FROM THE PUBLISHER
Welcome
to the first edition of Pickleball Magazine – the
first-ever magazine dedicated solely to our
favorite pastime! As a publisher of several other
magazines, I am often contacted by friends
suggesting new start-up publications. This past
July, several friends recommended I launch a
publication for pickleball. I already knew of the
game because I played it the past couple of
Thanksgivings while visiting my family in The
Villages in Florida.
An avid tennis and platform tennis player, I was
intrigued and decided to investigate further.
After doing some preliminary research online,
I picked up the phone and called Justin Maloof, the Executive Director of the
USAPA. Justin enthusiastically educated me on a few key facts that got me
thinking. First, with 2.5 million players, pickleball is recognized as the fastest
growing sport in the U.S. Second, the USAPA grew from 4,071 to 10,000+
members over the past three years. And finally, the places to play went from
1,400 in 2013 to 3,777 at the time of our conversation.
Justin and I began brainstorming how a full-color magazine could benefit the
sport and the members of the USAPA. We agreed that a magazine would ideally
be offered free to all USAPA members and it should feature: instructional
content, rule changes and relevant news, tournament results, player profiles,
places to play, get‑away destinations, major pickleball manufacturers/
businesses, and more.
Justin and I put together a contract, USAPA Board Member/Legal Counsel Phil
Mortenson appended it, and the USAPA Board accepted it. In general, Pickleball
Magazine will be distributed to all 10,000+ USAPA members, via email link, on a
bimonthly basis (6 times per year) and, in return, the USAPA agreed to recognize
us as the “Official Magazine” of the sport. USAPA members wanting to receive
the printed magazine mailed to their homes can do so for $12 per year… 40% off
the non-member price of $20.
Although we will have thousands of paying mailed subscribers, our
magazine will still be funded 95%+ through the advertising revenue from the
manufacturers and businesses you will find in this issue. If you’re considering
anything pickleball, please consider them first. The magazine’s quality will be
linked to our sponsors’ success.
My email address and cell phone numbers are listed below. Please feel free to
use them if you have ideas on how to make the magazine better, or how to grow
the sport. Finally, to receive a hard copy of each magazine, you can subscribe by
emailing me or by visiting www.ThePickleballMag.com.
Wishing you a joyful 2016!
A Publication of Dollard Publishing Co., Inc.
11 Mayview Road, Canonsburg, PA 15317
www.thepickleballmag.com
PUBLISHER
Wayne Dollard
[email protected]
412.833.8805
DESIGN
Michael Miller
ADVISORY BOARD
Kevin Curley
Dennis Dacey
A.J. Fraties
Irene Fraties
Alex Hamner
Rusty Howes
Lynn Laymon
Linda Laymon
Jennifer Lucore
Bob Nibarger
Steve Paranto
Paul Porch
Brian Staub
INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF
Sarah Ansboury
Yvonne Hackenberg
Christine Barksdale
Steve Paranto
Prem Carnot
Paul Porch
Rob Elliott
Tony