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Golden Gate Pickleball November 2024 Newsletter

 

Welcome to the Golden Gate Pickleball Newsletter. Within its digital pages you will find information about upcoming events, results of past events, and a little bit of entertainment, too.

GGP's mission is to facilitate the growth of pickleball in the San Francisco Bay Area. We offer organized recreational and competitive play for the enjoyment, health, and social engagement of all players in a collegial and sportsman-like environment. We are also working to expand facilities and programs to meet the growing needs of our pickleball community.

We are an all volunteer organization. Ninety-five percent of your donations will go directly to program and community activities.


 

UPCOMING EVENTS


December 3, 2024: GIVING TUESDAY

Giving Tuesday, which is the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, is a global generosity movement which aims to unleash "the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world." Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day to do good. Since then, it has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and to celebrate generosity.

With your generous donation to GGP we can continue to provide a wide variety of pickleball activities to the greater community; activities such as Drill and Play, beginner clinics, and our youth program. Your contribution is a vital part of our mission and we couldn't do it without you. 

We hope to raise $20,000 to help support our various clinics and drill sessions, as well as the youth program in which we send GGP coaches to the local schools with all the equipment and instructional support the kids will need. 

Join the movement and give, whether it's some of your time, a donation, an idea, or the power of your voice as an advocate for GGP.

 

February 2025

GGP Presents

"Dinkin' in the Fog" Series Tournament

Mark your calendars for the second weekend of February when GGP plans to host another thrilling tournament. Stay tuned for more details and get ready to join the fun!

 

COMPLETED EVENTS

Block Parties

On October 20, 2024, GGP set up a court in Glen Park, and brought along a Dink Master. The Dink Master was a huge hit, especially with the kids.

That event was so successful, Todd and William set up AND taped a full court at another block party. It, too, was a big success.

Not only does our participation in these parties give back to our community, but we see evidence that we are nurturing some burgeoning talent in our San Francisco youth.

 

ON GOING ACTIVITIES

Drill and Play

GGP continues to offer free pickleball instruction at a level you won't find elsewhere. We believe everyone should have the chance to learn pickleball and its rules. By providing these Drill and Play opportunities, we're bringing more joy and fun to the courts, and we invite you to be a part of it.

These Drill and Play sessions are led by Huy Le. Check out the latest video spotlighting Huy. Learn how GGP has changed his life, and how teaching has become a passion for him. You can find the video on our website: Goldengatepickleball.org, or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldengatepickleball/.  

Drill and Play sessions are held at Louis Sutter from 7:30 am-9 am, Monday through Thursday. You may sign up at www.playtimescheduler.com. Levels: 3.0 on Mondays, 3.25 on Tuesdays, 3.5 on Wednesdays, and 3.75 on Thursdays.

 

Women’s Drill and Play

GGP is offering a free all-female Drill and Play on Wednesdays from 12:00-1:30. 

  • Skill level: 2.75-3.25 led by Lisa Shaw.

  • It's a great group of women!

Lisa is working on strategy and skill development. Starting in November, she will be adding a simple round robin in which she will coach players in actual game situations.

If you are new to the area, it is an excellent opportunity to meet people and enjoy some friendly competition. Who knows, you might even meet your new best friend or tournament partner.

Sign up here and join the fun! www.playtimescheduler.com, look for the brown circle on playtime scheduler on Wednesdays that says 2.75-3.5 12:00-1:30.

If there is enough interest, Lisa will also start a beginner clinic.  If you are just starting out and wish to learn pickleball, we will set up a free clinic. (We need a minimum of four players.) Please let Golden Gate Pickleball know if you and/or a group of you are interested at goldengatepickleballclubsf@gmail.com.

 

Challenge Court

The Challenge Court continues at Louis Sutter on Saturday mornings at 8:00am. Donuts, coffee, and other snacks will be provided courtesy of GGP.

 



Youth Program

We are excited to announce our new partnership with Joola. Joola has provided us with two complete packages for the local schools. These packages include 16 paddles, two nets, and 100 balls. One set is already spoken for, but we have a set ready to go. 

With the Joola equipment, we are now able to send out one of our teaching pros to help the PE department of a local school introduce its students to Pickleball. We hope this instruction and equipment will foster the development of the next generation of pickleball players.

GGP's ultimate goal is to make Pickleball a varsity sport at Bay Area high schools — following in the footsteps of what Joola has accomplished in Maryland. See: Pickleball Joins the Varsity Roster in Montgomery County Public School - JOOLA USA.

If you know a school that is interested in adding pickleball to its PE classes, please contact:

 

Paddle Tales

Pickleball Etiquette – We’ve Got it All Wrong

by Twila Slesnick

It’s amusing to me that there’s a debate about whether or not a player should apologize to an opponent for hitting a winner off the net cord. Those who support apologizing argue that you are simply acknowledging you didn’t win the point because of your skill. You simply won the point because the net gods were on your side.

Those who argue against an apology might say: “Why apologize for good luck? It can happen to any player.” Or perhaps, “If we all apologized for every accidental winner (think “mishits”), the court would be noisy indeed.”  Or even, “It’s not pure luck. Good topspin and speed will often help a player’s ball over the net.”

I recently saw an informal survey of pickleball players on this topic, and 80% of respondents did not believe it was necessary to apologize for a net cord winner.  I count myself among the majority. In fact, it’s a big effort for me to avoid pumping my fists and shouting WHOO HOOO!

On the other hand, there was quite a dust-up in at New Zealand’s premier tennis tournament when a player failed to apologize for a net cord winner and his opponent took umbrage. The opinion of the masses -- in the forums and on social media -- overwhelmingly supported the player who wanted an apology.

It’s not just a net cord issue, though. What about tagging?  As for me, If I tag someone’s big toe with the ball and then issue an apology, I would probably just start laughing.

In my mind, saying “sorry” in those situations is simply conventional and has little to do with sportsmanship. I’m interested in real sportsmanship.

So what sorts of behaviors call for an apology? Here are some examples of boorishness I have actually witnessed:

  • Screaming “Yeah!” or “Let’s go!” or “C’mon” when the opponent makes an unforced error. It’s one thing to celebrate your own skillful shot, but quite another to celebrate your opponent’s error. Sounds a lot like taunting.

  • Throwing the ball as far away from the opponents as you can when it is their turn to serve so they have to chase it.

  • Sulking because you don’t like how your partner is playing. This includes behaviors such as rolling your eyes, throwing your hands in the air in obvious frustration, playing to lose, or walking off the court in the middle of a game claiming injury (or disgust).

  • Refusing to tap paddles after a game because your opponent questioned one of your line calls.

  • Telling a referee that you’ve never met anyone more stupid than he, AND you know where he lives.

  • Throwing your paddle at your dad when you lose.

But context is (almost) everything. Let’s say you are playing with your three best pickleball friends with whom you’ve been playing for years. Every time you take the court, the trash-talking begins. Net cord winners are celebrated. Tagging only requires an apology if you draw blood.  If you are lucky enough to have a group like this, you will probably notice that a comment like “Great shot!” delivered to an opponent is just as common as a chest-pounding “C’mon!”  And I bet you never miss a paddle tap at the end.

 

Having Your Say

Tournament Tips from a Noob 2.25 Pickleball Coach

By Huy Le

You might not know me. I’m a 2.25 teaching coach. I play pickleball too. And yes, I have a DUPR rating. But whether I have a high DUPR or a low DUPR, you still might be interested in these tournament tips I have for you.

  • Tip #1: DUPR is just a number. Nothing more. Don’t let it get in the way of your game. Don’t be intimidated by another player’s DUPR and don’t be arrogant about your own. Tomorrow it might be different.

  • Tip #2: WIN as a team and LOSE as a team. No matter how the game goes, in the end, the credit for the win (or blame for the loss) belongs to the team, not to the individual player. With this philosophy, everyone will play their best game.

  • Tip #3: Play smarter not harder. If you come to a tournament with a strategy in mind, but it doesn’t work, change it! Don’t be stubborn.

  • Isolating the stronger player might allow you to win. Targeting the weaker player might allow you to win. But sometimes those strategies don’t work. In the end, shot selection wins the day. The best strategy is to make the right shot at the right time, whether it goes to the stronger player or the weaker player.  

  • Similarly, if dinking is your strength but you know you are playing against a better dinker, don’t jump into a dinking battle with him.

  • Tip #4: Don’t assume you will win just because you know your opponents’ game and play against them often. They have been paying attention, too, and they might know you better than you know them.

  • Tip #5: Use rec games to work on your skills. Don’t assume that because you are king of the rec court, you will also be king of the tournament. If you do make that assumption, you will be very disappointed when you play in your first tournament.

  • Tip #6: When you do go to a tournament, play the best you can, treat your opponents with respect, and accept losing as a lesson you can use to improve your game.

 

If you like what GGP is doing for pickleball and community, you may donate here: https://www.goldengatepickleball.org/donate




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