Highland Lakes Pickleball: Jay Readinger of Highland Lakes becomes USAPA Ambassador to NW Colorado.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Jay Readinger of Highland Lakes becomes USAPA Ambassador to NW Colorado.

Congratulation's to Jay Readinger from your friends at HL Pickleball.

Read Jay's story on Pickleball below...

Our own Jay Readinger is the new USAPA Ambassador to NW Colorado.

He can play and teach the game.

Jay & Karen all decked out for St. Patrick's Day.

We will miss you Jay when you leave but your always welcome to come back anytime.

Finding and Enjoying An Exercise Addiction

When my wife Mary Lou and I decide to park our sailboat in Newfoundland for the winter and come to Florida to spend the cold months with my mother at Highland Lakes, one of our ambitions was to try to get the regular exercise that living on a boat full time does not offer. We arrived in early December and in addition to walking the dog and riding bikes we discovered this crazy game called Pickleball soon after our arrival. By the end of December we were hooked and playing four or five times a week.

Thanks to the welcoming (and patient) Pickleball group at HL we were able to learn the rules and etiquette of the game quickly. With about 20 years of racquetball and squash in Jay's background he was able to get the basics down fairly quickly. One of the pleasures of playing at HL has been the ability to play both indoors and outdoors. We did venture over to the Villages for a group lesson with State Champion Deb Harrison. The lesson was well worth the time and effort, and we try to get in a couple of practice sessions a week (mostly outdoors) to continue learning the basic strokes and strategy. Rounding out our Pb workouts has been a weightlifting program that not only increases stamina on the court but has helped, we believe, in injury prevention.

Recently, we made the decision to accept a job share opportunity at the Lowell Whiteman School in Steamboat Springs, Colorado which will put us near one of our four children and a grandchild expected in late July of this year. Since we will be working at a private school with a nice gymnasium that seems just about right for three Pb courts, it seemed logical to become a United States Pickleball Association (USAPA) Ambassador so that we can connect with other Pb'ers in Colorado and hopefully begin both a school program and a community program.

Jay has really enjoyed teaching the game to some of the newcomers at HL and with a coaching background has become an avid student of this great game we call Pickleball. So, if your travel plans call for a trip to NW Colorado and you are looking for a Pb session, get in touch with us through the Ambassador section of the USAPA.org website and come play.

Jay Readinger

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

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Jay Readinger of Highland Lakes becomes USAPA Ambassador to NW Colorado.

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