CRA Rollout, Winter 2012

CRA Rollout, Winter 2012

Read the CRA Rollout Online at ColoradoRacquetball.com

The Colorado Racquetball Association Quarterly ENews

Winter 2012

13TH ANNUAL RACQUET FOR THE CURE Each year since 2000, Colorado has hosted a Racquet for the Cure tournament to support the Denver affiliate of Komen for the Cure - collecting over $70,000 in total donations to date. Now in its 13th year, RFTC looks forward to another great event - at the Highlands Ranch Recreation Center - that invites players to have fun for a good cause!

Download the print application for all of this year's details, then be sure to enter today >> Friday Mixed Doubles & Saturday Men's Playoffs ... For a benefit donation, you'll be able to pair up with your favorite mixed doubles partner for Friday night play (with the possibility of later finals, if needed), PLUS play sanctioned singles and doubles at the Littlteton YMCA on Saturday. All benefit entries will be "first come-first served" to maximums, with mixed doubles limited to the first 20 teams to enter.

Women's Only Saturday at HRC ... entry includes all-day Saturday team play, plus ... a souvenir t-shirt on check-in, non-stop hospitality (snacks, beverages, breakfast, lunch & dinner), competition, coaching, clinics, pro viewing and instruction, banquet, awards, guest speakers, plus the feel-good knowledge that your racquet IS at work "for the cure."

Then, we PARTY on Saturday Night ... at a celebration where everybody wins, players select from a wide range of donated merchandise and services like: racquets, bags, gloves, clothing, accessories, hotel and spa packages, plus much, much MORE!

In this issue: • 13th Racquet for the Cure • Mile High WPRO Am • Club Update • Upcoming Events • Board News • Junior Corner • Know your Rules • From the President • From the Editor • National News Past Event Results: • CRA State Doubles • Peerless Tires Shootout

CRA Rollout, Winter 2012

EVENT PREVIEW: WPRO Mile High Pro Am, March 8-11 The best women players in the sport will return to Denver in the New Year to compete in a Tier 1 tour stop for the Women's Pro Racquetball Organization. Event Director Deb Beldring has been working diligently on creating a high-class Mile High Pro Am event that will showcase some of the most exciting players in the game.

The event will take place March 8-11 at the Denver Athletic Club downtown. For locals not quite ready to challenge the pros, a full amateur event will be offered including both singles and doubles events.

An already exciting WPRO season saw Paola Longoria regain her #1 rank over Rhonda Rajsich by winning three out of the four first pro events of the year. Throughout the field, young rising stars against consistent veterans create exciting matches, with the potential for a few upsets. For first time pro viewers, the WPRO tour is comprised of junior national champions, national team players and a strong contingent of international players from Canada, Chile, Japan and Mexico. You're invited to enjoy watching the best female players in the world jockey for ranking position and vie for a $15,000 prize purse.

The WPRO stop is sanctioned by the USAR/CRA and the Classic Pro Racquetball Tour will also host an official playoff round on site, featuring local legend Woody Clouse. Don't miss it - register today!

CLUB UPDATE: ARMY versus AIR FORCE ... Where Else? Colorado Springs!

Special Report by Richard Romero The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it. -- Norman Schwarzkopf, retired US Army General, Commander of US Central Command and Commander of the Coalition Forces in the Gulf War, 1991.

It started out as a few active duty military personnel, retirees, and civilians getting together on a military base for friendly games of racquetball. They were racquetball amateurs who were either on active military duty serving their country or prior military personnel now working federal jobs but still serving their country.

There was plenty of friendly trash talk between the varying military services and naturally that led to one day the gauntlet being tossed down to have a challenge. Spearheaded by AF Retiree Jared Fernandez and Navy Retiree Ernie Costelo (Navy retiree representing the Army, Sports Director at Forrest Gym, Fort Carson) it was decided that the matches would be held at Peterson AFB in Colorado Springs, because it had five RB courts. [ full article ]

CRA Rollout, Winter 2012

CRA SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS ENTRY DOWNLOADS & REGISTRATION • Peerless Tire Shootout • Icy Blast • Blizzard Bash • Racquet for the Cure • Colorado Madness • Mile High Pro Am CRA on Facebook

THE BOARD REPORT | by Sarah Warhaftig It’s hard to believe that a full year has gone by and the Board is already looking at another State Singles Championship in a few short months. But, before that, the Denver Athletic Club will host a Women's Pro Tour Stop that we hope will excite the entire city. Want to help?

At the last board meeting, there was a lot of discussion about how to get more media attention for racquetball. Wouldn't you like to see your name in the paper after winning a CRA State title? How about a photo of you with your medal? When was the last time you noticed a TV camera at a racquetball tournament? It's easier than you think!

It's also time to consider CRA Board service, since four seats will be up for grabs in the new year. With thanks for their dedicated service, terms expire for Ben Kincses, Larry Haemmerle, Deven Naik and Mark Sikorski in 2012. Of course, we'll beg them to run again, but elections are scheduled annually to make sure that all CRA members have an opportunity to volunteer and be considered. So, if you're interested, be sure to contact Marcia Richards to throw your name into the hat!

If you'd like to practice a bit beforehand, CRA is always looking for volunteers to assist at State events (Singles, Doubles, Pepsi Cup), where you'd get a good feel for some of the behind-the-scenes duties and responsibilities that come with the territory. Speak up and we'll put you to work - with thanks!

OPINIONATED MUCH ... ?

Let's face it. The CRA needs your feedback, and you want to vent! The economy has impacted all sorts of leisure pursuits, including racquetball, so it's clear that we have to address changing needs.

Look for quarterly surveys (with newsletters, on the website and Facebook), asking a series of questions designed to find out how to keep you involved. We need to hear it straight from you, so don't hesitate to share your views on how to make things better.

No matter what you like to do – it’s a good bet that CRA offers plenty of opportunities to show off your skills.

So shall we sign you up? We’d love to have you on the team to help racquetball continue to thrive throughout Colorado in 2012!

CRA Rollout, Winter 2012

CRA JUNIOR FOCUS | Programs are ready and waiting!

We have a great program outline - Team Colorado - for our middle school, high school, and collegiate players ... the only thing missing is the number of participants!

Marketing the sport is a challenge and we need our membership to help us out. We need someone to head up this program and make it their passion! We need more volunteers with skills in teaching, coaching and promotions. A full time teacher and coach seems like a perfect fit for this job …!

A common coaching analogy describes a good program as being like an iceberg. The wider and stronger the bottom of the iceberg, the higher the tip towers above the water. The stronger your feeder programs are, the more exposure and success your lead players will enjoy. Most of the CRA juniors have grown up and are moving into adult divisions to compete nationally and represent Colorado at a very high level. So we need more accountable programs to continue to build national champions like Adam, Eric, and Nick.

Another saying in the coaching arena is: a good program doesn't have to re-build, they just re-load! Colorado has to rebuild its junior programs this year so - in our future - we'll only have to reload. If you have a junior program developing at your facility we would like to hear from you, with details about your format, fees, the number of students involved, dates and times. Then we'll coordinate and re-deliver the information to help drive interest and share successes.

KNOW YOUR RULES ! by Dave Stone Have you ever lost a game of racquetball 15-17 (15 representing the opponent’s score and 17 your total score, notwithstanding the multiple rallies replayed)? There is nothing more frustrating than a game fraught with dispute.

In a typical game of racquetball, the vast majority of rallies are played without contention with an occasional call questioned by one of the players. In most sanctioned tournaments, referees serve as an independent official, providing some reassurance that the outcome of most rallies will be correct. However, most games of racquetball are played recreationally without the luxury of a referee.

The question for many players is how to resolve the inevitable disputes that arise during a recreational game.

USA Racquetball, the governing body for racquetball, has attempted to address this issue in the 2011 USAR Official Rules of Racquetball. Section ‘D’ under the Competition Policies and Procedures tackles the subject of self-officiating. In this article, I will address the highlights of self-officiating and provide some ideas for making recreational games safer and more enjoyable. [ full article ]

CRA Rollout, Winter 2012

FROM THE EDITOR The face of media is changing, and anyone (yes, anyone!) can file a news report online. Anyone (yes, that means A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one Year and out the other ... Anonymous. you!) can submit tournament info to a newspaper or broadcast web calendar. Afterward, anyone (yes, Why is it that we continue to do the same things and you're getting the idea!) can email expect different results? As a 25-year-plus board tournament results to those same member, I have seen great ideas come and go ... good newspapers and TV stations. people volunteer their time on a board come and go ... and first-rate players come and go. I have also met Nowadays, "reporters" are the people people who have been a part of the game for 20-35 who go to the trouble of promoting years! themselves, as paid staffs continue to shrink in traditional newsrooms. Who What are the things that keep you playing, that keep your passion for this gets the attention? It's still the squeeky sport alive, and survive the tests of time? What intangibles are missing in our wheel! grassroots programs? If we could harness them and divvy them out to new and upcoming programs, we could become rich!

Follow up by blogging on the site, "liking" the listing, initiating Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a discussions, commenting on posts, bank where they have no account ... Oscar Wilde. visiting relevant Facebook pages or tweeting the news. With social media, I believe that if a person picks up a racquet and is introduced to the game of all the tools are in place - all YOU racquetball in a non-threatening manner, in a way that is fun and easy, they have to do is use them, in the same will return. If you can find some success from the start and have fun way you do every day. throughout the process, it will stick with you. So where are these people? We think YOU know some, and can bring them into the fold this year!

So limber up your keyboard muscles, FROM THE PRESIDENT | by Marcia Richards ... New Year's Resolution Roadblocks ...

So maybe this can be a new year’s resolution that we can keep: If you focus on results, you will never change. If you focus on change, you will get results ... Jack Dixon But if we don’t address what underlies our needs and what is the cause of our failure we will never be able to reach our goals. This year, help CRA ...

1. Identify the programs that are successful 2. Isolate any events that lead to failed programs Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right ... Oprah Winfrey

refer to the full CRA schedule and start filling up those media calendars with the dates that are important to you. Make it a "groundswell"!

— Linda Mojer

CRA Rollout, Winter 2012

NATIONAL NEWS | by Larry Haemmerle These are very exciting times at the National level! The latest edition of Racquetball magazine was both mailed and available online on the USA Racquetball website. By providing an online version, the ability to access other links by clicking on articles or advertisements will further enhance the value of the publication.

The last edition of the magazine also contained an open solicitation from both the President and Executive Director for suggestions on what USAR should start, stop, or continue doing to improve our organization. The year-end feedback deadline has passed, so we are already reviewing the information submitted to aid us in determining our future direction.

One of the key elements in the membership of the USA Racquetball Board of Directors is the requirement for athlete representation. As all committees that have a direct impact on athlete funding must have athlete participation, it is imperative that we have the best possible candidates available. Recently, Krystal Csuk was appointed to join Jason Thoerner and Aimee Ruiz as a designated Athlete Representative on the USA Racquetball Board of Directors. She is currently ranked #6 on the Women’s Professional Racquetball Tour and has competed on both the U.S. National Senior and Junior Teams.

In news that should be welcome to Tournament Directors, the Limited Event Membership fee has been lowered from $20 to $10. This will assist Tournament Directors in convincing recreational and league players within their facilities to take their first steps in tournament competition. However, this rate will not be available for State and Regional Championships, and USA Racquetball National Events.

Speaking of national events, planning meetings have already commenced for the Ektelon National Singles Championships presented by ProPenn to be held in California in May. There are some new and exciting initiatives being explored so look for updates as the event draws closer. Remember, simply playing in our upcoming State Singles Championships or in a Regional or National Qualifier makes you eligible to play in this marquee event.

Finally, USA Racquetball has authorized some test sites to run sanctioned leagues at very reasonable rates with some outstanding benefits. The CRA is proud to be one of those authorized test sites. The Colorado Interscholastic League, beginning on January 11, will be our first league to take advantage of this great opportunity. If players or League Coordinators are interested in exploring league sanctioning, please feel free to email me. Currently, there is a great deal of flexibility in pricing and benefits at these test sites.

Hope everyone had a great Holiday Season and I look forward to seeing all of you on the courts in 2012!

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