No Advanced Play at Wulf Monday, Feb. 13; Intermediates Start at 9:30 am
EHS PE instructor Beau Brake brings his pickleball PE class to Wulf Monday, Feb. 13. The gym is closed until 9:30 am, so you Advanced players will get to sleep in. Intermediates play 9:30 - 11 am. Novice/Beginners have your usual time, 11 am - 12:30 pm.
On Wednesday, Feb. 22 a second group of EHS students visit Wulf. Intermediates play 7 - 8:30 am; Advanced play 10:30 - 11:30 am.
Also as a reminder, schools are closed Presidents’ Day, Monday Feb. 20; only the two east courts at Wulf are open until about 10 am when the west courts open.
Check the Schedule for the remaining days of the week.
Mark Your Calendar for 2023 EPC Tournaments and Events
The EPC 2023 calendar is set. This year we’ve upped our game: offering five tournaments, a 3-day clinic by pickleball pro Laura Fenton Kovanda, and four social events.
Laura Fenton Kovanda Returns to Evergreen June 19-21
The year starts off with the Spring Fling, May 10, open to all Mountain area pickleball players and hosted by Gig Blitz, our Coldwell Banker Realtor. The summer’s Challenge Court returns in August, followed by the Fall Social and the Holiday Gala, again raising funds for EChO Food Bank.
Dinkeroo and Round Robin tournaments return along with the ever popular Mixed Doubles tournament. New to this year’s competition are the Men’s Doubles and Women’s Doubles tournaments in July. Registration opens three weeks prior to each tournament.
This year’s special feature is a 3-Day Clinic June 19-21 by 5-time national pickleball champion Laura Fenton Kovanda at Marshdale. She and her cadre of instructors will hold court on mechanics, shot selection, paddle positions, blocking, drop shots, reading the court, footwork, serve & return, strategies and more. It’s limited to 32 players at all skill levels and registration is open.
Check out the Events page now and plan your summer fun.
Let’s Review: Transition Time at Wulf
We’ve heard from several beginning players that the transition from Intermediates is not going well. Here’s what an intermediate player experienced moving into the Novice session:
“Remember when I said ‘no playing over in the next session’ was a dumb rule? Man was I wrong. I've gone to a few beginner sessions with my beginner wife. Seeing things through those beginner eyes. People playing over into the next session is chaotic, stressful, and unwelcoming to the new players. I've seen multiple new players have bad first or second experiences because of this.
“I've taken my previous 2 cents and shoved them. This is my new 2 cents.”
So let’s review: The transition from one skill-level session to the next requires a hard stop for those who’ve been playing in the earlier session regardless of where the ongoing game’s score stands. if your session ends at 11 am and the next group is waiting to play - get off the court at 11 sharp.
On the other hand, if there aren’t enough incoming paddles down or there are empty courts you can continue your game to completion or until enough new paddles are down to take the court.
Sometimes there aren’t enough players coming in to take all four courts. That doesn’t mean those who’ve been playing can continue to play among themselves. Courteous Intermediate players help fill out foursomes by mixing in with Novice/Beginners. it would be discourteous to have two separate stacks down - one for Intermediates and one for Novice/Beginners.
Give incoming players their time on the courts and mix in if needed and play to their level.
While We’re on the Subject: Good Players Know and Follow USA Pickleball’s Sportsmanship Guide
Pickleball was created to be a fun, competitive, and highly social sport. Since its inception, it has embodied an ethic of good sportsmanship that includes respect, fair play, and graciousness in winning and losing. The purpose of this guide is to encourage behaviors that reflect these foundational values. The Official Rules of Pickleball take precedence over this guide in any and all situations.
1. Treat all players, officials, volunteers, staff, and spectators with courtesy and respect.
a. Introduce yourself to any players you do not know.
b. Never use foul language or obscene gestures. Never denigrate another person.
c. At the end of each game, meet the other players at the net to acknowledge them in a positive manner. In officiated matches, thank the referee.
d. Accommodate players with adaptive needs when possible.
2. Know the Official Rules of Pickleball, apply them fairly and cooperate in any situation that is not expressly covered by the rules.
3. Practice good sportsmanship when making line calls.
a. Respect your opponents' right to make all calls on their end of the court.
b. Call your own shot “out” if you see that it is out.
c. If you question an opponent’s call, do so respectfully and do not argue.
d. If you defer a line call to your opponents, accept their call graciously.
e. Do not call a ball “out” unless you see it clearly and are certain it is out.
f. Promptly correct any wrong call your partner may make.
g. Resolve any uncertainty in favor of your opponents.
4. Call a fault on yourself or your partner as soon as the fault occurs, regardless of whether your opponents are aware of the fault.
a. Watch your own and your partner’s feet for service or NVZ foot faults
b. Accept your opponent’s and partner’s fault calls graciously.
c. Admit if the ball hits you or your paddle on the way out of bounds.
5. Claim a replay only if a hinder affects your team’s ability to play the ball.
6. In social play, rotate on and off courts fairly, courteously, and in accordance with local practice.
a. Don’t jump ahead of others who are waiting to play.
b. Don’t invite someone else forward in line or rearrange paddles so they can move up to play with you; move yourself back instead.
c. Don’t call a lower score or start a second game to avoid leaving the court.
d. Be prepared to play when it is your turn.
e. If you must cross over or behind an active court, wait until play is stopped and cross quickly in a single group to minimize disruption of that game.
7. Make safety a priority, while using common sense.
a. If a ball strays onto your court, make eye contact with the correct person and roll or toss it back to them without disrupting play on other courts.
b. If your ball enters another court, immediately warn any players whose safety may be in jeopardy by loudly calling “ball” or some other warning. If the ball is rolling behind their court and does not present a danger to players, do not interrupt play but wait until play stops to retrieve it or ask for its return.
c. Never throw your paddle or strike the ball in anger or frustration.
8. As a stronger player in social play, be kind to other players.
a. Avoid hitting excessively to a weaker player.
b. Do not slam the ball directly at other players.
9. Be considerate about playing up and playing down.
a. Be willing to play sometimes with less-skilled players.
b. Do not demand to play with more skilled players; ask them nicely if you wish to play with them.
10. Be a respectful and supportive partner.
a. Avoid criticism and negative non-verbal communications.
b. Provide coaching and advice only when requested.
Quick Tip from the Pickler: Good Attitudes Only
We’ve all experienced it: A doubles partner who scoffs, scowls or even scolds when you make a bad shot (and who doesn’t make a bad shot or two every game?)
Stacie at The Pickler.com offers this piece of advice to the negative nellies in our midst.
“The great golfer Payne Stewart once said, ‘A bad attitude is worse than a bad swing.’ This also holds true in doubles pickleball. If you have a bad attitude or bad energy on the pickleball court, that will likely have more of a negative effect on your performance, your partner’s performance, and the overall outcome, as compared to bad shots or mistakes from time to time.
“So, reek of positivity. It’s infectious for both your own game and your partner’s game. If you or your partner make a bad shot, build yourself and your partner up so you are mentally ready to win the next shot.”