Tell us what you think—please
Next EPC board meeting is Jan. 7
The first 2025 meeting of the EPC board will feature the scheduling of tournaments and social events for the year. It will be held at Evergreen Library from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7. We already know Men’s Doubles will be back on the schedule and the Spring Fling party will return too.
As always, EPC members are welcome at the board meeting. Come on in and tell us what you want from us.
New Wulf schedule runs through Jan. 26
There is no school this Monday, Jan. 6, and Monday, Jan. 20, EPRD camp will be using the west court as needed on those days
Spots are still open in the Tuesday and Saturday pickleball mixers: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/eprd/activity/search?activity_select_param=2&activity_keyword=pickleball&viewMode=list
This is almost too easy
Evergreen Pickleball Club members 65 and over can enjoy support from Grouper and their health plan to cover participation costs and unlock additional benefits
Once your eligibility is confirmed, Grouper will send you an annual payment of $50. Also, for every three months of activity after that, Grouper will send $20, if you keep them updated on your in-person activity. Enroll now at groupergroups.com/EvergreenPB.
2025 USAPA rule changes that affect rec play
USA Pickleball has adopted changes to its official rulebook for 2025. You can view a video on our website that is very helpful in understanding the rule changes. You’ll find it on the Skill Levels and Rules page.
Here are some changes that affect rec play.
Verbal “not ready” signals are now recognized. Previously, once a score had been called there was no way to prevent the point from being played. This resulted in 'quick serves' where the receiver wasn't ready. With this change, you can now say "stop" or "wait," the server must wait to serve the ball. Note that a hand signal is not recognized in this instance.
Change to the definition of a volley. The definition of a volley now explicitly begins at the point of contact with the ball and ends once the follow-through momentum of the swing stops. This means your preparation to hit the ball is not part of a volley.
Scenario 1: Your feet are inside the NVZ when a ball is lobbed above you. You begin to move your paddle up to volley the ball out of the air while moving your feet outside of the kitchen. So long as your feet are re-established at the point the ball hits the paddle, no fault is committed.
Scenario 2: While dinking with your opponents, your paddle scrapes the ground before you volley the ball out of the air. This is no longer considered a fault.
Calling faults on your partner. A fairly simple addition to the rule that you are expected to call faults on your partner just as much as they should own up to it themselves. This one is written with good sportsmanship in mind - so honesty policy in full effect here.
Distractions when preparing to hit a ball. This rule change adds the words 'prepare to hit' to the timeframe a distraction can be called. So now a fault can be called if the offending team causes a distraction during:
the mental concentration of the player before preparing to strike the ball
any physical preparation the player takes before striking the ball
the actual physical act of striking the ball.