Highland Lakes Pickleball: 07/01/2010

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Pickleball Sunday Afternoon 7-11-10

We started our pickleball session today at 2:00 and had 5 players there already. 4 more followed and 2 more were right behind them. The first game started off with Ken and Donna playing Maureen and I. There were 16 players today. Rich and Donna came down to play with us from The Villages. Carolyn, Ed, Bob and Flo came over from Hawthorne and Nancy and Susan came from Legacy. Maureen, Ed, Irene, Jim, Bill, Bob F., Ken and I were all from HL. It was a good turnout and we played till almost 4:30.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Pickleball Tuesday Morning 7-6-10

It seems that our intercommunity play is getting stronger. Ric, Maureen, Bob and Doris joined us from Pembrooke and Susan, Nancy, Frank L., John, and Bob came over from Legacy. The HL players were Mat, Janet, Bill, Joel, Karl, Ken and I. We had a total of 16 pickleball players today.

Pickleball Monday Night 7-5-10

23 pickleball players turned out for some competitive and lively pickleball games. 5 Hawthorne players came over, 6 Legacy players and 1 Water Oaks player joined us. 11 were HL players including 2 grandsons. Those present for the games were Bob, Carolyn, Ed, Gloria and Flo from Hawthorne, Frank L., Susan, Nancy, John, Mark and Frank from Legacy, Mario from Water Oaks, Bob F., Bob M., Cindi, Anita, Beverly, Casey, Dean, Richard, Mat, John, Ken and I were all from HL. Mat and John were the visiting grandsons. It was John's first time to play a racquet type sport and by the end of the evening he was playing very well.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

4TH of July Pickleball Sunday Afternoon

Since it was the 4th of July today we didn't know what to expect as far as pickleball players. Who would come..... but 6 players from Hawthorne came over, 1 from Legacy, and 5 of us from Highland Lakes. We had a great time and lots of very competitive games were played. Mary Alice, Carolyn, Ed, Bob, George & Gloria came over from Hawthorne, Susan came from Legacy, and from HL there was Maurene, Dan, Connie, Ken and Lynn. A total of 12 players.

Pickleball Pictures Thursday Morning 7-1-10

There were 11 pickleball players for Thursday's session. Those present were Cindi, Maurene, Cathy, Mat, Steve & Brad from Pembrook, Judy, Harry, Susan, Ken and Lynn

PICKLEBALL CODE OF ETHICS

Every person involved in pickleball as a participant, official, volunteer, representative of the USAPA or spectator pledges as follows:
I will not engage in unsportsmanlike conduct or encourage others to do so. I will not engage in any behavior that would endanger the health, safety or well being of others. I will not engage in the use of profanity. I will treat others with respect. I will exhibit fairness and honesty in my dealings with others. I will not flaunt my position. I will not use USAPA records or materials for personal gain. I will observe the Golden Rule of doing unto others as I would have them do unto me. The above Code applies in all situations that relate directly or indirectly to pickleball play.

About Pickleball

Whether you have terrible hand-eye coordination or are a racquet sport pro, you will have fun playing pickleball.If you are a novice: The net is set at 34", lower than tennis, and the paddles we play with are solid (composite, graphite, or wood). It is easier to hit the ball where you want it to go in pickleball. We play with a 3" plastic ball similar to a wiffle ball.If you play any sports: You can learn pickleball in less than 5 minutes and start having great rallies, good exercise, and a lot of fun.If you are a tennis player: Pickleball is faster and more fun than tennis. The rallies are longer than in tennis. It can even help your tennis game, especially at the net. The strokes are the same as tennis.

The History of Highland Lakes Pickleball Group

It has already been written about how Pickleball was invented by a U.S. Congressman from Oregon but nothing has been written how it started here at Highland Lakes.
It was introduced by George Hastings around 1993. He posted an ad in our small newsletter asking for people to come out and see what it was all about. As I recall myself and my wife Marie Falcon and Kathy Hart showed up. At that time we only had two courts with thin black lines that you could hardly see from the other end of the court. In time we were able to get better outline courts and were able to increase the courts to four. Through "word of mouth" and advertising we had full courts with as many as eight to ten people waiting to play. We devised a plan of "musical chairs" for people to move up in line to play. In time George Hastings moved back up north and others had to take up the banner of keeping Pickleball going. Our equipment at first was not great. Small thin poles to hold up a flimsy net. Through meetings with the Board of Directors and Reps of Tennis players (since they had an inside court) we were able to get the equipment that we have today. We can write about Pickleball but until you come out and see what it's all about and play it, you won't know just how much fun it is. Come on what are you waiting for?
Joe Falcon

Highland Lakes Pickleball