PICKLEBALL IN THE VILLAGES with George Brewer
Things I would change about Pickleball if I were King:
It doesn’t make sense to me that you have to be serving in order to score a point.. Its the only sport left that doesn’t reward the player when they win their volley. At one time you had to be serving in volleyball to score but that recently changed. What would you think about awarding a point to the team that wins the rally whether they are serving or not? Using this new format the game is gona be over in a lot less time so I vote that the winner would be the first team to score 15, maybe 18 or even 21 points. Having to win by 2 is up to you. All the other rules of PB remain the same. What’s your thoughts?
Playing singles is hard enough in the winter but add the summer temperatures to that equation and there are not many singles match’s played even when the cooler Fall temperatures arrive. One of the ideas being discussed with the Florida Senior Games Commission is to play a "ground strokes only" singles format to encourage more players to "ease" into singles and increase "singles" participation in the State Games. Besides reducing the amount of running required, it would sharpen your volleying skills and opening up a whole new game during the summer season when there are fewer players on the courts. There is no reason the "volley only" rule can’t be "tested" in doubles as well in order to reduce the pace of the game.
A lot more Villagers are trying "Australian Doubles" (sometime called Cutthroat). If you haven’t tried it, or never heard of it, here’s an overview. Its played between three (3) players. The player serving is on one side of the court by themselves and plays against the two other players across the net from them. The player serving gets two faults before having to rotate to the opposite (receiving) side of the court. Players rotate clockwise to assume new serving and receiving positions. The server continues to score until two faults are made. The game ends when any player scores eleven (11) points and wins by two (2) points or more. This can be a very intense game and a real workout compared to a "normal" doubles game.
Heck, while we are at trying different things, lets change the way we organize PB league play. Or, at least try something new in addition to the way leagues have always been structured. Here’s my suggestion:
Each team in the league would be CO-ED and consist of a Team Captain (non-playing), three advance players, three Intermediate players and three Beginner players. Playing levels will be determined by an on-court evaluation session (rating) by Team Captains and REC staff members prior to the teams being drafted. The reason there are 3 players on each level is players can be rotated on/off the court by their Captains during the game for consultation, rest or retirement. Also, its less likely that a league game would be forfeited with 3 players at each level. Advance players would play against other teams Advance players, Intermediate players against intermediate players, etc. Team Captains are responsible for Coaching their players by holding practice sessions prior to league play beginning, as well as during the season. That should mean players skill levels would grow during the League season. Matches will be played best 3 out of 5 with one point per playing level awarded to the winning team for a maximum of three points awarded per match. If you like this concept, go to the Rec Department and give them your opinion. Lets see what happens.
Pickleball news
The Hedstrum Company (one of two companies in the USA that make Pickleball balls) went out of business late last year. The other USA ball company, COSMO, makes indoor balls only. That means the Singapore Ball (Malaysia) would be the only source for outdoor balls. The good news is the X-employee’s of The Hedstrum Co. have acquired the old ball molding equipment and will be back in business soon. Â
Village resident Patrick McCawley has resigned his position as Director of PB for the Florida Sr. Games effective January 2006. Under Patrick’s leadership, in just three years, PB went from an "Exhibition sport" to the Games most popular event that attracts more players now than any other sport. A new PB Director has been chosen and will be announced after the 2005 Games. Congratulations Patrick.
C U on D Courts……..George Brewer
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