CRA Rollout, Fall 2005

Page 1

Tournament Trail...

CRA Board of Directors

Dates

Tournament

Club

Sep 28-Oct 2

38th USRA National Doubles

Arizona State University

Phoenix

Marcia Richards, President

Oct (TBA)

Al Fresco Three-Wall

Rangeview High School

Aurora

marcia@coloradoracquetball.com 303.738.9797

Oct 6-9

Fall Classic

YMCA CO Springs Dwntn

Oct 13-16

Killer Open

Goodson Rec Center

Oct 27-30

Halloween Open

Lynmar Racket

Nov 10-13

November Madness

North Jeffco RB & Fitness

Arvada

Nov 16-20

10th US Open

Racquet Club of Memphis

Memphis

Dec 1-4

Colorado State Doubles

Colorado Athletic Club

Aurora

Board Members

Dec 8-11

Racquetball Addicts Anonymous

Denver Athletic Club

Denver

Feb 3-4

Racquet for the Cure Benefit

Denver Athletic Club

Denver

Dan Davis dan@coloradoracquetball.com Kathy Martinez kathy@coloradoracquetball.com Linda Mojer linda@coloradoracquetball.com Steve Nelson steven@coloradoracquetball.com Travis Parrill travis@coloradoracquetball.com Tamera Schlegel tamera@coloradoracquetball.com Byron Thompson byron@coloradoracquetball.com Cindy Tilbury cindy@coloradoracquetball.com

USA Racquetball 1685 West Uintah / Colorado Springs, CO 80904-2921 719-635-5396/FAX 719-635-0685

Articles, Advertising & Letters: ROLLOUT ATTN: Cindy Tilbury, Editor 3131 East Alameda, #205 Denver, CO 80209 303.888.4461

Tournament Trail Juniors Pepsi Cup Standings Results CRA Board

City

CO Springs Centennial CO Springs

Officers

Bruce Burgess, Vice President bruce@coloradoracquetball.com

April Settell, Secretary april@coloradoracquetball.com

FALL 2005 EDITION www.ColoradoRacquetball.com

Jean Gallagher, Treasurer jean@coloradoracquetball.com

SUPPORTING COLORADO COLORADO RACQUETBALL RACQUETBALL SUPPORTING

PRESIDENTS CORNER —

Bridging the Gap

T

by Marcia Richards

his year's "Bridging The Player Gap" program has evolved from the many conversations about how the sport has bottomed out in the number of players, how facilities keep converting courts into exercise rooms, and how tournaments are getting smaller as experienced players advance without novices and juniors coming in to fill the lower divisions. After discussing these same issues with our neighbor Darold Key - who has developed a plan, a vision and a roadmap on how to build a successful program in Arizona - the CRA, aided by Jo Shattuck, has developed its own "Bridging The Gap" approach for the coming season. What is "Bridging The Gap"? What gap are we trying to close? Who are we connecting? Well to start, there's the age gap, the knowledge gap, the program gap, and the level of competition gap. If you visit other facilities, you'll quickly notice that one court club has 1) no programmer on staff and no programs; 2) lots of youngsters without the proper equipment or eyewear; 3) outdated racquets used as rentals; and 4) people playing the same person every week. Another court club enjoys a hired programmer with leagues, shuttles, high participation, and good equipment. What can the CRA do to help bridge this type of gap and create consistent venues for all levels of play? The CRA bridging program targets all levels of play from junior and beginner instructional programs (like those taught in PE programs at the high school and college level) to training and competitive skill-building. It invites a player to enter the program at the lowest and most recreational level and - if they choose - progress from a club enthusiast, to a traveling league player, to a CRA member and serious tournament competitor. It is a player's choice to move along the continuum, if and when they feel they are ready. Or not. As adults we can recall the progression from our very first racquetball experience to the point we are at today. We have all been actively involved with this lifetime pasttime, and it is the board's mission to try and provide a place for all interested individuals to take up the sport we enjoy so much.

USRA/CRA • 1685 West Uintah Colorado Springs, CO 80904-2921

So who will get the bridging started at your facility or school? Last year, our theme focused on "Together We Can Make A Difference" and in order for us to keep this sport moving forward, we must all be willing to give something back. Club owners aren't compelled or motivated to hire a program director. Today it's up to each of us to pitch in, or help identify people to fill in the GAPS so we can BRIDGE the gaps. If you are interested and would like to learn more about the program, visit www.ColoradoRacquetball.com. Contact me by email at Marcia@ColoradoRacquetball.com if you are interested, but can't take on the responsibility of being in charge. We can help you find someone. We can provide you with the basic tools to get started at the ground level. We have a staff willing to help teach the teacher. And we're committed to making this season be the one that fully bridges the gaps and brings it all together, for racquetball.

CSU — Pueblo Men’s Team Tops in Nation

C

by Richard Krinsky

SU-Pueblo demonstrated their racquetball prowess at the Intercollegiate National Tournament in Tempe, Arizona this past April. In four days of play, the CSUPueblo men's team lost exactly one match. Ben Croft beat Mitch Williams in straight games at the #1 singles. That win will place Ben on the US National Team through next year. Gil de los Rios, a freshman from Chihuahua, Mexico won at the #2 singles, and Chris Barton won the title at #3 singles. Charlie Pratt lost in the finals at the #4 singles in a tough tiebreaker. Joey Lee and Matt Melster repeated as national champions at the #5 and #6. The entire team will be returning next fall along with the additions of Mitch Williams, who will be a graduate student in the MBA program, and Darrel Miller, a brilliant freshman student from Wisconsin who recently finished third in the US National Junior Tournament in Portland. The addition of these two players will make an extremely competitive team even more competitive.

CSU-Pueblo also entered a women's team in the intercollegiates. Five of the women, Margo Rainey, Eve Magistrelli, Annette Green, Kelli Kimmel, and Veronica Foote will all be returning next fall. Developing a competitive women's team is a high priority for the program in Pueblo. Any Colorado racquetball players who are interested in attending college in Pueblo should contact me: Dr. Richard Krinsky at 719-549-2588 or at Richard.Krinsky@colostate-pueblo.edu.


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