Use the warm up routine in this article to reduce your chance of a pickleball injury.
https://www.eatthis.com/improve-pickleball-game-warm-up-routine/
https://www.eatthis.com/improve-pickleball-game-warm-up-routine/
 AAPA presents a check to Athens First United Methodist Church as a thank you for use of their facilities. We play pickleball there Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, 1:30-3:00pm. It is open play, come join this fun group.  AAPA presents a check to Heard Park leadership as a thank you for use of their facilities. We play pickleball there Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 8:30-11:30 AM. It is open play, come join this fun group.  Today a check was presented to Lay Park leadership as a thank you for use of their facilities. We play pickleball there Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:30-11:30 AM. It is open play, come join this fun group.
There is a new concept being floated in our part of Georgia to offer those 60 and over a fun and social opportunity to play in a low-key tournament setting on a regular basis.
• At this time the areas included are: 1) Greene County, 2) Morgan County, 3) Putnam County, and possibly the 4) Athens area. Greene County has offered their courts for those areas who do not have good facilitiesand they are centrally located. • The idea is to bring a 12 member team to ahome/away event with one of the above teams on a regular basis. During a designated week, there would be two events, accommodating the 4 teams. • Team members would be recruited by team captains (needed!) from a pool of interested people. The choosing of the teams will not be solely on skill—but on letting everyone play, having a good time and meeting new people. Also included will be an opportunity to go to lunch or dinner afterwards, depending on the time of day the matches are held. In time, more advanced league opportunities are likely possible. • Financials are not firm, but costs will be minimal. Asure thing is that what a group charges for a home event, they will keep to pay for court rentals or donate to a good cause. There will likely be a chanceto pay for insurance which covers an individual playing in multiple settings which is offered by USAPickleball. • If you are in the least interested in this idea, please email you willingness to participate to Kevin McHugh at kgmchugh@charter.net. If there is sufficient interest, a captain will be selected and the pool/team will take shape. Categories could possibly increase to provide competition for many levels of play in the future. None of these ideas are in concrete. Please think about it and let Kevin know if you are interested!! FROM GPA (Georgia Pickleball Assoc.) NEWSLETTER:
US Senior Pickleball (USSP) is a division of Super Senior International Pickleball Association (SSIPA). USSP offers tournaments using age/skill for players 50+ in age. When skill levels are combined, 3.0 and 3.5 are often combined within an age group. If a player or team would rather stay in their rated skill group, then they can always play down in age. If a player or team wants to challenge themselves, then they can always play up in skill. Either way, with USSP, both players and teams have a choice in all competitive tournament play. USSP addresses these issues: Play with 5-year age groups from 50 to 80 years old. Play with skill groups from 3.0 to 5.0. Points awarded for the top 4 places in a reward system offering prizes. Tournaments offered at the National, Zone and Circuit levels. Anyone can register for a USSP tournament without a membership. Three or four USSP tournaments will be offered in Georgia this year. Some will be sanctioned by GPA as well. That means a player could earn ranking points in the USSP and the GPA while playing in the one tournament. Learn more here: https://www.ssipa-pb.org/  Jean (Secretary), Steve (Treasurer/Membership), and Nelda (President) each receive a small gift in appreciation for their roles on the board this past year. Missing from the photo is Lilly (Vice President).
Ken Calkin, The Godfather of Athens Pickleball, gave a brief history of the start and growth of Pickleball in Athens. (Read the full history here.) At the end of his talk, his son Jamie presented Ken with a paddle that was designed by Jamie and printed by Prolite so it can be used on the courts. In addition to the history lesson we were introduced to the head of Parks and Recreation, voted on two by-law revisions, received Pickleball car magnets, received an update on the 2022 Pickled Peach Classic, and signed a petition to get more Pickleball courts in Athens. Please see Tom McEnaney to add your name to the petition.
 AAPA member Lilly presenting a check to East Athens Community Center leadership for their Back to School program.  AAPA members presenting a check to Lay Park leadership for their Back to School program.
 Pickleball’s momentum as one of the fastest growing sports in the country continues with a brand re-launch aimed at building awareness and promoting the sport’s development and growth across America.
The new brand name is officially USA Pickleball, aligning it with other sports governing bodies and our USA Pickleball National Championships. The brand re-launch also includes a new, modern logo and an updated website at usapickleball.org was designed to improve the user experience. The new name, logo and website will strengthen USA Pickleball’s worldwide image as the official Pickleball organization in the U.S. and will help attract new players and future ambassadors. Couple Highlights:
Thank you to all our members! We are excited about the future of pickleball and USA Pickleball and your support to make this one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S.! For questions or comments regarding the website, please send an email to info@usapickleball.org Best regards, USA Pickleball Team  A group came out to express our gratitude to Janice and Tom for all they have done for AAPA during their time here in Athens. We wish you all the best in your return to Nashville and will miss you both.
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