY TO THE USAPA!
By Dick Johnson
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Effective June 20, the
USAPA has made a greatly
needed change wherein
older players will play
in their own age event if there are
three players/teams for that event at
Regional tourneys and four players
at Nationals!
This is a well-deserved
improvement for senior players
because it restores their faith
in the USAPA and enables them
to continue competing. It also
encourages them to keep playing
our wonderful sport for fun and
good health in their sunset years.
Prior to this new ruling, senior
players frequently had to play
younger players, sometimes
significantly younger, when the
USAPA/tournament directors
determined there were not enough
players to fill the age event.
In many cases, they were
beaten by the younger players
and, sadly, walked away with no
medals or recognition. As a result,
many seniors, including former
regional and national champions
who pioneered our great sport,
became so discouraged that they
quit competing, and some left the
sport entirely.
Some older players, however,
have concentrated their competitive
juices and participation in other
outstanding tourneys that already
have age events, such as the National
Senior Games, State Games of
America, Huntsman, and SSIPA.
These events have proven that
senior players will turn out in
droves when the competition is fair
and welcoming.
For example, 33 players registered
for the 75-9 men’s singles in last
Photo from the 2015 National Senior Games in Minneapolis.
year‘s National Senior Games in
Albuquerque. And 29 in 80-4 men’s
singles!
Even though older players
especially say a big “Hooray!” to
the USAPA for this important
improvement, there are still others
needed, which we hope will also be
implemented someday soon.
For example, awarding medals
to players who do the best in their
own five-year age group, even when
the tourney’s registration numbers
make it necessary for them to play
down in age in a combined event
against younger players. That’s very
successfully done in other great
tourneys at both state and national
levels. The result? Fairness to all,
happier players, bigger turnouts,
more money for the tourney and
surrounding community, etc. And
the players keep coming back year
after year!
Personally, I’m grateful my wife
and I found this wonderful sport
in our sunset years. It helped me
get control over a pretty serious
health problem and helped
improve my overall health. We’ve
found marvelous new friendships
and enjoyed related travel and
activities all around the world. We’re
appreciative of the innovative and
successful advances and benefits the
USAPA and its officers have brought
to the game!
For senior players who may have
dropped out, consider coming
back! Register for the Regionals
and other tourneys you may have
given up on. Especially consider
registering for the USA Pickleball
Nationals, Oct. 31 to Nov. 8 at the
outstanding Indian Wells Tennis
Center in California. Win or lose, it’s
an experience of a lifetime watching
the best players in the world! •
Dick Johnson was Player of the Year and National
Senior Games “Personal Best!” His many awards
include 200 medals in 110 sanctioned
tournaments. Gold medals at Nationals, US Open,
Huntsman, National Senior Games, State Games of
America, and SSIPA Worlds. He has medaled in those
majors for five consecutive years.
JUNE/JULY 2020 | MAGAZINE 17