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PLAY SPORT

fit&active. Megan Mitchell

COASTING ALONG Impala Quad Skate Mimosa, $100, Impala Protective Set, $56, Impala Skate Strap, $15, Spiritual Gangster Gratitude Dad Hat, $30, Free People Archer Leather Bag, $98, Billie Wow Tennis Bag, $145, T. Georgiano’s Boutique, 1409-B 1st St, Sarasota, (941) 870-3727.

Head toToe

at head to toe exhibition at the Ringling College Galleries, students are exploring new and exciting ways to develop sustainable fashion.

Written by Dylan Campbell | Photography by Wyatt Kostygan

“THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT IT IS THE STUDENTS’ SENSE OF CURIOSITY and their desire to know more,” says Tim Jaeger, Director and Chief Curator of Galleries and Exhibitions at Ringling College. “Seeing them fall in love with the craft and work with it is fabulous – it’s what we set out to do here.” Jaeger is talking about Head to Toe, the first of an inaugural fashion exhibition presented this November by the Ringling College Exhibitions and Galleries in conjunction with the school’s Business of Art and Design departments. Head to Toe, which highlights the designs of fashion influencer Marie Colbert, known in part for introducing “camouflage” to the industry, is the product of a student curatorial team selected from Jaeger’s class, “The Business of Art”. Jaeger’s objective was to create a real-world scenario in which students from a range of disciplines would have to work together to create an exhibition of professional caliber. “Ten students were selected to have a hands-on approach to how to produce an arts exhibition. It’s meant to both bridge generational gaps and to introduce a universal language that transcends and shifts the culture of fashion,” says Jaeger. “They’re learning deadlines and everything they need to do to get the job done. Making art is one of the most important things in this process, but i like to say “how do we make art work?” Understanding the business of art and the collaborative nature of this industry is just as valuable as standing in front of an easel.”

Head to Toe is also a product of Jaeger simply keeping his ear to the ground. While the seven on-campus galleries host around 30-35 exhibitions a year, many of them featuring the art of visiting artists alongside that of the students and faculty, they function also as an outlet for the creative and artistic maturation of the student body. “On a college campus you walk around a lot and see everything from an interest in cosplay to the Ringling College drag club to Halloween outfits to desires for sustainable clothing. For the past five years, I’ve noticed an uptick in students’ interest in the fiber arts and so with observing that, you try to find the exhibition that will nourish the creativity of the student,” says Jaeger. This methodology is reflected throughout every facet of Head to Toe, most notably in the exhibition’s closing event – the Fresco Fashion Show. The Fresco show, which was conceptualized, managed, and carried out by a cross-disciplinary team of students, is a sustainable fashion show that presents a design collection made out of upcycled materials. The collection, which is inspired by the work of Marie Colbert, was created in an effort to raise awareness of the fashion industry’s negative environmental impact.

This page: The Fresco Fashion Show empowers Ringling College of Art and Design students to design sustainable fashion.

Fresco, named after the Italian wall paintings on wet plaster and symbolizes fresh, new beginnings, is the brainchild of Linda Liao, a Senior with a passion for sustainable fashion and a penchant for working with her classmates. “I started this project, because when I came to Ringling, I felt like there were not a lot of opportunities for students to express themselves through fashion. I wanted to do something that involved a lot of students and gave them the chance to explore fashion and sustainable fashion,” says Liao. Three years and two shows later, the Fresco fashion show is existing on its biggest stage yet – the Ringling College Galleries. To pull off the two-hour event, Liao had to lean on Jaeger as well as her network of fellow students, eager and enthusiastic to be involved with a new challenge. “I wanted to expand the show to more than just students interested in fashion and becoming models. I wanted to give them a platform to showcase their art. We have art students doing caricatures on the spot for the guests and others selling their artwork at the show,” says Liao. “I asked friends interested in music to make the song for the show, my friend who does videography created a short intro video, we all just found ways to do something creative and help each other.” SRQ

JULIANNA BURNS / BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY FLORIDA BEYOND REALTY WARREN GROUP SARASOTA / COLDWELL BANKER REALTY JOE & WENDY KESSLAK / REMAX ALLIANCE GROUP Lindsey Leech Strickland / DUNCAN REAL ESTATE

2023

SRQ MAGAZINE

ELITE REAL ESTATE AGENTS

BEYOND REALTY

ELITE AGENTS

Beyond Realty’s real estate journey began in the late 1980s and developed internationally in places such as London, Dubai, and the Spanish Islands. We balance our insight and global fl air with intimate care and harness the latest tech to streamline your transaction. We’re on a mission to ensure you reap the fi nancial rewards of real estate and enjoy the Florida lifestyle the way it’s meant to be. And, we exhibit a hands-on, white-gloved approach so that you have an enjoyable, educational experience.

ABOUT THE FOUNDERS

Darren Dowling – Darren started his real estate career buying bulk investment properties for a company in England before expanding into buying and selling international property. Competitive by nature, Darren is a three-time British national champion and Florida state champion in cycling. He still races and trains aspiring cyclists as president of the Sarasota Cycling Club. With his goal-setting skills and goal-driven mentality Darren ensures his team and his clients achieve the highest success.

WENDY Dowling - A real estate veteran since the late 1980s, Wendy has been investing in property since the age of 18. Before moving to Florida, she worked with investors on sourcing, fi nancing, and managing international properties. Her passion for helping others led her to a career as a broker associate, where she uses her decades of knowledge and experience to ensure optimal results for her clients. Her other love is listing homes, and, with professional certifi cations in e-design and staging, she has a proven track record of selling properties quickly and for top dollar.

MIA MCKEEHAN – A graduate of Rice University and business owner from a young age, Mia’s affi nity for sales, management, and entrepreneurship, combined with her passion for people, made real estate a natural career choice for her. Some of Mia’s fi rst transactions involved listing and selling investor properties, and she progressed to working within a top-producing luxury sales team before venturing out on her own. Her goal is to provide top-tier concierge service for her clients, and she has a sales track record to prove it with over 11 years of experience in the Sarasota estate market.

Above, left to right: Lorena Barona, Tania May, Darren Dowling, Mia McKeehan, Sue Carroll, Mary Mouritsen, Eli Burress, Curt Arndt, Wendy Dowling and Deb Hanson.

Beyond Realty 2170 Main Street, #103 | Sarasota, FL 34237 | 941.467.3448 beyondrealtyfl .com | @beyondrealtyfl

2023ELITE AGENTS

ELITE AGENTS

Warren group sarasota

Warren Group Sarasota prioritizes quality of relationships over quantity of transactions. This ensures a personalized client experience that instills confi dence and promised results. Warren Group Sarasota prides itself on more than 19 years of dedicated service to the Sarasota, Bradenton, and Lakewood Ranch Communities. Our sincere desire is for all our clients to love where they live.

Coldwell Banker Realty Warren Group Sarasota 8334 Market Street, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 Pat Warren c: 941.350.7044 Julie Warren c: 941.350.7439 Patrick Warren c: 941.400.4436

The Warren Group has built a reputation for the highest level of integrity and diligence for their clients over 18 years of dedication to their local Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch communities. PAT WARREN left a career as a CPA and entrepreneur after 10 years in Vail, Colorado and along with his wife JULIE WARREN and their three kids, relocated to Lakewood Ranch over 20 years ago. Julie, a seasoned sales professional from the pharmaceutical industry and a successful interior design consultant in Vail, brings next-level energy and professionalism to the team, plus unmatched marketing and staging expertise. Pat’s fi nancial experience, market knowledge and negotiating acumen, combined with Julie’s marketing and design passion make for a powerful team, dedicated to their clients’ realization of their Real Estate goals as part of a family, the Warren Group family.

THE WARREN GROUP recently announced the addition of Patrick Warren to the team! Patrick graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Advertising and Marketing, bringing another level of marketing power to help sell your home quickly and effi ciently. Patrick has a tremendous level of commitment to his clients and an unmatched work ethic, all targeted to help serve his clients’ real estate needs.

Patrick was born in Vail, Colorado and moved with his family to Lakewood Ranch when he was three years old. He’s always been a hard worker and committed to his education and athletics. Patrick competed in golf and lacrosse in high school, eventually landed a lacrosse scholarship at Rhodes College and ultimately received a Marketing degree from the University of Florida. He currently works on new client development and marketing as well as listing and selling homes in this amazing market. His talents with the experience and expertise of Pat and Julie combine for a powerful family team, all targeted to help you achieve your Real Estate goals! LET OUR FAMILY VALUES BRING YOU HOME!

ELITE AGENTS

JOE AND WENDY KESSLAK

For Joe and Wendy Kesslak, their real estate business is built on knowledge, communication, dedication, passion and integrity.

WE LOVE IT HERE! We are Joe and Wendy Kesslak, a husband and wife realtor team, proud members of the RE/MAX Alliance Group Family. Like most people living in Sarasota, we vacationed here over 25 years ago and were immediately captivated by the beauty and allure of Sarasota and her barrier islands. We fell in love with Siesta Key and proceeded to to purchase our fi rst piece of paradise allowing us to vacation here with our two daughters. Over the course of the past 25 years, we have bought, sold, and invested in numerous properties on Siesta Key. We have since moved from our home in Western Pennsylvania to make Siesta Key our permanent home. With our passion for Sarasota and all of it’s charms, we were inspired to help others with their buying, selling, and investing needs. Enthusiastic about real estate in Sarasota, we enjoy sharing our knowledge and experience to assist and educate aspiring investors, buyers and sellers with their own goals. We carry the values of hard work, integrity and outstanding customer service into every aspect of our business.

When we’re not making our customers’ home buying dreams come true, you’ll fi nd us out enjoying our city: boating, biking, walking, exploring the food scene, hanging with friends and family or simply beaching it! It’s easy to sell something you’re passionate about. A vibrant arts scene, beachy atmosphere, unique charm. We love Sarasota!

Joe Kesslak jkesslak@kesslak.com c: 941.321.8585 Chartered Financial Consultant Resort and second-home property specialist

Wendy Kesslak wendy4siesta@gmail.com c: 941.321.7484 Certifi ed Luxury Home Marketing Specialist Certifi ed Waterfront Specialist RE/MAX Alliance Group 5221 Ocean Blvd. | Siesta Key #1 RE/MAX in Florida and the Southeast #14 RE/MAX in the World

ELITE AGENTS DUNCAN REAL ESTATE

Each real estate transaction is unique and so are the people that you work with - Lindsey will cater to your specifi c needs for a smooth and easy sale! She is a premier Florida Real Estate Agent!

Lindsey was born in North Carolina and moved to Florida at the age of 5—almost a Florida cracker but with southern roots! She has been a resident of Manatee County since 1987. Lindsey joined Duncan Real Estate in 2015 as the Director of Business Development. She completed real estate school and received her real estate license in 2017. At that time, Lindsey became the sales assistant to the broker/owner of Duncan Real Estate. After a few years of training under the broker/owner to understand the real estate business and vacation rentals, Lindsey moved into full time real estate sales and has quickly become a top selling agent. Her experience with Duncan Real Estate and also growing up in Manatee County gives her an edge in selling real estate and knowing the area. Let Lindsey put her experience and personality to work for you!

Lindsey Leech Strickland lindseykleech@gmail.com cell - 941-737-3491 | offi ce - 941-779-0304 310 Pine Ave | Anna Maria, FL 34216 facebook: facebook.com/LindseyLeechFL teamduncan.com lindseyleechstrickland.com

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Passionate, trusted and professional. Julianna is a Florida Licensed Realtor® and Sarasota native. Julianna is a Pricing Strategy Advisor & Real Estate Consultant who focuses on helping her customers build generational wealth and fi nd a higher quality of life.

passionATE, TRUSTED, AND PROFESSIONAL. Julianna is a Florida Licensed Realtor® and Sarasota native. She expertly guides her clients through the home selection and sales process while communicating all aspects of a transaction. She educates her clients on the building process and how to identify the potential in a prospective property. As a Pricing Strategy Advisor & Real Estate Consultant, Julianna focuses on helping her customers build generational wealth and fi nd a higher quality of life. She specializes in waterfront property, investment, and relocation in the U.S. and abroad. Julianna is the 2022 President of the Women’s Council of Realtors Sarasota, named Entrepreneur of the Year in 2021, and 2022 Realtor to watch under 40. She serves on the Mote Marine Lab & Aquarium President’s Advisory Council and is Mote’s Philanthropy Chair.

Julianna Burns c: 941-800-SOLD (7653) e: JuliannaBurns@BHHSFloridaRealty.net 7231 S. Tamiami Trail | Sarasota, Fl 34231 JuliannaBurnsSellsSarasota.com

GREAT MINDS DINK ALIKE

These days, it seems like everyone is pickling, and that does not mean they are making pickles. People of all ages are playing pickleball, the fastest growing sport in the country. What makes this game that has been called a combination of tennis, ping-pong and badminton so hot? Don’t get pickled—read

on to find out what the hype is all about. WRITTEN BY BARBIE HEIT | PHOTOGRAPHY BY WYATT KOSTYGAN

This page: Custom built for pickleball, the special cushioned courts at The Pickleball Club promise an outstanding playing experience.

PICKLEBALL LANDS IN LAKEWOOD RANCH

Set to open in February 2023, The Pickleball Club in Lakewood Ranch promises to be a unique, high-tech, amenity-based experience for members.

PICKLEBALL, A SPORT THAT IS FUN, SOCIAL AND SOMEWHAT ADDICTIVE is also a fast-growing business with no signs of slowing down. Longtime commercial real estate and business entrepreneurs Brian and Valerie McCarthy along with business partner Matthew Gordon are seizing the opportunity to be part of the sport’s explosion by investing $180 million for 15 indoor private pickleball clubs in Florida, the first being The Pickleball Club right here in Lakewood Ranch.

Originally from Michigan, Brian McCarthy, who will serve as CEO for the Club, has had a 30 year military career in the Navy, achieving the rank of Rear Admiral. With an MBA from Harvard and a career as a commercial real estate developer, he’s very familiar with turning large properties into valuable business. On the local non-profit side, he has been president of the Sarasota Military Officers Association and their foundation, the first vice president of the Pops Orchestra of Bradenton and Sarasota, and he’s served as chair of the advisory council for United Way for Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties. Currently, he sits on the board of the Players Centre for Performing Arts.

Valerie McCarthy, President and COO (and Brian’s wife) has a masters degree in exercise physiology and has been in the health industry her entire life. A former executive director for the YMCA, she will oversee the member experience at the club. Matt Gordon, a New York attorney with a passion for investment banking is the CFO. He has helped the McCarthy’s develop a strong business plan.

The founders are confident that it’s the right time to start this venture and that Lakewood Ranch is the best place for it. “The industry was at an inflection point. We could see it going up the curve and that’s where you want to be in any industry,” says Brian. “I’m not going to throw stones at any others but, if you look at racquetball, that’s on the downturn right now. Golf is struggling, even tennis is struggling. I think something that makes pickleball unique is that it’s fairly easy to learn how to play at a level that you can have fun with, and to master it, it takes time and effort, like any sport does. There is a real propensity to want to get instruction, to learn, take lessons, take clinics.”

In order to gauge local interest, the founders took a survey in Sarasota. They asked participants about the things they like about the sport locally and the things they don’t. “The first issue that came into play was weather,” says Brian. “Believe it or not, it gets humid and hot in the summer. It rains a lot. It’s windy, there are insects in the evening and daytime sun exposure is intense. There were a whole lot of compelling reasons to come inside.”

The Lakewood Ranch Pickleball Club will be a member-only, privately-owned, for-profit sports club with 12 indoor and two outdoor courts, a retail shop and café in a 33,000 square-foot facility. The owners are determined to make it an exceptional experience for the members. What does that mean? “First off, we’ll use an app system to reserve a court,” says Brian. “Or, with our membership, you have free open play, so you can

come whenever you want–you can sign up for open play and get on the court without waiting for hours. The other thing is that people generally, as they get better, want to play with their skill level. We can designate courts for certain skill levels. If you’re a 4.0, 4.5, 3.5 or 3.0, you can go and have open play with people of your skill level, or you can do drop-in, too.”

Using PlaySight technology, there will be cameras on every court recording all the play, all day long, every day. Members can watch their play, or send the video to instructors to critique it. There will be lessons and clinics and Pickleball Club University, where players can go from beginner all the way up to about a 4.0 player.

At the club’s high-end café Pickles, members can drop in for nitro coffee, blended drinks, sandwiches, salads, beer and wine. “Yes, we will have food and beverage, but it’s not about us selling hard liquor, it’s more about creating a social environment for everybody,” Brian says. “We will also have a pro shop called Dinks, where we will have about 70 demo paddles so you can come in and try out different paddles without having to buy one. You can talk to the pros and they’ll give you their advice on what’s good and then, a new paddle is shipped to you, right to your home the next day. All the apparel and equipment that you’re ever going to want or need is in the pro shop which eventually will evolve into e-Dinks so that you can buy the stuff online, too.”

Naturally, Brian plans to bring his philanthropic passion into his pickleball world. “I really like to connect and give back to the community,” he says. “So we set up the Play for Life Foundation, which is independent of our for-profit company, focusing on three categories: youth, veterans and first responders, to which the Foundation will donate a complete club-n-box, which includes nets, paddles, balls and instruction. You can’t believe how much fun it is giving one of these boxes to local firefighters.They move the fire engine out, open up the doors, set up the court and they start playing pickleball in the firehouse. It is so cool to see.”

According to Brian, there are several factors responsible for the popularity of the sport. “Pickleball is a multigenerational sport, meaning parents can play with their kids and grandparents can play with their grandkids. I don’t know another sport other than checkers where you can do that.” He also credits the health aspect. “There’s a growing obesity epidemic amongst the youth because they’re all sitting behind computers, their smartphones, their tablets and gaming consoles all day. This is actually a sport that will get the youth out and doing something. It’s great for strength, mobility, balance, everything. It really does help and it burns off the calories over time because you can play it for a long time. On our special cushioned courts, if you could play for an hour outside on asphalt, you can come inside and play for two to three hours. It’s so much easier on the joints and the knees. For senior players, that’s a big issue, their joints get sore. This allows them to play longer.” With plans to open in February, there are a plethora of member events being planned, including a ribbon cutting ceremony. The company currently has 47 shareholders and has raised nearly $5 million in equity over the past year and a half and is currently accepting accredited investors. “We recently ran an ad saying if you build it, they will come,” says Brian. Based on the constant calls and inquiries from interested players, the founders are pretty sure they will come. The Pickleball Club, 1300 Sarasota Center Blvd, Sarasota. 941-2714444, https://www.tpclwr.us/

PICKLEBALL FOR ALL

A sport once thought of as a senior game, pickleball is catching on with kids playing in Sarasota’s very first youth pickleball league.

PICKLEBALL, THE CRAZE THAT’S QUICKLY SWEEPING THE NATION, once had a reputation for being a senior game, predominantly played by those over 55. That is definitely not the case anymore. The sport has caught on in a big way with younger generations as evidenced by the popularity of the first youth pickleball league in Sarasota which launched early this fall at the Pompano trailhead courts. Co-founded by Gillett Cole, a teacher at NewGate Montessori School and Julie Stewart, a medical rehab therapist and certified pickleball instructor, the league is a nonprofit, no-cost venture that caters to local youth in middle and high school, getting them outside playing pickleball and keeping them active.

With donations of paddles, balls and nets from Play For Life this summer, and a partnership with Sarasota County Parks and Rec, the league took off immediately. “Once we started getting into it I quickly observed how attractive the sport was to students, particularly those who had never picked up a paddle or ball before in their lives because they were either intimidated by it or they didn’t think of themselves as athletic.” shares Cole. “I saw a light shine in them with pickleball and I’ve never seen that with any other sport.”

Cole and Stewart are planning to have four eight week sessions per year taking place every Tuesday from 4:30 to 6:00 pm. Kids can drop in anytime during the sessions–they don’t have to come in the beginning or stay until the end. This way, pickleball won’t interfere with other commitments, like football or soccer. While they are not instructing or giving lessons, the cofounders have made it clear that they are available and happy to answer questions and give guidance during the sessions. “Our ultimate vision would be for all schools to have their own teams and practice on their own time,” says Cole. “And then on Tuesdays, they would all come together and we can have matches just like they have Friday night football games. It would be awesome if all teams could have matches in the same location because that would be really cool for building those bridges between schools.”

As a ‘thank you’ to the county for the use of six brand-new courts at Pompano, the students are providing community service hours to give back to the community. NewGate students, for example, will commit a certain number of hours throughout the school year to perform service duties, such as garbage pickup along the boulevards, beach cleanups, and more.

“Pickleball is one of those sports that anybody can play to some degree at some level. You can be playing within 20 minutes of learning, yet it takes a lifetime to master,” says Stewart. “We’re getting students from private schools, public schools, youth groups from churches and synagogues, home schools–we’re bridging those gaps with the youth, with their community. And the students are meeting people that are like-minded and are enjoying a sport together. We love the aspect of having the kids from all the different schools intermingle. An added bonus is that the kids don’t really realize that it’s exercise, they’re just out there having a really good time.”

This page: The Sarasota Youth Pickleball League plays at the pickleball courts at Pompano Park every Tuesday after school.

At the moment, all advertising is by word of mouth and because there is no real funding available, the league is in need of volunteers. The response so far from the community has been fantastic, according to Cole. “We have all different kinds of volunteers that come out and they will hit with the kids and help us with them, help us referee the matches, whatever we need, really. It’s warming their hearts to be able to give back and it’s great mentoring for the kids as well.”

For more info on the Sarasota Youth Pickleball League, sarasotayouthpickleball.org

ADVICE FROM THE PRO

Scott Tingley is a born and raised Sarasotan, a veteran of the United States Air Force and a pickleball pro. An instructor, a teacher and a coach by nature, Tingley sat down with us to talk about the popularity of the sport and the best way to get into it.

WHY DO YOU THINK PICKLEBALL HAS BECOME SO POPULAR? SCOTT TINGLEY: I think pickleball has taken off so well for a multitude of reasons, but I’ll give you three. The ease of the learning curve, the socialness of the game and the low cost to get into it. You can get a good pickleball paddle for $100, a pair of shoes for $80, $6 worth of balls and you’re ready to play.

IS THERE A TYPICAL AGE FOR THE CLIENTS YOU’RE WORKING WITH OR IS IT ALL ACROSS THE BOARD? TINGLEY: It’s changed so drastically over the last seven years. I don’t think seven years ago I taught anybody under age 55 to 60. As the sport has progressed and gotten younger, I’ve started teaching anywhere from seven years old, junior kids to I think 84 was the oldest person I taught. But I would say that the average age has gone from 60 to 45 really just in seven years.

HOW DOES SOMEONE LEARN THE BASICS ABOUT THE GAME IF THEY’VE NEVER PLAYED? TINGLEY: Nowadays there are a lot of tutorials online that will allow somebody enough information to go out and feel comfortable enough to play. The great part of the sport is that because it’s so social, if you walk up to a court by yourself and there are eight courts, within three minutes, somebody’s going to come over and ask you to play or if you want to learn how to play. That’s the greatest part of pickleball I think. As players, we all want everybody to do it because we’re all so addicted to it and we love it. But I would say that if you want to know the rules, you can go to the usapa.org website (usapickleball.org). That’s a great tool because it tells you where there are places to play in your zip code. It tells you people to contact. It tells you times that they play and it also tells you the rules and other details. DO YOU FIND THAT MORE PEOPLE REQUEST PRIVATE LESSONS OR DO THEY PREFER TO BE IN A GROUP OR A CLINIC SETTING? TINGLEY: As a pro, I’ve held clinics every single week and they’re just as popular as private lessons. That can change based upon the needs of the person or persons and their skill or ability level. I currently teach at the US Open Pickleball site in Naples, where we have a huge tournament every year. When I teach there I do more private lessons with higher level players and the clinics are run by lower skill level professionals and they teach or cater to the lower skill level people for the clinic. Higher level people either like private lessons or they like to do what’s called a ‘three and me’ where they get two of their partners or friends and I play as the fourth person and critique their play and help them to improve their shot selection and strategies.

WHERE ELSE DO YOU TEACH? TINGLEY: I get subcontracted to do a lot of work around the country. I have a side company with a business partner called ATP Pickleball, and we teach at numerous locations around the country every year.

FOR SOMEBODY WHO HAS NEVER PLAYED BEFORE BUT WANTS TO START, WHAT ARE YOUR WORDS OF ADVICE? TINGLEY: I tell everybody, make a self assessment, because with the growth and popularity of pickleball, the growth and popularity of injuries has skyrocketed. And I associate a lot of that with people that retire, that have been working for 25, 30 years, sitting in an offi ce or behind a computer. They get out on the court and the last time they were athletic was 30 years and 30 pounds ago. And that’s where a lot of the injuries really start to happen because it looks so easy to play. Whenever I work with somebody at the very beginning I always ask them, “Do you have any prior injuries? Have you had surgeries? Anything wrong with your heart? Are you diabetic?” I ask all those questions so that I can make an assessment and try to help people so they don’t get injured.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BEST WAY TO AVOID OR PREVENT INJURIES? IS IT STRETCHING BEFOREHAND? TINGLEY: It’s a big part of it. Some unathletic people are going to remain unathletic, but it doesn’t mean they can’t play. So when I work with people, I teach them how to move so they don’t get injured. Kinesiology or the study of kinetics and how the body works can really help somebody from getting injured. But I just have one small phrase that I tell everybody, whether it’s a clinic or a private lesson: No ball is worth the fall. Trust your body. If you can’t get there, don’t worry about it. You’re going to see another ball at some point. Don’t hurt yourself just to chase a ball. WHAT IS A TYPICAL BEGINNER CLINIC OR LESSON LIKE? TINGLEY: In a beginner clinic you would learn three things and it would be an hour to an hour and a half long. You would learn how to serve, you would learn how to return, and you would learn how to dink or hit the ball softly and make it bounce. Typically speaking, and if there were eight people in a clinic, the cost could be anywhere from 10 to $20 a person.

Left: Scott Tingley’s teaching techniques are designed to help players feel comfortable on the court.

DO YOU THINK PICKLEBALL WILL SURPASS TENNIS IN POPULARITY? TINGLEY: I think that the growth of pickleball is at an average of almost 12% a year where tennis is arguably growing at 4% a year. I don’t know that pickleball will ever be as popular as tennis in the sense of being on mainstream TV. Even though it’s been on CBS Sports and it’s been on ESPN, pickleball doesn’t translate that well on TV because it looks so slow. However, I would say more people are playing pickleball over tennis, but I just don’t know if everybody will ever know that.

WILL PICKLEBALL BE AN OLYMPIC SPORT ONE DAY? TINGLEY: Pickleball is professionally played in 40 countries and it has to be in 45 countries to be considered for the Olympics. And we have an international committee that’s striving to get the last fi ve countries involved in it. It will be a demonstration sport in the 2028 Olympics. And I would venture a guess that it will most defi nitely be an Olympic sport someday. THE PICKLEBALL CLUB IS OPENING IN LAKEWOOD RANCH IN 2023. DO YOU THINK THIS TREND WILL CONTINUE AND MORE COURTS WILL BE BUILT IN THE COMING YEARS?? TINGLEY: It doesn’t matter. There are never enough courts.You can build more and they’ll come. It’s just like Field of Dreams. You build more pickleball courts and people will show up tomorrow and play. SRQ

For lessons or upcoming clinics with Scott Tingley, email pickleballacademy@gmail.com or by phone, 941-468-7867.

FUN PICKLEBALL FunFacts

Where did the name ‘pickleball’ come from? There are various versions of the story but according to Brian McCarthy, co-owner of The Pickleball Club, it goes back to the mid 1960s on Bainbridge Island on the West Coast in Washington, where Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum decided to create some fun for their kids. They didn’t have property for a full tennis court, so they made it the size of a badminton court. They lowered the net and they carved out some paddles from plywood. There are a couple stories in how the name was invented, but the one McCarthy goes with is that the game was named for the Pritchard family dog, Pickles. “A lot of people snicker at the name,” he says, “But I think, well, we have the game of squash and that’s a vegetable. The English have cricket and that’s an insect. There’s nothing wrong with pickles!”

How has the paddle changed over the years? Pickleball paddles were once made entirely of wood, but in recent years, lightweight materials like graphite and aluminum have been incorporated to lighten the weight. The typical pickleball paddle resembles a ping-pong paddle. Why does a pickleball have holes? Unlike tennis or ping pong balls, pickleball balls have large holes. Plastic and hollow, they are most similar to wiffl e balls. Because of the large holes, pickleball balls travel approximately 1/3 the speed of a tennis ball.

What is the kitchen on a pickleball court? The 7-foot non-volley zone directly in front of the pickleball court’s net is called the kitchen, also known as the non-volley zone. You cannot be in the kitchen zone or touching the kitchen line while volleying a ball.

What is a dink? The dink is a soft shot hit from around your own kitchen line that lands in your opponent’s non-volley zone (kitchen). A dink slows down the game and can force your opponent to move out of position.

Where can I play locally? According to the Sarasota Pickleball Organization, LLC, the following is a list of local courts. For up to date info, you can subscribe to the weekly newsletter that comes out every Sunday. sarasotapickleball.com/schedules-where-to-play.

By-Pass Park Foxworthy Campus 8 total – six dedicated and two shared Colonial Oaks Park two* Englewood Sports Complex 10 total – six dedicated and four* shared Fruitville Park four* Hecksher Park two* Laurel Park four* Longwood Park one Newtown Estates Park four* Nokomis Community Park four* Pinebrook/ Wellfi eld Park two Siesta Beach four* Twin Lakes Park four* Woodmere Park four* Youth Athletic Complex one *denotes need to bring your own net.