USA Pickleball - North Florida District Newsletter 2023v2

Florida North District

Newsletter • 2023 Winter Issue

APRIL IS NATIONAL PICKLEBALL MONTH

USA Pickleball, the National Governing Body for the sport, today announced that it will soon kick off expanded efforts to shine a spotlight on National Pickleball Month throughout April. Established in 2018, National Pickleball Month is designed to connect everyone within the sport while, at the same time, introduce pickleball to new audiences by highlighting its inclusive, fun and healthy qualities

During April, USA Pickleball will showcase people, places and events across the sport using four weekly themes:

April 1-8 – Why We Love Pickleball

April 9-15 – Up Your Game

April 16-22 – Member Appreciation

April 23-30 – What's Next/Looking Ahead

More information about National Pickleball Month can be found here

The USA Pickleball website www.places2play.org/is a great resource for locating places to play pickleball. USA Pickleball encourages players to continually update the database with the latest information about places to play pickleball We encourage you to visit the website or download the app to find the courts nearest to your location. Use the provided Search box to search by city, state, zip code or location name. You can also search geographically by clicking the Map link. Click on “Add Place” to help USA Pickleball keep this resource up to date!

PLACES 2 PLAY

THE BUZZ ON PICKLEBALL

Teaching Pickleball is Elementary!

From Buzz Wood, USAP Ambassador/St. Johns County

As the title might suggest figuratively, it is rather elementary to learn pickleball, but I meant it literally Allow me to explain

In early March of this year (2023), I attended the PPA Tour stop at Pictona, just outside Daytona Beach I obtained a “Media Pass” as I intended to capture content for my YouTube channel and do some interviews I was guided to a gate entrance for Media and personnel working the tournament when I arrived There I ran into Wendy Warfield; she was one of the many volunteers working the event. I initiated a conversation with her as she was charming and welcoming, which one would expect as a volunteer, but come to find out, that is just how she is naturally. I asked her what she did when she wasn’t volunteering, and this is where the story begins

When Wendy isn’t volunteering, she’s usually playing; when she’s not, she’s teaching Yup, Wendy is an Elementary School Teacher. She’s been teaching for ten years after leaving the private sector as a nurse. About three years ago, she got bit by the “pickleball bug” and fell in love with the sport we all know and love too Since she loved pickleball so much, she couldn’t resist teaching her students; you see, as luck would have it, Wendy is a PE (physical education) teacher, and pickleball just seemed like a sport she had to share with her students.

There was one rather significant problem; she had no paddles, balls, or even a net. She had the kids use sidewalk chalk to mark the court dimensions and use some balls and an imaginary net When I heard this, I immediately said, “I think I can fix this ” I asked how many kids she taught and whether they had a flat surface large enough to play. She shared the information, and I told her to let me work on it and get back to you.

I reached out to paddle manufacturer Baddle Pickleball for paddles, a sponsor I’ve worked with in the past, as well as USA Pickleball’s Bill Hess, Atlantic South Regional Director, and our own Michelle Mallard, District Ambassador for Florida North, to get their “ok” on contributing a portable net. Well, everybody overwhelmingly said “yes,” and so at the recent MLP Tour stop at Pictona, Michelle I invited Wendy over to receive all her goodies, making it Christmas again for her kids. It was just in time, too, as she’s moving into a new larger space, and this will fit perfectly into it!

I’ll have a follow-up to this so all of you can see the joyous faces of these children when they receive their new pickleball paddles, court markers, and net!

About Buzz-

Buzz Wood is a video podcaster, pickleball coach, player, and storyteller, who is constantly involved in evolving and growing the sport Catch him on his YouTube channelhttps://www youtube com/@pickleballbuzz

HIGHLIGHTS

6TH ANNUAL GAINESVILLE INDOOR PICKLEBALL SHOWCASE TOURNAMENT

As a committee member working with Gainesville Sports Commission for the 6th Annual Gainesville Indoor Pickleball Showcase Tournament, I’m excited that it will be held at our new Alachua County Sports Complex August 4th - 6th. We are going to have lots of fun things at the tournament. We already have players registered for the event.

Mary Rossow - Alachua County

PICKLEBALL CHANGES LIVES

In 2022, I went to the doctor for a general health checkup I looked at my health chart and saw high numbers that no one wants to see Fortunately, my doctor said I could naturally get my health under control I was not going to take medication if I did not have to Our family friend and local ambassador Pam Hatch introduced a few of us to the game and I played once in a while, but I knew after that news that Pickleball was going to be a part of my weekly routine Little did I know, I was going to lose 40 pounds, play 3 nights a week (sometimes for 4 hours) and go on to win a GOLD medal in the Veritas tournament with my buddy Chris I can, for certain, say that pickleball has helped me with all around better weight control, cardio, endurance, and my heart is much better Now that all of my numbers are at a reasonable level and my weight is off, I keep playing because I enjoy it so much!

Brad Burnette - Crystal Springs Park in Jacksonville, FL

TWO NEW LEVEL 1 CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS

Cole Childers, USA Pickleball AmbassadorGainesville, and Mary Rossow, USA Pickleball Ambassador - Alachua, just completed the 8 hour IPTPA Teach the Teacher Workshop held in Leesburg to become Level 1 Certified Instructors

Congratulations!

Gear up for the new Pickleball season at Go Pro Tennis & Pickleball!

Demo for free.

30-day guarantee you’ll love your paddle. We will meet or beat any authorized dealer discounts.

USA Pickleball members/newsletter subscribers will always get the best deals!

WELCOME A NEW REFEREE!

Congrats Terry Rankin - New Level 1 Referee!

Terry Rankin was awarded her USA Pickleball Level 1 Referee credentials Way to go Terry!

With Terry are Kathy Postlewait (Certified Referee and Registered Referee Trainer) and Walt Hooker (Level 2 Referee and RRT)

Terry was trained at the Pictona Referee Training Academy where Level 1 and Level 2 classes will resume in the fall https://pictona org/instruction/pictona-referee-trainingacademy/ for more information

Paddle up for playing, head up for officiating

AMBASSADOR SPOTLIGHT

Kelly Jauschneg • Duval

Hi my name is Kelly Jauschneg, I am the USA Pickleball ambassador for Argyle Forest Pickleball located in Jacksonville. I started playing pickleball with my seniorpro husband, Jeff Jauschneg, a.k.a. Big Country, just over 3 years ago. Since our start in pickleball our five blended children and their partners all started playing. Our son, Ethan has recently won gold playing 5.0 19+ PPA. I served as ambassador in Lake County Florida and Lexington South Carolina. We are super excited to to have the 12 new courts at Argyle Forest. Argyle has 2 challenge courts, 2 advanced courts, 4 intermediate, 2 novice, and 2 open play. Jax Pickleball Store, Big Country Pickleball, and World Golf Village have hosted several events such as round robins, queen/king of the court and MLP format league play We offer free beginner coaching by appointment Join Argyle Pickleball on Facebook or text me 352455-0078 for private free lessons

I look forward to growing the Argyle group since it’s beginning December 2022

April 15

Community Health Outreach Annual Fundraiser

Orange Park, FL

www.pickleballtournaments.com

April 15-16

Omni Amelia Island Spring Challenge

Omni Amelia Island Resort

Fernandina Beach, Florida pickleballbrackets com

April 28-30

Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open

Northside Park

Gainesville, Florida pickleballbrackets.com

April 28-30

Pickle Garden Open 2023

The Yards

Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida pickleballbrackets.com

May 5-7

MetroHealth Super Seniors 2023 at Pictona

Pictona at Holly Hill

Holly Hill, FL

www.pickleballtournaments.com

May 6-7

Big Bend Pet Palooza

Daniel B Chaires Park

Tallahassee, FL

www pickleballtournaments com