Tournament Trail Junior CO Player Profile Results CRA Board
SPRING 2004 EDITION www.ColoradoRacquetball.com
Racquet For Change is Inevitable; Growth is Optional The Cure 2004 PRESIDENT’S CORNER –
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–Marcia Richards
e are celebrating our 30th anniversary of the state singles tournament. Some things change a lot. As you can see by the draw sheet from 30 years ago, our membership in the state tournament has grown. Yes, things are not like they were in the 80s when racquetball was in its prime. There are many players playing now that do not even know what it was like in the 80s. Racquets have changed, rules have changed, styles have changed, and the way we administer the game has changed. Many of the goals have not changed, however. Emphasis in grass root programs and empowering more women to play have been past board objectives and still are some of the present board objectives today. The CRA will continue to change and try to meet the goals of its members. We have also experienced a drop-off in memberships since the 80s. To what can we attribute the drop-off? Gosh!
Many of you have friends who no longer play. Many of you have experienced changes within your own clubs. This brings me to a void to which Colorado has had to adjust—the closure of two clubs. Not a change of ownership, not the closing of one or two courts; but the total demise of two clubs. Family Fitness shut down early last year and Lakewood Athletic Club shut down on December 13, 2003. This puts between 200 and 250 players out looking for new homes. This takes a community of friends and separates them into a new and sometimes smaller community. The morale was bleak for a while and many players may still be feeling the gloom. But with one door shutting, another will open. This does not necessarily have to do with the building of new clubs, but with opportunities. I have to keep positive and find my own way. I am a die-hard racquetball player who has played this game for 27 years and I will continue to have racquetball in my life.
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–Jean Gallagher
his year’s Racquet For The Cure marked a milestone for us. Still one of Colorado’s largest women’s draws, we managed to pull in 59 women this year, our largest tournament yet. Our new location was The Denver Athletic Club, which gave us full use of all their courts and the banquet facility. The DAC has a great atmosphere for everyone to watch matches, as well as to socialize with other players. It was a fun and successful event.
As usual, we started off with the mixed doubles on Friday night. We had 26 teams for this four-hour event. We broke at 8:00 for a benefit fundraiser, which included Chris Evon with Wilson Sports (a three-year supporter of this event) and Linda Moore with Ektelon. continued on Page 5...
So what is out there that keeps me positive? While looking for a home after LAC closed, I noticed there are many smaller clubs that need our help with programming. We have a huge number of racquet-sponsored players in this state. As a representative to your racquet company, you have an obligation to give back to the sport. There are a number of ways to give back. You are an ambassador of the sport and can give clinics, host demos, or participate in exhibition games. Most of these clubs do not have a paid racquetball director and there are limited funds. The CRA will earmark some of the junior funds to set up clinics for kids. If you would like to donate your time by setting up a clinic in your area, please contact a board member. If you would like to be part of the solution to help develop growth in racquetball, then contact a board member this week. The use of the Internet is a fast-growing piece to any organization these days. The CRA will continue to try to stay abreast of the field and has expanded the www.coloradoracquetball.com continued on Page 2...
Jean Gallagher and Byron Thompson at the Racquet For The Cure