CRA Rollout, Fall 2012

CRA Rollout, Fall 2012

Read the CRA Rollout Online at ColoradoRacquetball.com

The Colorado Racquetball Association Quarterly ENews

Fall 2012

IT'S TIME TO CRANK IT UP State Doubles Kicks off Season Last year, the State Doubles drew 97 players in 21 divisions of play, crowning a half-dozen of the state's best players in the Open divisions.

Mike O'Brien and Nick Riffel paired up to earn the Men's Open title, with a win over David Guentert and John Rhodes ... while Lori Inskeep and Marcia Richards edged out Debbie Beldring and Janelle Williams in a round-robin playoff. In the Mixed Open, Sarah Warhaftig and Kevin Holmes also took a win over Debbie Beldring and Michael Nigro.

With records going back as far as 1982, the CRA has enjoyed a rich history of doubles competition - and a very exciting recent decade. In the last ten years, two-time champs among the men included Guentert (05,10), Gary West (07,08), John Rhodes (04,05), and Woody Clouse (03,04). Among the women, Marcia Richards (02,03,05,11) is tied with Mary Keenan (04,06,08,09), with four titles each.

So who will it be this year? Check the 2011 results to see which defending champs will claim their top seed in this year's lineup - then enter online or print your entry and send it early to $AVE!

In this issue: • State Doubles on Deck • HCRA Opening Shots • Club & Tourney Update • Upcoming Events • Board News • Know your Rules • From the President • From the Editor • National News Past Event Results: • Rocky Mountain State Games • HCRA Opening Shots • Killer Open • DAC Fall Racquetball Blast

CRA Rollout, Fall 2012

HRCA OPENS NEW SEASON

by Ellie Stanton The first tournament of the new racquetball season was held Saturday, September 15 at the Highlands Ranch Recreation Center at Northridge. At the HRCA Opening Shots 2012, a new record number of entrants turned out for a one-day shootout - with 72 total on hand! Click here or on the image below for a larger view of the winners >> There was tremendous excitement in the air (as well as some anxiety) as the players moved through the round robin format and then into the playoffs. It was great seeing everyone again, and because of the huge success of this tournament, HRCA will be doing it again next year.

A special thanks to Larry and Avril Haemmerle, Joe Williams and Susan and Emily Stanton for their professional management of this tournament, which finished up on time with lots of pleased "customers" on the playing side!

Hospitality was unbelievable, with food in the morning set up by the tournament committee promptly at 8am, followed by an outstanding Olive Garden lunch for everyone attending at 11:30am. And - if that wasn't enough - Old Chicago came in at 2:30pm and provided pizza to sustain the afternoon match players. Tennis Plus also offered all the players bottled water throughout the day. See the results here >>

CLUB & TOURNEY UPDATE The IRF World Junior Championships in Canoga Park November 11-17 will feature Colorado's own superstars Erika and Adam Manilla, who were appointed to the Junior National Team following their wins at Junior Nationals earlier in the summer. The team is conducting fundraisers to support their travel expenses, and you can donate specifically to Adam and Erika by selecting them on the team page.

January is not that far off, and Texas is right next door ... so consider the 2013 Women’s Senior/Masters National Championships January 18-20 at the Maverick Athletic Club in Arlington, Texas. The annual Fun Doubles Breast Cancer Fundraiser will be January 17 at a great club with 10 courts with upstairs viewing, a fullservice pro shop, a fitness center, snack bar, steam room, whirlpool and sauna. This event often supports our own local Racquet for the Cure event, as well, so plan a road trip to this fun-filled tournament!

Ben Kincses reports that the Englewood Recreation Center completely re-did their courts, including brand new floors and bright lights, along with refinished walls and doors. Three of the facility's four courts got a face-lift, including court one - easily seen from the front entrance - which was remodeled this past summer. ERC courts are full in the morning, lunch hour and at night! The middle school and high school team from Colorado Academy practices here November through March every winter, under the direction of Marcia Richards. Englewood has friendly drop-in fees and monthly options, give them a call, reserve a court and enjoy these great courts!

Highlands Ranch has announced its Fall and Winter racquetball leagues, which are already accepting registrations, so don't delay as they'll fill up quickly.

CRA Rollout, Fall 2012

Remember, at least 10 players are required to start a league (maximum 16). New leagues are hosted on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights from 7-8p; registration phone number is 303-471-8950 and online registration for HRCA members is at www.hrcaonline.org. Follow links to locate activity #721721EN, #721721-FN and #721721-GN to sign up. All league deadlines are 72 hours before the beginning of each league. ●

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Ralph Graham shares that the Denver Athletic Club will host a State Doubles Practice night on Thursday's at 6:00pm for Open/A/B level players. Space is limited so you'll need to reserve your spot each week. Members are free, non-members $10 drop-in Fall leagues for all player levels will start the week of October 1 and run 6-8 weeks Starting in October, juniors are welcomed to a come Back to the DAC for a free Junior Clinic at 7pm and get signed-up for Fall Junior racquetball If you have never played racquetball or just need a refresher, this Beginner's Clinic is for you! Learn basic rules and skills to get you started (non-marking shoes required); racquets and eyewear will be provided.

A reservation is required by calling 720.931.6812 to be included the first Tuesday of every month, 5:15pm - 6:00pm Join the weekly, early morning racquetball group on Tue., Wed. and Fri. at 6am; all levels welcome Be on hand for the Turkey Shootout on Tuesday, 11/20 at 6pm for a night of fun and games, with all levels welcome and plenty of prizes. Email Deb Beldring for more information.

Greater Denver / USA Racquetball National Ranking Points League! For the first time in CRA history, you can earn national ranking points by playing in a league! This flex league allows you to control your own schedule while competing for national ranking points. Can't commit to an entire weekend? Want to avoid tournament fatigue to bring out your competitive best? Need the convenience of controlling when and where you play? This league is for you! Work around your busy schedule to compete at your choice of clubs to earn national ranking points. Email Woody Clouse with any questions or call 720-841-1513.

On the road to Minneapolis for the UnitedHealthcare US OPEN were a handful of Colorado's best, including: Jake Bredenbeck, Felipe Camacho, Tony Carson, Woody Clouse, James Drury and Penny Hietala.

Leaving the gate as the No.9 seed, Carson logged his highest career finish in the IRT draw, by reaching the quarterfinal round before running into the eventual champion. On the way, Tony eliminated Jansen Allen of Texas and veteran Canadian national team member Vincent Gagnon - each in straight games - to go up against Waselenchuk. To his great credit, Carson was the only player to hand a game loss to the 7x champion - all weekend long!

CRA Rollout, Fall 2012

CRA SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS ENTRY DOWNLOADS & REGISTRATION • CRA State Doubles • Colorado Madness • 2013 Mile High Pro-Am CRA on Facebook

THE BOARD REPORT Congratulations to our own CRA Board Member and long-time elite player Woody Clouse, who defeated Keith Minor of Illinois to win the 2012 UnitedHealthcare US OPEN Championships in the Classic Professional Racquetball Tour (CPRT) Men’s 40 & Over division. The straight game finals win (9-5, 9-5, 9-0) gained Woody his fifth US OPEN CPRT title, and his fourth in a row.

Woody's racquetball involvement spans over 33 years. As a player Woody is the current #1 player on the Classic Professional Racquetball tour, has accumulated numerous National Championships, 8 world titles, 4 Gold Medals for Team USA and voted by his teammates 3 consecutive years as Team Captain.

As an instructor Woody is the author of Winning Racquetball which has sold over 30,000 copies worldwide. Woody provides a number of camps, clinics and private lessons to clubs throughout the US as well as conducts certification courses for the American Professional Racquetball Organization which he is also a board member.

ENTER MUCH ... ? Just days before the deadline and only a handful of players have committed to State Doubles ...

STATE DOUBLES people ... !

What are you waiting for?

We'll have a great souvenir, great play and great hospitality - so don't miss it!

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 the sport continue to thrive throughout Colorado in 2012!

Just contact any board member to volunteer!

According to a feature on the CPRT website, "Woody is the only player over 40 years of age to ever make the national team for both singles and doubles in the same year (2006). Woody won gold in doubles, silver in singles and gold in the team competition. He followed that up by representing Team USA an additional two consecutive years. Woody’s current winning streak dates back to 2010, when he lost to Cliff Swain in the finals of the CPRT Nationals. The longest winning streak in the history of professional racquetball is 3 years and 4 days (held by Kane Wesalenchuk). With another undefeated year, Woody will surpass that mark."

CRA Rollout, Fall 2012

BOARD DEBATE | Should CRA State Championships be limited to Colorado residents only?

The CRA routinely receives a handful of entries from out-of-state players wanting to compete in Colorado State Championships. The CRA has upheld a residency requirement - for state championships only (including Pepsi Cup) - throughout its 30+ year history; however, each new board of directors is faced with the same question, year after year.

The debate has solid argument on both sides ... should we be open and welcoming to neighboring players ... or are we responsible for assuring a Colorado-only field of play for state titles? As a CRA player who competes regularly, would you want to be eliminated from state title contention in an early round by someone from Wyoming, or have a New Mexico player named as your division's state champion? Last year's regional event drew one entrant from out of state.

So ... CRA is looking at some options and seeking your feedback.

We're considering a "buy in" program that would make out-of-state players "Colorado-eligible" when they cross state lines to play in two (2) open sanctioned tournaments on the CRA calendar during the season, prior to entering a state championship. So - if a player from a neighboring state has already invested in Colorado tournaments during the year, they'd become "eligible" for States.

What do you think? If you have thoughts or suggestions on the topic, please contact Ralph Graham with your comments and we'll take them into consideration when we have the next round of discussion! Thank you!

KNOW YOUR RULES ! by Dave Stone In this column, I'll share a set of "frequently asked questions" that should help you get a headstart on the season! First off, Can a player’s foot extend over the line when serving?

Answer: Rule 3.2 states, “Neither the ball nor any part of either foot may extend beyond either line of the service zone when initiating the service motion. Stepping on, but not beyond, the line is permitted. However, when completing the service motion, the server may step beyond the service (front) line provided that some part of both feet remain on or inside the line until the served ball passes the short line. The server may not step beyond the short line until the ball passes the short line. See Rule 3.9(a) and 3.10(i) for penalties for violations.” [ see full FAQ ]

CRA Rollout, Fall 2012

FROM THE PRESIDENT | by Marcia Richards ... Advertising Strategies for Racquetball ...

Do you need a little extra push to enter a tournament?

Does it help to know if a friend-or-foe is going to be in the draw? When you sign up, how much notice do you need, and how far ahead are you able to commit? Do you use ColoradoRacquetball.com or Facebook to stay informed? Are you the type of person that reads the bulletin board outside the court to see what’s coming up?

The point is - we all use different methods to get motivated and stay involved, so tournament directors also need to use a wide range of delivery systems to educate the competitors they hope to reach. For an event to be successful, it helps to have a plan for getting the word out in lots of ways.

Think of your “advertising strategy” as a blueprint that helps sell your event to CRA members. With almost as many strategies as there are divisions to fill, each organization has to come up with its own unique plan. But all advertising follows a few basic principles – and one of the main advantages of today’s technology is low overhead. So while you’re saving money in some areas, you have to make sure that your aims are clear, the environment is understood and all choices are based on available resources.

We all could use more help in promotion and advertising. When you’re planning an event, it’s imperative to get the word out in a timely fashion, get it out again, and then again. I’ve been a teacher for as many years as I’ve played racquetball … (a LONG time!) … and teachers joke that the answer to “How many times do I have to tell you?” is obviously: one more time.

So when it’s time to promote your event, you just have to keep at it. Like teaching, use different methods to get the message out for the visual learner, the auditory learner, and for the garden variety procrastinator.

Use all the technology we have: set up your tournament on R2Sports to reach competitive members, email the club’s league participants, tweet your friends who play, post to the Facebook page, send Linda the URL of your entry, and send me a PDF for re-forward to local facilities for hard copy posting.

Most players will not mail their entries anymore, but a hard copy reminder to go online is helpful. Lastly, help out your facility by posting a list of upcoming events – since the CRA calendar that got stapled to the bulletin board months ago has probably been updated since then. Utilize all the systems we have in place - and support your local events as much as you can. Give your friends a call – and play more!

FROM THE EDITOR Although I've remained in the loop for producing its annual souvenir program over the years, I haven't actually been to a US OPEN in quite some time ... so when I was asked to manage the social media this year, I just couldn't resist.

With UnitedHealthcare as a new title sponsor, it seemed like a good time to re-visit the sport's premiere event and - in the process - be reminded about just how much Colorado is involved in its success, from all angles.

We've already mentioned the CRA players on the roster, but there were also several enthusiasts who made a special trip - just to observe the action in real time from the stands. Who knew that racquetball had such fans?!

Logistically, Colorado's own Eddie Meredith is the "property master" of the exhibition stadium court responsible for its transport and complete construction and tear down.

While everyone else is trying to schedule a couple of extra days off work to play, his prep time wraps around the event for weeks before and after!

Amateur play is managed by USA Racquetball, which is headquartered in the Springs. The USAR Board also conducts a meeting there - headed by President (and CRA VP) Larry Haemmerle. In all, it's quite a Colorado endeavor - you should be proud! Linda Mojer

CRA Rollout, Fall 2012

NATIONAL NEWS | by Larry Haemmerle It's time to begin the fall racquetball season and the first major national event of the year the United Healthcare US Open - is in the books. The professional divisions seemed like deja vu all over again, with Kane Waselenchuk, Paola Longoria, and Colorado's own Woody Clouse all defending their crowns.

Of particular note, the US Open has a new title sponsor in UnitedHealthcare, whose significant support will enable the event to continue to grow and prosper. One of the benefits will be the ability to once again televise the event on the Tennis Channel. It is scheduled to air over Thanksgiving weekend, so be sure to tune in and watch!

Also, the USA Racquetball Board of Directors meet at the event to discuss various pressing issues facing our sport. One of the agenda items is addressing rule change proposals. Otto Dietrich, the National Rules Commissioner, presented rule changes that had been proposed by the membership, reviewed by the National Rules Committee, and offered to the Board of Directors at the meeting. Those approved for consideration by the Board will be featured in an upcoming Racquetball magazine for input from the general membership. At the next full Board Meeting in May, the membership input, recommendations from the National Rules Committee, and the recommendations from the Rules Commissioner will be consider by the Board of Directors for approval. All rule changes will be effective September 1 of the year when they are approved with the exception of racquet specifications, which become effective two years later, again on September 1.

All this activity has already proven to be a very exciting and dynamic start for our sport this year - and I hope all of you are preparing for the 2012 - 2013 competitive season! See you on the courts!

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