Author Archives: Bill Booth

Referee Training Course

Sun City Pickleball Club Posted on by

In our capacity as regional Referee Training Coordinators we are trying to gauge interest for an online referee training course, primarily to support the Southwest Regional tournament, but also to increase the number of trained refs for all future tournaments.

The interactive course would utilize the USA Pickleball PowerPoint presentation in one or two sessions totaling 3 to 4 hours. We ask that, prior to the course, participants watch the Referee Quick Start video and read through the Rulebook and Referee Handbook, located in the Officiating section of the USA Pickleball website  (https://usapickleball.org/get-involved/pickleball-officiating/). In order to access the Zoom platform all that is required is a computer and Internet connection; the access code will be provided. The training would take place in January to encompass the newly revised rules. It will be free, but we would expect to elicit an agreement from participants that they would begin to practice their skills during recreational play and eventually at local tournaments, since we cannot meet in person for on-court training. We will also work with Certified refs in the region to connect participants with opportunities for supervised practice and skill assessment for a rating.

Could you please utilize your regional Ambassador organization to spread the word? 

Anyone interested in referee training should contact us at laymonwalden@gmail.com.

Once we have an idea of those interested we will set up a time and date.

Thanks,
Stay safe!

Lynn & Linda Laymon
USA Pickleball Southwest Region
Referee Training Coordinators

Some Safety Guideline Ideas for Court Play

Sun City Pickleball Club Posted on by

Good afternoon Sun City Pickleball Club Members,

Isn’t this great weather for pickleball!!!! Wow, the courts are full!! Lots of people coming back for the “winter’! So, let’s continue to be aware of what safety guidelines have been outlined by our RCSC … and, really, simply, “dittoing” good, smart behaviors during this time of Covid! Please continue to follow those guidelines and “smart sense”!

The Marinette court area has much more space to “social distance” and many spaces to “congregate” and “spread out”, the Mountain View court area is, for now, more limited . . . come on renovations! Many people had expressed some concern about how to continue playing safely at Mountain View and following the safety guidelines with so many people and such a small “social area”. Many people shared their ideas with Dan Haberman and me yesterday during play at the Mountain View courts. Such good “thinkers”! There will be a few “reminder” signs put up . . . thank you Lynda Skaggs!

Here are a few of their ideas:

– Please wear a mask when waiting in the “social area” for the next available court(s),
– Try to maintain “social distancing” . . . some ideas related to to this are:
– please consider waiting just outside the main gate if the “social area” is really “packed”!
– please consider using the far end patio area on the “east” side of the courts – there is a really nice space there!
– That system of individually putting up your paddle on the upper fence area while waiting to play does work great!
– Consider playing a little later in the day –
(some people already are “in play” later at both MN and MV – temps are getting better all day!)

Thank goodness all our pickleball courts are “in the open air”!

A few parting thoughts:

This is such an “unprecedented” time with this coronavirus – it is a bit of a challenge to continue playing pickleball (which we treasure) and following the “safety guidelines” set up to help us stay healthy. Such good ideas – please share any further, positive thoughts . . . We, surely, want to keep all the courts open!

Thank you, already, for following the safety guidelines and, thank you, again, for continuing to follow them! Bravo, Sun City Pickleball Club Members . . . Bravo!

For now,
Dave B

PS – Please vote for the new RCSC Board Member – go Karen McAdam!

Vote for RCSC Board Reminders/Notes

Sun City Pickleball Club Posted on by

Team Pickleball Opportunity:
Yes, there is a new league forming in Surprise – Arizona Pickleball Players League (APPL). This, certainly, presents a great way to work in some competitive play . . . especially in lieu of the current limitations on tournament play! All the information for what the league is all about and the entry information is “spelled out” on our Club website suncitypickleballclub.org . . . take a look . . . very interesting, indeed! Further questions can be addressed to Lis Smoot at 253-241-7577.

RCSC Board of Directors Elections:
Yes, our voting is not over! Please get your votes in for the 2021 RCSC Board – as stated before, Karen McAdam, one of the outstanding members of our Pickleball Club and our Sun City Community is running for a seat on this Board . . . time to vote her in! Online voting begins next Monday, Nov 9 on the RCSC website portal! Her candidate presentation can be found on the RCSC website . . . there is also, tonight, Nov 5, at the Sun Dial Auditorium from 6 – 8 pm, a chance to meet/greet all the candidates running for a Board position. Please, also, consider Dale Lehrer, she is running for re election – her very positive work on the Mountain View renovations is well noted!

Memberships for 2021:
Membership applications must still be filled out for 2021 even though annual dues for 2021 have been “waived” . . . your information can completed easily by going onto our Club website under “Our Club”, click on the join or renew tab. The annual dues for new Club Members will still be $15. Paper applications are also available in the kiosk at Marinette.

Sun City Executive Board Elections:
Our current Club Board . . . Dan Haberman – Member at Large, Lynda Skaggs – Publicity, Evelyn Larsen – Membership, Ann Clark – Secretary, Jan Booth – Treasurer, Tom Jeffers – Vice President, Dave Breault – President, have all volunteered to continue on for 2021 pending Membership approval. There will be an “on line” procedure for all Club Members to vote YAY or Nay with the current Club Board staying on for 2021 . . . SOON! With NO MEMBERSHIP MEETING and the PANDEMIC, our voting procedure has to change! Any questions/concerns/hat-in-the-ring additions, please see anyone on our 2021 Club Nominating Committee – Carol Arinno, Diana Colonna, Joe Gilfillan.

Welcome back Club “Winter Members”:
A great time of year when so many Club Members return to the “Land of the Sun”! Hopefully, Club play/activities will resume in the near future too!

Thanks everyone for following the Safety Guidelines, Court Etiquette and keeping the pickleballs in the coolers when done play . . . the “winters” here are the BEST! Enjoy!

And, yes, we have a new “wind sock” for the courts at Mountain View!

For now,
Dave B

Team Pickleball Opportunity!

Sun City Pickleball Club Posted on by

Arizona Pickleball Players League (APPL) is a new Pickleball League that is going to be starting up in the West Valley at the Surprise Pickleball Courts. There will be 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5/5.0 divisions for men’s and women’s doubles. The women will play on Wednesdays and the men will play on Tuesdays.

The format will be 3 doubles teams competing against another team’s 3 doubles teams. Two games against each of the three teams will be played (6 games total). It is recommended that each team consist of 8-12 players, even though 6 players play each week.

The league will last from January to March, 2021. The cost to play will be a team fee of $150 and Surprise court rental will be about another $150 per team.

In March, the top teams from each division will go on to compete against the top teams from three other Az areas, Casa Grande, East Valley Region, and the Southern Region.

If you would like to form a team, go to the website below to sign up. All teams must be registered by November 15, 2020. Your teams can have players from anywhere in our area, as long as they have the correct rating.

Arizonapickleballplayersleague.org

If you have questions, call or email Lis Smoot at 253-241-7577

Few Notes and a Reminder to Vote

Sun City Pickleball Club Posted on by

Good Sunday Afternoon this November 1st,

Hello to all of you . . . Sun City Pickleball Club Members,

Yes, of course, there is this most important President of the United States of America Election going on and some other extremely important positions to be decided on for this great State of Arizona taking place . . . Yes! If you haven’t already voted, be sure to get your vote in on Tuesday!!! No more needs to be stated about that importance!!!!

Moreover, and however, there is another opportunity for each of you to get your important votes in for the next RCSC Board of Directors. There are 2 opportunities to meet/greet the candidates for our RCSC Board of Directors – the first is tomorrow, Monday, Nov. 2 from 2 – 4 pm and the second is on Thursday, Nov. 5 from 6 – 8 pm . . . both are in the Sun Dial Auditorium. The RCSC Board of Directors Elections will then begin, on line, Monday Nov. 9 through the RCSC Portal Website. Karen McAdam, a member of our Sun City Pickleball Club, is running for one of those positions on the RCSC Board of Directors. Karen has already been a great representative and spokesperson for our Pickleball Club and for the RCSC Community as a whole. Time to get her on the RCSC Board! Get out and vote… her candidate presentation is available on the RCSC Website. Another candidate, Dale Lehrer, the current VP of the RCSC Board, is also up for reelection . . . her positive work on the ad hoc committee for the renovation of Mountain View and the addition of more pickleball courts there have been well noted!

Other Notes:

Please remember to fill out your membership application for 2021. Your membership in our Club is “dues free” for 2021 for all 2020 Club Members in good standing but you still have to fill out the form for 2021. Your information can be completed easily by going on our Club Website suncitypickleballclub.org and sending the completed form directly. You will be given a 2021 sticker soon after!

Thank you Bylaw Committee for all your conscientious and hard work through the summer . . . more on that soon!

Some tournament results . . . recently, in Surprise:
Gold medals awarded to Club Members Patty Evans (2), Bob Thacker (2), Diana Graham and Jan Hodgson – Silver medals awarded to Alice Ritzman and Karen Madison. Congratulations!!!! Well done!!

See you all on the courts . . . we have been doing great sharing courts, social distancing, following the safety guidelines, and taking care of the pickleballs . . . and even the weather is cooperating! BRAVO!

For now,
Dave B

A Few Notes in October–No Membership Meeting–Upcoming Elections

Sun City Pickleball Club Posted on by

Good October Afternoon Sun City Pickleball Club Members,

Ah, we finally are into that great time of year where the weather and outdoor pickleball agree!

Some important information:

Sun City Pickleball Board Elections – In “normal” times, at our October General Membership Meeting (not happening this year), our Club Nominating Committee – Carol Arinno, Diana Colonna, Joe Gilfillan – would present their nominations for our Club Executive Board for 2021. There would also be the opportunity for other Club Members to “throw their hat in the ring” (or “onto the court” as you would!). However, this year, with NO MEETING and the PANDEMIC situation, the procedure for conducting Club Officer elections has changed. The RCSC has given each Club the opportunity to conduct Board elections via the internet. Our Nominating Committee has asked our current Club Executive Board . . . Dan Haberman – Member at Large, Lynda Skaggs – Publicity, Evelyn Larsen – Membership, Ann Clark – Secretary, Jan Booth – Treasurer, Tom Jeffers – Vice President, Dave Breault – President . . . to continue on for 2021. They have all volunteered to continue.
We are working on putting together an “on line” procedure for all Club Members to put in their vote . . .YAY or Nay with the current Executive Board staying on for 2021. More info will be coming on when/how that will happen.

Another Election

Karen McAdam, one of own Sun City Pickleball Club Members, is running for a Director’s Seat on the RCSC Board! As stated in a previous Club email, she has been a great spokesperson and representative of our Pickleball Club over the last few years already! She brings a lot of expertise and experience to that position. Her public presentation is available to view on the RCSC website. There are 2 public, informational meet and greet the candidates at the SUNDIAL Auditorium – the first is Monday, November 2 from 2 – 4 pm and the second is Thursday, November 5 from 6 – 8 pm. RCSC Board elections will begin on Tuesday, November 9 through the RCSC on line portal. Please get out there and vote for Karen. Another candidate, Dale Lehrer, the current RCSC Board VP, is also up for re election….her work on the Ad Hoc Committee for the Mountain View renovation is well noted! This is a link to Karen’s video…

Continue reading →

Club Calendar 2020

Sun City Pickleball Club Posted on by

Good afternoon Sun City Pickleball Club Members,

As anticipated, all our Club Events/Activities have been CANCELED for the remainder of 2020. We were being hopeful and kept all our scheduled events/activities “on hold” until recently….now we are certain, however, our Club Calendar of Events/Activities are now CANCELED. Bummer!!! Of course, this presents some difficulty in how to finish the “business end” of the year as well. This includes the Election of Officers for our Club Board. The RCSC has given all Clubs in Sun City a few acceptable options on how to proceed with the election of Officers. There will be more information on that in October as we approach the usual time for those elections.

As a note, here, our current Club Board has volunteered to continue for the year 2021, if approved, by the Club Membership. The current Club Board of Officers are Dan Haberman – Member At Large, Lynda Skaggs – Publicity, Evelyn Larsen – Membership, Ann Clark – Secretary, Jan Booth – Treasurer, Tom Jeffers – Vice President, Dave Breault – President.

Yes, even as this most difficult year of 2020 comes toward its end, the 2021 calendar has already been set . . . and, with much positive anticipation, will be more, pleasantly, “normal”!?

And, more, we just confirmed that Street Player will, again, play at our Christmas Party in 2021 . . . well, that’s a good “note”!

Keep up the good, safe play on our courts. Who knows how this year will unfold from here . . . stay tuned for any/all updates as they come about . . . .
“as the world turns” – words, so appropriately “ringing” in my head!?

For now,
Dave B

Updates Comments Great News

Sun City Pickleball Club Posted on by

Good Afternoon this Labor Day Weekend,

It has been so fantastic to get back playing doubles on our home courts! Judging from all the Members playing each day at Marinette, there is a lot of agreement here!! In fact, I understand the Mountain View Courts are busy too!!! So very glad to see so many Members back on the courts!

Everyone has been following the guidelines sent out by the RCSC for safe play . . . these guidelines can be found on our Club Website at suncitypickleballclub.org. As I stated in the last email, our Club is NOT officially back in session, yet, but, a lot of how well we follow these guidelines, will have a direct influence in moving toward our Club reopening! No guests are allowed at this time and your check in is monitored by swiping your RCSC identification tag. I know the personnel at our Rec Centers are just as glad we are back as we are!!

As you know, our Round Up Tournament has been CANCELED, however, other events/activities remain in the ON HOLD position. Some of those events/activities are the Club Membership Meeting, Thursday, October 22 . . . . the In House Club Tournament, Monday, Nov 9 . . . . the Volunteer Luncheon, Thursday, Nov 12 . . . . SC/SCW Reciprocal, Sunday, Nov 12 . . . . Club Membership Meeting, Thursday, Dec 3 . . . . the Club Christmas Party, Saturday, Dec 5, and the SC/SCW Reciprocal, Sunday, Dec 15 HAVE NOT BEEN, OFFICIALLY, CANCELED! Yes, they are in certain jeopardy, however, each calendar event/activity will be addressed as their date approaches . . . . STAY TUNED! We can be hopeful!

Once again, we have a CLUB MEMBER – KAREN MCADAM – running for a position on the RCSC BOARD in the upcoming RCSC BOARD elections. Please sign her petition to qualify her for getting her name on the ballot. Karen has, previously, been a great spokesperson representing our Club at RCSC Meetings! She would be a very welcomed member of the RCSC BOARD.

Some GREAT NEWS . . . well, in lieu of such a year as we have had . . . our Club Executive Board has recently, unanimously, decided that NO DUES will be due for the year 2021. This is applicable for every “paid up” Club Member for the 2020 year! BRAVO! Keep in mind, however, that each Club Member must still fill out a membership application for 2021. This is required! The form can be found (and easily completed) by going to our Club Website at suncitypickleballclub.org. The form for filling out the membership information can be found under the link OUR CLUB….JOIN OR RENEW! There will be some “paper” membership forms still available on the kiosk at Marinette also. For new Club Members there will still be a fee of $15 due when joining….new members will receive a name tag. Related to this, anyone who lost or needs another name tag, the fee remains at $7. A reminder, too, that name tags are to be worn at all Club Events/Activities once we get going again. If you need to reorder, this would be an opportune time to get that done! 2021 stickers for your name badge will be given out after your membership form is received.

That is a lot of info . . . for now,
Dave B

Sun City Courts Open for Doubles Play

Sun City Pickleball Club Posted on by

Good Monday afternoon Sun City Pickleball Club Members,

Such GREAT NEWS in case you haven’t heard yet!!! The PICKLEBALL COURTS here in SUN CITY WILL BE OPEN for DOUBLES PLAY starting TOMORROW, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1….And, we are all so happy!.

Bill Booth put the announcement of the RCSC guidelines for pickleball play on our Club Website…..please read them completely and follow the guidelines as presented. The courts are reopening for doubles play, however, Club schedules and activities DO NOT begin at this time. As we all get back to playing back here on our HOME COURTS, it is very important to follow the safety guidelines and responsibly demonstrate our ability to follow SAFE PLAY as outlined in the RCSC bulletin. The starting of any Club activities/events depends on several factors….one, for certain, is that this Coronavirus situation continues to improve and, another is, that we follow the RCSC guidelines as we begin DOUBLES PLAY! BRAVO!

You will need your RCSC MEMBER CARDS to check in as you enter Marinette…if you play at Mountain View, be prepared to show your RCSC MEMBER CARD at the courts if you are asked!

So, we will see you on OUR HOME COURTS soon! We will proceed as we can….stay tuned for more info as it develops!

For now…..with a BIG SMILE, 🙂
Dave B

RCSC Moves into Phase Two of Reopening Plan

Sun City Pickleball Club Posted on by

From RCSC email

On August 27, 2020, Maricopa County met Moderate Reopening Status in the following three metrics: 1) Cases per 100,000 individuals, 2) Percent positivity, and 3) Hospital Visits for COVID-like illnesses in the region allowing RCSC Fitness Centers to reopen with limited capacity on Friday, August 28, 2020 and Recreation Centers of Sun City, Inc. to move into Phase Two of its reopening plan. The following is the criteria for use of RCSC facilities:

REQUIREMENTS FOR USE OF ALL RCSC FACILITIES
Prior to entering RCSC facilities, RCSC has implemented COVID-19 symptom screening with signage. Please read and evaluate whether you meet the criteria to enter RCSC facilities. Anyone with potential symptoms may not enter or use RCSC facilities. High-risk individuals should remain at home.

  • Hand sanitizer is required upon entry to all RCSC facilities and offices. Users may utilize the sanitizer provided by RCSC.
  • A limited number of users may be permitted at one time, once capacity has been reached you may be asked to return later as no congregating is allowed. 
  • Face masks are always required while indoors except in showers, indoor pools and indoor spas. Outdoors face masks are required in the walking pool. Face masks are required to be cloth, fabric or other permeable material and must be worn over the mouth and nose, affixed either over the ears or tied around the head. 
  • Strict 6 feet of physical distancing is required while in the fitness centers, indoor walking track, locker rooms and restrooms regardless if in same family. All other RCSC facilities require a minimum of 6 feet of physical distancing, regardless if in same family, excluding an occasional situation when such is not possible.
  • Required to sanitize before and after use of every RCSC piece of equipment, including seating, counters and tables, utilizing the sanitation method provided by RCSC.
  • No cash accepted for payment.

PICKLEBALL

  • Four players per court (effective 9/1/2020). No use of ball machine(s). No guests allowed.
  • Always requires a minimum of 6 feet of physical distancing, regardless if in same family, excluding an occasional situation when such is not possible.
  • Limited use of seating, benches, tables and chairs with required 6 feet physical distancing regardless if in same family.
  • Cardholders are required to sanitize before and after use of every RCSC piece of equipment, including seating, counters and tables, utilizing the sanitation method provided by RCSC.