news
Regional
in California and on the faculty at Loma
Linda University, have done a great
job of getting their respective schools
involved. Currently, there are a number
of schools—University of Nevada-Las
Vegas, Arizona State University and the
Air Force Academy that are developing
pickleball as a club sport. Many other
schools are following suit, with the goal
of creating competition among schools.
Two schools in Utah have already
created competitive play in 2017.
Universities and colleges don’t need
to be convinced pickleball is a healthy
sport. They get that; they see pickleball
as a potential recruitment tool for kids
coming out of high school.
What are the challenges that lie
ahead in trying to grow the sport?
The biggest challenge is money.
A huge majority of public schools
are strapped with their budgets and
the cost of the basic equipment is
prohibitive. It’s easy to say, ‘What’s a
few hundred dollars to get nets, paddles
and balls,’ but schools are very limited
in that resource. The investment in
schools and programs is a never-
ending situation and I don’t know if
that money can come from equipment
manufacturers, the USAPA or other
organizations that support the game.
What changes would you like to
see in helping to grow the game of
pickleball?
I’d love to see a focus on
the grassroots efforts of game
development. I understand the
importance of growing the game to
receive TV dollars, larger cash purses
and more tournaments, but we can’t
lose focus of how we grow this game
from the youth perspective.
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continued
Smash Park Coming to Des Moines
P
ickleball lovers in Iowa will have a new place to call their own this summer
when Smash Park officially opens for business.
Described as a “hybrid of a recreation center, chef-driven restaurant, tap
house and your best friend’s backyard party,” Smash Park promises to be a place
where fun rules.
Smash Park will be one of the few places in the region dedicated to indoor and
outdoor courts. The plan is to offer playing opportunities, lessons, leagues as well as
hosting tournament play. Combined with a deck/tap house with more than 50 beers
and ciders, a fast casual restaurant and park with backyard games, big screen TV,
fire pits and more, Smash
Park will be a place for the
whole family to unwind.
In addition to pickleball,
the facility will feature a
bocce court, shuffleboard,
ping pong and other
traditional games.
Owner Monty Lockyear
says he developed
the concept for the
25,000-square-foot
indoor/17,000-square-foot
outdoor entertainment venue
Smash Park and Margaritaville were the major sponsors
of Agassi vs. Roddick PADDLE BATTLE
The USAPA Congratulates
Recently-Certified Referees:
Charles Bradley
Byron Brothers
Walter Buehler
Steve Campbell
Sandy Crabtree
Larry Haas
Nicole Hobson
Guy Klein
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Linda Krueger
Mike McKay
Cathryn Noble
Darryl Noble
Randy Oaks
Bill Plesha
Lynn Raph
Cheryl Silverman
Don Stanek
Jim Stapleton
Bob Unetich
Rich Van Tuyle
Kate Williams
Dave Woener
Sue Wong
Roger Workman