Northern Illinois Pickleball

Saint Charles Pickleball Playdates February 2012

2012-02-02T17:30:00.000-06:00

Meghan Papke, CPRP
Community Center Supervisor
St. Charles Park District
Phone: 630-513-4330
Fax: 630-513-9304

Saint Charles Skills & Drills Clinic

2012-01-19T18:28:00.000-06:00

Saint Charles Pickleball Playdates January 2012

2012-01-03T16:18:00.003-06:00

Meghan Papke

CPRPCommunity Center Supervisor

St. Charles Park District

Phone: 630-513-4330

Fax: 630-513-9304

Zion Park District Pickleball Tournament Ends With A Smash!!

2011-12-13T18:32:00.000-06:00

The first ever pickleball tournament took place at the Zion Community Center in Illinois. It was held on Sunday, December 11^th, 2011 from 9am – 1pm. The event was an interchangeable partner doubles tournament. The skill level was 3.5 and above and was open to 20 participants. The event filled up fast! I was pleased with all the participants.

Participants came from Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. Some of the cities were Rockford, St. Charles, Zion, Libertyville, Wheeling, etc… Some other USAPA Ambassadors showed up like Tom Roebuck from Indiana and Dick Larson from Chicagoland Suburbs. The ball used was a lime green jugs ball and USAPA rules were implemented. There were 4 courts with USAPA portable nets.

The format consisted of two rounds of play, one being the preliminary and one being the final round. Every court in the preliminary had 5 players on it of similar abilities. So all courts were even as far as ability. All Players played 8 times, 4 times in the preliminary and 4 times in the final round. Everyone played to 15 by 1 and switched sides at 8. Moreover, every participant got to sit out once in each round.

However you did in the preliminary round determined what court you went to in the final round, red, green, blue or orange. Each court had one winner. The top 3 winners on each court were:

RED GREEN BLUE ORANGE

1 Sebastian Krywicki 1 Ben Park 1 Larry White 1 Tom Angelos

2 Jessie Sandoval 2 Rusty Rose 2 John Freed 2 Felicia Mascatelli

3 Tony Cartwright 3 David Kinser 3 Tammy Dean 3 Mary Edwards

I am very proud of all the people who came out to promote this lifelong sport. I was very pleased with all the participants’ competitive spirit, sportsmanship, and respect of other players. Everyone enjoyed themselves and had a great time. If given an opportunity, this fun sport named Pickleball will continue to grow.

Thanks to the USAPA, thanks to Zion Park District, thanks to the volunteers and outside ambassadors, and a special thanks to everyone who participated in the tournament!

Click here for complete results.

USAPA Ambassador / Tournament Director / Zion Park District

Richard A. Tandecki

Singled Out In Tucson

2011-12-07T17:50:00.001-06:00

Women's Singles 4.0 is usually an event that struggles for participants, and the Voyager Holiday Skill Level Pickleball Tournament was no exception. Originally, six women had signed up, but by the time we actually played, we were down to three participants due to weather and other schedule conflicts.

Singles isn't my game; I much prefer Doubles. I get a rhythm in Doubles. I thrive on the fast-paced action, the soft net play, and the coveted overhead smash when your opponents make the mistake of hitting too high. If you make a mistake, your partner picks you up in the next rally. Singles is a completely different strategy. You don’t rush the line, you work your way up to the net with angled shots. It’s all on you.

Women's Singles had been rained out on Friday, so we were pushed to Sunday morning. We were to report to the courts at 8am, and I had a flight to catch home at 3:15pm. I was already familiar with my opponents, Terry and Rhoda, as I had met them Thursday afternoon in the Women's Doubles bronze medal match.

First, I played Terry. We met on the cold 36 degree court that was blanketed with monochrome fog. I hadn’t planned on playing Pickleball in gloves in the southern part of Arizona. Terry was a little late showing up to the courts as she was in the middle of making breakfast when she recalled our rain date. Perhaps my breakfast helped me push past her. I won the match 11-8, 11-3.

The sun started to peak through the fog, and Rhoda and I were given the option of changing to a different court. We looked it over, decided the asphalt was too damp, and went back to the original court where the baseline was dry. We talked during warm up, and Rhoda said that she also played Tennis. You could tell from her strokes that Singles was her game. Rhoda had well-placed angles, even in warm up; I knew this would be tough. We had our referee briefing at the net, and Rhoda said, “Be safe”. Perhaps I was a little too safe. I played baseline defense and never approached the net. Rhoda won the match 11-4, 11-1.

Next, I was to play Terry again. Terry had the fortune of resting on the sidelines and studying my match against Rhoda. We were to play best two out of three games to eleven points. Line judges were in place as this was a bronze medal match. Terry approached with better shot selection and more strategy. She consistently hit to my backhand in the far corner and played strong offense. I squeaked out the first game 12-10.

In the second game, Terry served first, and she raced up to a 6-0 lead. I just couldn't manage to get the serve from her. Timeout. A small crowd started to gather around our court. Terry's cheering section was quite large as these were her home courts. Applause erupted with each of Terry's winning shots. There were cheers of Terry's name. My cheering section consisted of two people - Mama Freed and Caryn, my partner from Women's Doubles. Talk about being the underdog, but this dog wasn't going down without a fight. I fought, but the final score was in Terry's favor 12-10.

Onto the third game, and we were pretty evenly matched. Someone from the crowd said that they were really getting their money’s worth from the entertainment of our match. More people started to gather. I was up 8-5. Then, Terry took the reigns and raced past me with a 9-8 lead. I took a timeout to stop her momentum. With her next serve, I moved her around the court and obtained side out. With serve in hand, I talked myself through it mentally. Patience. Move my feet. Deep breath. I won the next two points and was up 10-9.

You could see the frustration in Terry, but I didn't let that into my head. The momentum wasn't mine, and I just needed to play my game. Side out. Terry's serve. She approached the net and took the next point. Tied. 10-10. This was a nail biter if there ever was one. The crowd now cheered equally for us. Side out. My serve. Breathe. Point. The referee announced, "Potential game and match point, 11-10". I served, and Terry ran cross court for my return. She returned to my forehand, and I placed the shot in the opposite corner. Point, game, match! A fight to the end, 12-10, 10-12, 12-10.

No rest for the weary. I was about to play my fourth match in a row with little breaks in between. Next up was the gold medal match against Rhoda. I wasn’t looking forward to this as she had previously beaten me so solidly. The next match is a bit of a blur. I tried to calm myself with each serve. Believe. Breathe. I either played well from not having any breaks, or Rhoda had too long of a break. I beat her 11-7, 11-9.

Now Rhoda and I were tied at one loss a piece, and we needed to play a tie-breaker. One game to 15 points, switch sides at 8 points. We were waiting for our match to be called, and they scheduled another match for the court on which we stood. We explained to the referee that I needed to leave, and he ran to the scorer’s table to have the schedule modified.

Rhoda won the toss and chose serve. I settled on the sunny side first. We were fairly even, and then she raced passed me at 8-3. It was time to switch sides. I would have liked to have blamed my score on the sun, but my game just wasn’t there. I was tired. I was distracted by the fact that I had to leave in a ½ hour, only to drive to the airport that was two hours away. The change of scenery helped me a bit. I fought back and regained some of my dignity. Finally, Rhoda defeated me 15-10.

One might think that it would be easy to medal when there are only three players, but there is a story behind every game, and I took the longest road possible to finish in second place. A grueling three hours of play. My quadriceps and glutes hurt for two days afterward. But, it was all for the love of Pickleball.

Shalda Nelson's Farewell

2011-11-19T10:46:00.002-06:00

Many of us got hooked on pickleball somewhere else. Like Shalda Nelson, who started the movement in Rockford along with a handful of her local golfing friends. She and her husband, Roger, took up the game as snowbirds at The Villages in Florida -- and loved it. “Shalda got us up to speed on the rules and we started chalking courts and playing wherever we could,” says Susan Sallmen. Shalda took the initiative to make the first contact with Jay Sandine at the Rockford Park District and get the ball rolling with an open house at the Guilford Tennis Center in July2009 to introduce pickleball to the public. More than 70 interested folks showed up on a cold, windy evening to see a demonstration and play the game. Shalda and many new, enthusiastic picklers dedicated their time and energy to recruit other players, attend Park Board meetings, participate in many local demonstrations to spread the word and promote this great game! This August we said a great big thank you and good-bye to Shalda Nelson as she and Roger moved permanently to The Villages. Click here to see more photos!

Saint Charles Pickleball Tournament Results

2011-11-17T17:30:00.001-06:00

Hello, Picklehood!

The results of the Saint Charles Pickleball tournament are posted. Please see the link below here.

http://www.northernillinoispickleball.com/news-at-nip/saintcharlestournamentresults

Zion Pickleball Tournament

2011-11-11T17:00:00.002-06:00

Zion Park District "Doubles" Pickleball Tournament

Date: Sunday, December 11th, 2011

Time: 9am - 1pm

Location: Zion Park District Sports Arena

Click here for complete details and a registration form.

Pickleball at Loves Park Playground

2011-11-09T19:00:00.001-06:00

Hello, Picklehood!

Fantastic news! The six brand new Pickleball courts at Loves Park Playground are complete! WOHOO! The facility really is spectacular! The park is at the corner of Pearl Ave and Hollis Ave in Loves Park, IL. Google maps shows the an old satellite picture of the former lumber yard. Click here for a map.

Now the bad news - the park is still under construction. So please respect the construction zone and continue to play at Sinnissippi until spring. The park is one giant muddy mess as the grass seed has not yet been planted. Rockford Park District will likely have a dedication ceremony in mid to late spring, once the grass is established.

Thanks for your cooperation in this matter.

Respectfully,

Northern Illinois Pickleball

Saint Charles Pickleball Playdates November 2011

2011-10-31T19:38:00.000-05:00

Greetings from the St. Charles Park District,

Below you will find the November Pickleball Open Gym schedule. A few Pickleball players have expressed their interest in working on skills and drills during Pickleball open gym. If you are interested please contact Joy Duerr or Ron Davis. The suggested time for this practice would be during MWF 2:30-3:55pm open gym since there are 4 courts available, one of which could be used for skills and drills practice.

October 30	October 31	November 1	November 2	November 3	November 4	November 5
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym And 7:30-9pm Half Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-Noon Half Gym

November 6	November 7	November 8	November 9	November 10	November 11	November 12
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym And 7:30-9pm Half Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-Noon Half Gym

November 13	November 14	November 15	November 16	November 17	November 18	November 19
Thanksgiving Pickleball Tournament	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym And 7:30-9pm Half Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-Noon Half Gym

November 20	November 21	November 22	November 23	November 24	November 25	November 26
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	Thanksgiving PCC Closed	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym PCC closes at 4pm	8am-Noon Half Gym

November 27	November 28	November 29	November 30	December 1	December 2	December 3
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym And 7:30-9pm Half Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-Noon Half Gym

Thanks,

Meghan Papke, CPRP
Community Center Supervisor
St. Charles Park District
Phone: 630-513-4330
Fax: 630-513-9304

Saint Charles Pickleball Playdates Updated October 2011

2011-09-30T21:00:00.003-05:00

Hello,

I reviewed the Pottawatomie Community Center gym schedule to find another evening where Pickleball open gym could take place. Please see the updated pickleball open gym schedule for added dates/times.

As a reminder, pickleball open gym has been approved to consistently be held on MWF from 2:30-3:55pm. Any additional dates to hold pickleball open gym are a bonus, but not guaranteed. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding when the pickleball open gym schedule changes on the “bonus” days.

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

October 2	October 3	October 4	October 5	October 6	October 7	October 8
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym and 7-9pm Half Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-Noon Half Gym

October 9	October 10	October 11	October 12	October 13	October 14	October 15
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym and 7-9pm Half Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-Noon Half Gym

October 16	October 17	October 18	October 19	October 20	October 21	October 22
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym and 7:30-9pm Half Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-Noon Half Gym

October 23	October 24	October 25	October 26	October 27	October 28	October 29
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym and 7-9pm Half Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-Noon Half Gym

Open Gym Rules:

Open gym schedules are subject to change to accommodate Park District programs.
Only water is allowed in the gym. No other food or beverages are permitted.
No dunking or hanging on the rim.
Youth, ages 11 and younger, must be accompanied by an adult, ages 16 or older.
Participant misconduct, use of foul language, fighting, and rough housing are not permitted.
The St. Charles Park District reserves the right to revoke membership and/or daily privileges without refund for failure to abide by the rules and regulations.
On busy days, a gym max applies.
10 Visit pass is valid for 1 year from issue date.
*Pickleball participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult ages 18 and older.
All Park District Open Gym passes expire after one year from purchase date.

Call 630-513-6200 for more information.

Visit www.stcparks.org for weekly open gym dates and times!

Take care,

Meghan Papke, CPRP
Community Center Supervisor
St. Charles Park District
Phone: 630-513-4330
Fax: 630-513-9304

Wisconsin Senior Olympic Results 2011

2011-09-29T18:35:00.002-05:00

Below are the results of the Wisconsin Senior Olympics that were held on Saturday, September 10th. Many of the winners were from Illinois! Congratulations to all participants!

Saint Charles Pickleball Playdates October 2011

2011-09-26T21:40:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone,

Below you will find the October Pickleball Open Gym Schedule. Please note there is not Picklball Open Gym on Tuesday evenings during the month of October. Some of you may already know, but I ordered 3 USAPA pickleball standards today!

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

October 2	October 3	October 4	October 5	October 6	October 7	October 8
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-Noon Half Gym

October 9	October 10	October 11	October 12	October 13	October 14	October 15
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-Noon Half Gym

October 16	October 17	October 18	October 19	October 20	October 21	October 22
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-Noon Half Gym

October 23	October 24	October 25	October 26	October 27	October 28	October 29
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-Noon Half Gym

Thanks,

Meghan Papke, CPRP
Community Center Supervisor
St. Charles Park District
Phone: 630-513-4330
Fax: 630-513-9304

Be Still A German Pickleball Girl's Heart!

2011-09-13T17:30:00.008-05:00

Last night we had a very small group of players travel to the Janesville Pickleball courts for our continued venture of the Pickleball Exchange Program. It turned out to be a week that many regular NIP players were busy with family duties or vacations. Traveling to the courts was hindered by a large accident on I90 near the state line that brought traffic to a snail’s pace.

It was a beautifully warm September evening of about 85°F. The sun was shining with a few stretches of white clouds. The southern winds held over 15 miles per hour, and the wind screens did little to disrupt the flow. Serving on the north side required Popeye arm strength, but lobs that would have normally been out of bounds were generously pushed back in bounds. Playing on the south side of the courts required finesse else your shot be sent sailing to the back fence. Players switched sides at six points to give everyone a fair shake with the weather conditions. Players fueled up on fruit and snacks and did it all over again.

Afterward we enjoyed dinner and drinks at the locally owned Milwaukee Grill. Who wouldn't love a restaurant that greets you with a martini glass on the sign? Of course, it wouldn't be a proper Wisconsin establishment without a celebratory tap offering of their finest beer from Capital Brewing, Lake Louie, New Glarus, and Leinenkugel. The menu offered a variety of American cuisine with tributes to Wisconsin's rich German culture. Meatloaf served with Pub Ale gravy, a Reuben and other Wisconsin cheddar smothered sandwiches, and seafood from the Great Lakes. Among the notable menu items was a ½ pound burger topped with a char grilled Wisconsin brat and grilled onions. With dinner entrees they offered potato pancakes garnished with applesauce or sour cream. Be still a German Pickleball girl's heart!

During dinner we talked about hobbies outside of Pickleball (who knew?). We also discussed means of effective Pickleball group communications, and tactics of how to gather feedback from our Picklehoods through surveys. We look forward to more exchanges and growing friendships!

Thanksgiving Pickleball Tournament

2011-09-01T17:00:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving Pickleball Tournament
Sunday, November 13, 2011
11am to 4pm

Hosted by:
Saint Charles Park District
Pottawatomie Community Center
8 North Avenue
St. Charles, IL 60174-1251

See the link for details and registration form:
http://www.northernillinoispickleball.com/tournaments/schedules/local/2011/stcharles111311

Saint Charles Pickleball Playdates September 2011

2011-08-29T17:25:00.000-05:00

Greetings from the St. Charles Park District,

Below you will find the September Pickleball Open Gym schedule. As a friendly reminder our Preschool program starts after Labor Day, when the weather turns cooler the preschoolers will have their reserved gym time right before Pickleball on MWF. At that time we ask that Pickleball players wait until 2:30pm before they enter the gym for Pickleball open gym.

Thanks for your help! :o)

Sunday September 4	Monday September 5	Tuesday September 6	Wednesday September 7	Thursday September 8	Friday September 9	Saturday September 10
	PCC Closed for the Holiday	6-9pm Half Gym	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-noon Half Gym

Sunday September 11	Monday September 12	Tuesday September 13	Wednesday September 14	Thursday September 15	Friday September 16	Saturday September 17
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	6-9pm Half Gym	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-noon Half Gym

Sunday September 18	Monday September 19	Tuesday September 20	Wednesday September 21	Thursday September 22	Friday September 23	Saturday September 24
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	6-9pm Half Gym	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-noon Half Gym

Sunday September 25	Monday September 26	Tuesday September 27	Wednesday September 28	Thursday September 29	Friday September 30	Saturday October 1
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	6-9pm Half Gym	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-noon Half Gym

Meghan Papke, CPRP
Community Center Supervisor
St. Charles Park District
Phone: 630-513-4330 Fax: 630-513-9304

Pickleball Exchange Program: Janesville

2011-08-17T17:30:00.019-05:00

NIP initiated a Pickleball Exchange Program (P.E.P.) where a fluctuating group of players travels and is hosted by another city. The intention of this program is to play with different people and to help take your game to a higher level. We also hope to cultivate Pickleball friendships, and expand networking opportunities.

We made our first trip to Janesville, WI on Monday, August 15, 2011 and it was well received. It was a beautifully warm summer night with clear skies and hardly a breeze. A night enjoyed by land or by air.

There were nine NIP players that traveled to Marshall Middle School and took on the Janesville players. We played Pickleball and developed new friendships. All five courts were filled with players and laughter. We had so many players that there was a wait to get a court. Some welcomed the break between games.

Janesville was very hospitable and offered umbrellas for shade and unlimited cups of water to wet our whistles. Playing on Tennis courts striped for Pickleball brought back not so distant memories of playing at Harlem Middle School in Loves Park when NIP was in its infancy. After playing multiple games, a smaller group of P.E.P. players made their way to Hacienda Real in Janesville for dinner and spirits.

We are looking forward to hosting the Janesville players on a Saturday morning, August 27th at 10am. We will play until 12:30pm, then head to lunch at Backyard Grill in Loves Park. (Rain date of September 17th).

NIP Players that attended our first exchange: Barb C., Nancy H., Ann C., Dave K., Pat & John F., Tommy C., Tammy D., and me.

Thank you for participating in the Pickleball Exchange Program and making our first trip a success! Click here for more pictures.

Respectfully,
Jennifer

Review of Northern Illinois Pickleball Round Robin Tournament 2011

2011-08-08T18:00:00.002-05:00

Dear NIP players,

We had 52 participants in the Northern Illinois Pickleball Round Robin Tournament on Saturday, July 30, 2011. We hosted local players from Rockford and the Chicago suburbs. We also drew players from Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, Utah and Louisiana. I appreciate your participation in making this a successful event.

I would like to thank our sponsors for their donations to our event:

Culligan – Rock Valley
Panera Bread
Mary’s Market
Great Harvest Bread
Hinkley Spring
Minute Man Press

Thank you to Connie Jacobs, Sherry Guzzardo, and Michael and Melissa Peterson for your personal efforts in acquiring these donations.

Our tournament showcased the first class Sinnissippi Pickleball Center that was built by the Rockford Park District in 2010. The Rockford Park District showed great support for our tournament by partnering with us months in advance. They provided First Aid and AED training to Leigh Ann Heidemann, Sarah White, and me. They also provided the use of an AED the day of the tournament. Our partnership afforded us the use of a 16’ x 16’ tent, public announcement system, and other needed equipment. Thank you to the staff of the Rockford Park District for your constant support of the growth of Pickleball in our community; we sincerely appreciate it. Jay Sandine, Tonya Reuber, Heidi Saavedra, Laura Gibbs Green, Lamont Jones, and all those that help to support your positions. Thank you.

The Mixed Generation bracket was the most popular bracket and all seemed to enjoy it. The bracket required that teammates be a minimum of 18 years difference in age. We had a wonderful turnout of family members. There were two father-daughter teams, a mother-son team, a father-son team and two mother-in-law and son-in-law teams. The bracket ran fairly smoothly and I was pleased with the results.

Lunch was provided to participants by Backyard Grill & Bar that performed on-site grilling. The food was first rate and we heard many compliments from participants. Their staff was on time, served early, and was very professional.

Next up was the Men’s and Women’s Doubles. We were short on referees and I pulled myself from the score table to referee games and literally dumped the score table on the volunteers. They had a large task with trying to pair scores sheets with faces that they didn’t know. A special thank you to Leigh Ann Heidemann, Kirshna Selchow, and Kelly Detweiler who did an excellent job of keeping the courts filled throughout the afternoon.

Thank you to the referees who were active all afternoon. Many of you were players, local and distant, and some were just spectators who volunteered throughout the afternoon. A special thanks to Amy Peil who was a diligent referee.

We have come up with a few ideas to make the score table run more smoothly. I would like to request that more participants and non-participants take an active role in refereeing games to have future tournaments run in a more timely fashion. We need your help and support. If you need referee training, please contact me for a lesson.

The tournament started months ago with planning. It was far more work than I anticipated, but I had a great support team of volunteers behind me. We raised enough money to purchase four USAPA portable nets for use at ISC on East Riverside Blvd. The remaining funds were deposited in our account at the Rockford Park District Foundation. I hope that you had a pleasant experience and will return to future events.

Respectfully,

Jennifer Selchow

Saint Charles Pickleball Playdates August 2011

2011-08-04T17:00:00.001-05:00

Greetings Pickleball Players,

Below you will find the August Pickleball Open Gym schedule.

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

July 31	August 1	August 2	August 3	August 4	August 5	August 6
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	6-9pm Half Gym	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-noon Half Gym

August 7	August 8	August 9	August 10	August 11	August 12	August 13
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	6-9pm Half Gym	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-noon Half Gym

August 14	August 15	August 16	August 17	August 18	August 19	August 20
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	6-9pm Half Gym	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-noon Half Gym

August 21	August 22	August 23	August 24	August 25	August 26	August 27
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	6-9pm Half Gym	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-noon Half Gym

August 28	August 29	August 30	August 31	Sept. 1	Sept. 2	Sept. 3
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	6-9pm Half Gym	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-noon Half Gym

Thanks,

Meghan Papke, CPRP
Community Center Supervisor
St. Charles Park District
Phone: 630-513-4330
Fax: 630-513-9304

Trading golf clubs for rackets and being addicted to Pickleball

2011-07-25T17:00:00.011-05:00

Please see the link below about our upcoming round robin tournament at Sinnissippi Park. The article features some local players that will be competing in the tournament.

http://www.rrstar.com/carousel/x1009570967/Trading-golf-clubs-for-rackets-and-playing-lots-of-pickleball

Mike and Jude learn Pickleball - WREX.com – Rockford’s News Leader

2011-07-19T17:55:00.002-05:00

Mike Morig and Jude Wilbers of WREX (Channel 13, NBC) joined NIP at the Sinnissippi Courts to learn Pickleball. They were great sports against some very good local players. Thank you for the great coverage of the sport and the upcoming NIP Round Robin tournament!

Mike and Jude learn Pickleball - WREX.com – Rockford’s News Leader

The Return of Ray Monroe

2011-07-18T21:00:00.001-05:00

Friday night, July 15th, Ray Monroe came to the to the Sinnissippi Pickleball courts. He was extremely happy to see all of his Pickleball friends and it really lifted his spirits. He managed to play a couple games and was thrilled to be included. We went out to eat at Town Hall Lounge in Loves Park. I had a reservation, but we well exceeded that and overwhelmed their small kitchen. On the way home Ray said he had a "red letter day". Thank you all that came out in support of this event. It was very heart warming to see all the support that our Pickleball community gives to each other. Click here for more pictures.

Respectfully,
Jennifer

NIP Funds at RPD Foundation

2011-07-08T17:00:00.005-05:00

Northern Illinois Pickleball now has a financial account through the Rockford Park District Foundation. This has several benefits. The Rockford Park District will handle the funds and financial paperwork regarding NIP. Since no one individual will be responsible for the account this will allow the group to ebb and flow. As NIP players pursue other paths in life, this will insure that NIP is a self-sustained group that will be around for many years to come.

Having this financial account allows us to do fundraising for NIP. These funds can be used for demonstration expenses so that the cost of growing the sport locally is not shouldered by just a few people. These funds can also be used for equipment such as nets at ISC. Establishing a bank account also lessens the strain during the organizations of tournaments. Having a savings account will allow us to have invoices paid directly so individuals need not front the money for expenses.

Pat Freed has volunteered to be the treasurer for NIP as she is a year round resident of Illinois. She will work with Lisa Alexander at RPD for record keeping and deposits.

If you would like to make a donation you are eligible for a receipt for an income tax write-off. Please send checks to:

Donations:

Northern Illinois Pickleball
615 27th St
Rockford, IL 61108

If you are interested in making a cash or credit card donation, please contact Pat Freed at 815-399-3934. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express are accepted.

If you own a business and are interested in becoming a corporate sponsor, the minimum donation is $200. In exchange for your annual donation your business will be listed on the NIP Sponsors page of the NIP website.

Sponsorship Levels:

Platinum - $500
Gold - $200
Silver - $100
Bronze - $50

Saint Charles Pickleball Playdates July 2011

2011-07-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hello,

Below is the July pickleball open gym schedule. During the week of July 18^th we have a basketball camp in half the gym. There will only be half court pickleball open gym that week. If the camp is cancelled due to low enrollment, you will be able to have the full gym.

Thanks and have a fun and safe holiday weekend!

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

July 3	July 4	July 5	July 6	July 7	July 8	July 9
	PCC Closed	6-9pm Half Gym	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-noon Half Gym

July 10	July 11	July 12	July 13	July 14	July 15	July 16
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	6-9pm Half Gym	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-noon Half Gym

July 17	July 18	July 19	July 20	July 21	July 22	July 23
	2:30-3:55pm Half Gym	6-9pm Half Gym	2:30-3:55pm Half Gym		2:30-3:55pm Half Gym	8am-noon Half Gym

July 24	July 25	July 26	July 27	July 28	July 29	July 30
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	6-9pm Half Gym	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-noon Half Gym

Meghan Papke, CPRP
Community Center Supervisor
St. Charles Park District
Phone: 630-513-4330 Fax: 630-513-9304

Gold With A Twist

2011-06-15T18:02:00.001-05:00

by Sarah White

Let's start on the night of May 7, 2011. Remembering the date is easy because I was the Maid of Honor in my friend's wedding. All was going well. There was dancing, toasts, and good company. The time came, though, for the party to end. So, Jenn left first to go get the car. I said my good-byes, gave out hugs, and left with a smile on my face.

And, then, it happened.

I was almost down the stone steps of the historic villa when I rolled my ankle and slammed knee first to the sidewalk below.

Yes, I may have cursed.

I remember sitting there, staring up into the lights of the reception, hearing people's laughter and thinking, "Ouch. I just really sprained my ankle."

I've sprained both ankles enough times to know what it feels like, and I knew this one was a doozy.

I limped to the car and explained what happened to Jenn, who said, "Well, I guess you won't be playing in the Pickleball tournament in Terra Haute."

My heart sank. I had planned to play singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. Instead, that weekend, I ended up at the score table with a wrap around my ankle.

Still, I had hopes to play in Huntley the next weekend.

That Friday, Jenn and I met up in Huntley, and for the first time since the spraining, I ran on the ankle. It hurt more than I thought it would, and that night, it swelled up. The next day in the car, Jenn and I decided that we would have to tell the tournament director that I wouldn't be able to play.

I cried.

Later that same day, the tournament director came around a few times, and I kept thinking, "I need to tell her that I can't play, so that she can adjust the brackets or maybe find Jenn someone else to play with."

But the words always stopped at the back of my throat. I wasn't ready to quit just yet. My ankle felt strangely better, and I practiced on it with some fellow Picklers. Jenn and I played some warm-up doubles matches. We hadn't played together in weeks. I hadn’t played Pickleball in over a month.

But, nobody ever accused Jenn and me of not being dogged.

D-day. Sunday. We grabbed our paddles, tightened the laces on our shoes, and we stepped onto the courts ready for whatever the day would bring.

To our surprise, we played well our first match. In our second match, Connie and Rita, a formidable Rockford pair, gave us a good workout. All the while, we kept a close eye on Margaret and Tammy and their host of opponents.

Then, we squared off with the team that had the courts buzzing. They were two lean, mean Picklers with knee-braces and plenty of power. Somehow with our combination of spin shots and net play, we defeated them easily.

We made it to the final! Win or lose, we would medal--something we thought would be impossible the day before.

Everyone else had finished play and gathered on the bleachers around the court. Electric fans hummed but did little to cut the stuffy heat of that gymnasium. The sweat dripped off our foreheads.

We had to play the ladies with the knee-braces and deep tans that reflected their hours of Pickleball play already this summer. This time, though, they were ready for us.

They easily took two games from us. No matter what we tried, they seem prepared.

We had one more chance. Because we had entered the final undefeated, we would play one last game to fifteen points for the title.

Jenn and I drank our water and discussed strategy.

Still, the ladies jumped to a 4-0 lead. The gym felt even stuffier and suffocating.

We managed to stay fairly close to them and reached a score of 8-6 (their lead). But, suddenly, our strategies and shots shifted; we were making a dent. I was ready for the lobs. I flattened out the spin. Jenn made strong shots from the net.

At the end of one amazing rally, Jenn turned to me and said, "Can you feel it?"

The momentum had changed.

We clawed our way to 8-8, and the game held at that score for seemingly hours.

And, then, it happened.

The score turned in our favor.

We would eventually win 15-9. We had ground out a win. Our doggedness was now becoming the stuff of legend. We never gave up and played every point like it was the first.

In tennis, they call it "winning ugly." In Pickleball, we just call it "winning."

Our adventure, though, was not over. We had to travel back to Rockford from Huntley. Normally, such a drive can be taken through scenic back country roads. On this particular day, the sky towards Rockford was a deep purple--not unlike the color of my sprain.

We had heard that Rockford was experiencing a tornado warning, and we would later learn that there were three F1 tornadoes in the area through which we drove.

Such news did not surprise us, though, because as we drove, we could see the laden shelf cloud in the sky. Something was not right in the air. It brought to mind the famed quote from Macbeth, "Something wicked this way comes..."

Debris started blowing across the road, and as we looked to our left and right, we could see large swirls of dirt rising up from the fields. We drove through a wall of loose dirt; our visibility reduced to mere feet.

We stayed calm, and Jenn powered us through the storm.

As we arrived in Rockford to find no electricity and plenty of downed tree limbs, we definitely knew that these were two experiences that we would remember for the rest of our lives.

Saint Charles Pickleball Playdates June 2011

2011-05-27T22:00:00.004-05:00

Hello Pickleball Players,

Below is the June open gym schedule.

May 29	May 30	May 31	June 1	June 2	June 3	June 4
	PCC Closed	6-9pm Half Gym	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-Noon Half Gym

June 5	June 6	June 7	June 8	June 9	June 10	June 11
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	6-9pm Half Gym	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-Noon Half Gym

June 12	June 13	June 14	June 15	June 16	June 17	June 18
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	6-9pm Half Gym	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-Noon Half Gym

June 19	June 20	June 21	June 22	June 23	June 24	June 25
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	6-9pm Half Gym	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-Noon Half Gym

June 26	June 27	June 28	June 29	June 30	July 1	July 2
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	6-9pm Half Gym	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-Noon Half Gym

Thanks and have a great holiday weekend!

Meghan Papke, CPRP
Community Center Supervisor
St. Charles Park District
Phone: 630-513-4330
Fax: 630-513-9304

"Nice Pickleball serve, Ethel!"

2011-05-26T18:25:00.000-05:00

I took off on Friday the 13th to attend a USAPA Sanctioned Pickleball tournament in Terre Haute, Indiana. I had purchased a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta diesel just two days prior and was eager to see what mileage could be achieved on a long road trip. The tournament registration form didn't have an address for Brittle Bank Park, just directions off of I-70. Since we wouldn't be coming off of I-70 I tossed the sheet in the glove box and I used the GPS of coordinates (39.462769, -87.357056) from the USAPA site. I plugged in the coordinates and away we went.

We drove four hours south on the western side of Indiana. The landscape is lush green rolling farmland as far as the eye can see. Stretches of the land are dotted with wind generators that fan the countryside with their giant white blades. It’s where the past meets the present. It’s quite beautiful. It sounds far more promising than it really is. It's lush green for miles without a rest area in site. My gnat-sized bladder should have recognized this as a sign of how this trip would play out. Just then we saw a giant black and white billboard that read, “Hell is real!” Sheesh. The other side read, “Jesus is real!”

When you are driving a brand new car on Friday the 13th the universe gets some sort of memo. It alerts all foreign objects that they should be attracted to or pull out in front of your shiny car that has less than 500 miles on the odometer. There was the asphalt truck barreling out of the construction zone. Several farm tractors and discers using a lane and a half on two lane roads. The end loader that brought huge wakes of dust as it pulled arbitrarily into traffic -- although there was no road construction sign posted. A fire truck was being towed out of a fire station and blocking both lanes of traffic. A thin man assisting with the towing was walking in the road and wearing an orange t-shirt that read, “I survived pervert row!” The universe generates all kinds of road blocks.

Driving along I noticed that the GPS wanted to take us to Paris. Now before you don your beret and say, “oui, oui” in your best high school French accent – it was Paris, IL. Pulling over I discovered that although I had input the GPS values as decimals, it converted it to the format of degrees, minutes, seconds. A minor fix and we are on our corrected path without losing much time.

The coordinates on the USAPA site take you an intersection of Poplar Street and Hamilton Drive. There isn’t a Pickleball court in sight – the coordinates are just off the grid. After taking the scenic route through this neighborhood, I stopped and admitted to a young boy doing yard work that we were lost. He doesn’t know the park although we were only three miles northeast of it. His friend asked if we are in town for the Pickleball tournament and gave us directions to the park. Upon arrival at the park I promptly saved the correct coordinates to my GPS.

We played some drop-in games with a few of the players that were signed up for the tournament. The weather was 80° and humid. The bugs were fierce and I think I swallowed a couple on my way to the kitchen - not exactly the dinner I had in mind. The wind picked up and assisted my serve by pushing it down, making it a short drop shot into the service area close to the no-volley zone line. The local player on the other side of the net said, “Nice serve, Ethel”.

After some hard games of Pickleball we decided to head to the hotel to get cleaned up before dinner. We left the courts wanting to check into to hotel that was less than four miles away. This should have only taken about ten minutes to drive there. Twenty five minutes later we were still sitting in the car waiting for two trains. This had to be one of the world’s slowest train car connections to get out of its own way, much less ours.

Arriving at the hotel the clerk, Angela, was curious as to our business in Terre Haute. I describe Pickleball and Brittle Bank Park. The clerk has never heard of the park even though we are in close proximity to it. Was I in the Twilight Zone? Clearly Brittle Bank Park is a well hidden jewel. We checked into the hotel and Angela tells me of the amenities and where to park and enter with luggage. She hands me the keys to our room - Room 313. Really?

The hotel was the perfect size and price despite the looming thirteen theme. I proceeded to shower and managed to twist the top off of my travel shampoo bottle. Who does that? All of these things are of no consequence but seemed to have accumulated on this particular Friday, the 13th.

The next morning there were looming angry gray clouds. There was a 70% chance of precipitation. We showed up to the park and it started raining 15 minutes later. We packed up and headed for the gymnasium at Indiana State University. My partner for Women’s Doubles was Barb. She has a 3.5 rating which means she had to play up to my 4.0 level. This made Barb and instant target and many of the shots came rocketing to her backhand. It was best two out of three games. We mostly bowed out in two, but we had fun regardless. This was only Barb’s second tournament so I hope she isn’t too discouraged from playing up in the future.

Sunday we were directed toward the university straight away. I paired with Bill who has an equal rating. A typical match that is two out of three games should take about 45 minutes. Our first match was an hour long. We won one and lost two in tight games. Our second match was an hour and twenty minutes long. We won one and lost two – one of which was taken to 13 points. Our marathon matches had taken so long the other teams were waiting in the wings to play us. No rest for the wicked. Our third match we surrendered in two. Other players were in disbelief as to the length of our epic Pickleball battles. One of the scorekeepers gave her condolences that we didn’t make it to the medal round. I really could have cared less; I needed to be able to walk the next day. We had played solidly from 8am until 11:30 and I was whipped.

Overall it was a good tournament. We met some new friends, made some networking connections, and played a lot of hard Pickleball games with soft shots. There are some very tough players in the Greater Terre Haute region and I look forward to meeting some of them again on the courts.

Wheeling Park District - Pickleball Program

2011-04-28T10:00:00.000-05:00

NEW! to the Wheeling Park District - Open Pickleball Play at Heritage Park tennis courts begins on Tuesday, May 10 from 9 AM to 12 PM. The drop-in fee is $2 and players should bring their own equipment, a limited number of supplies are available at the courts. For more information, call Ryan McCalley at (847) 465-2941.

Lincoln Park District - Pickleball Program

2011-04-27T21:34:00.000-05:00

Ages: Adults
Date: Tuesdays & Thursdays
Time: 10:00am
Fee: $2 daily
Location: Sports Center, 1400 Primm Road, Lincoln, IL 62656, 217-732-8770 map

Please see this link for more details: http://www.lincolnparkdistrict.com/Programs/Adult-Sports/Pickleball

Mokena Park District - Pickleball Program

2011-04-27T21:00:00.000-05:00

Pickleball – Open Play

Drop in for a game of pickleball. Open play time, no scheduled matches. Amount of play will depend on the number of players who attend. Bring your own paddle, balls provided.

Location: Oaks Recreation & Fitness Center, 10847 LaPorte Road, Mokena, IL 60448 map
Fee: $3 Mokena resident; $5 Lincoln-Way resident; $10 non-resident
Dates: May 2 – August 29, 2011 (Mondays)
Times: 7-9:15pm
Courts: two at first, but will change on demand

Saint Charles Pickleball Playdates May 2011

2011-04-21T20:30:00.001-05:00

Greetings Pickleball Players!

The Pottawatomie Community Center will be open on Friday, April 22nd and Saturday, April 23rd. Pickleball open gym is running as scheduled on the April open gym calendar. Please see the May open gym schedule below. Please note the schedule has changed slightly from the April schedule.

Thanks and have a great weekend!

April 24	April 25	April 26	April 27	April 28	April 29	April 30
	8-11:30am North Gym and 2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	6-9pm South Gym	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-Noon South Gym

May 1	May 2	May 3	May 4	May 5	May 6	May 7
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	6-9pm South Gym	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym

May 8	May 9	May 10	May 11	May 12	May 13	May 14
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	6-9pm South Gym	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym

May 15	May 16	May 17	May 18	May 19	May 20	May 21
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	6-9pm South Gym	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-Noon South Gym

May 22	May 23	May 24	May 25	May 26	May 27	May 28
	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	6-9pm South Gym	2:30-3:55pm Full Gym		2:30-3:55pm Full Gym	8am-Noon South Gym

Meghan Papke, CPRP
Community Center Supervisor
St. Charles Park District
Phone: 630-513-4330
Fax: 630-513-9304

Pickleball Demo at Roscoe YMCA

2011-04-14T20:30:00.002-05:00

To kick off International Pickleball Week several of our members gave a Pickleball demonstration at the YMCA in Roscoe, Illinois on April 12th to an audience of about thirty people. First, Chuck Kurt gave a brief history of the game as well as a summary of its rules. Then members Pat Freed, Dennis Wilke, Carol Wilke, and I played a demonstration game while Chuck explained the format of the game and answered any questions from the audience. Afterwards several people from the audience borrowed our paddles to experience the thrill of playing Pickleball. It was amazing and fun to watch the joy of someone new playing pickleball. Northern Illinois Pickleball is about to gain new members! Thank you Chuck, Pat, Dennis, and Carol for all your help!

Written by: Tommy Chilton

Rockford Park District visits increase in spite of economic slump

2011-04-13T16:45:00.006-05:00

Participation is up in the Rockford Park District in part from Pickleball players! Good job guys!

Click here to read the full article by Kevin Haas of the Rockford Register Star.

"Dimke said there were programs, such as Pickleball, that were driven by resident request. There were six courts constructed last year in Sinnissippi Park for Pickleball, a sport that uses a wooden paddle and whiffle ball. It was also the first full year of indoor play at the Indoor Sports Center, with 960 visits from Pickleball participants."