CRA Rollout, Fall 2013

CRA Rollout, Fall 2013

Read the CRA Rollout Online at ColoradoRacquetball.com

The Colorado Racquetball Association Quarterly ENews

FALL 2013

STATE DOUBLES ON DECK: November 1-7 Highlands Ranch to Host Season Opener Break in the New Season ... ! The CRA State Doubles is the first state championship of each season - and always brings out Colorado's best - so it's time to break out a new can of balls and get back on the court.

In this issue: • Doubles UP • 15 years for RFTC • Program Update • Club Update • Upcoming Events In the Open divisions, CRA crowned a half-dozen of the state's top players, • Board News including a successful defense by Mike O'Brien and Nick Riffel to earn their • Junior Update second consecutive Men's Open title, with a win over Thomas Braun and • Know your Rules Lee Beckwith. Gaye Crossen and Janelle Williams edged out top seeded • From the President Lori Inskeep and Marcia Richards for their first title victory as a team. In • From the Editor Mixed Open, youth won out (again), as siblings Adam and Erika Manilla • National News defeated veterans Marcia Richards and Craig Clayton.

Past Event Results: With records going back to 1982, the CRA has enjoyed a rich history of • Rocky MTN State Games doubles competition. In Open divisions since the turn of the century, two• US OPEN time champs among the men have included Mike O'Brien & Nick Riffel (11 • World Seniors & 12 as a team), David Guentert (05,10), Gary West (07,08), John Rhodes (04,05), and Woody Clouse (03,04). Among the women, Marcia Richards RACQUET DRIVE for (02,03,05,11) is tied with Mary Keenan (04,06,08,09), with four titles each.

JUNIORS! If you've In Mixed, only Debbie Beldring has been able to repeat (09,10), each time upgraded your gear for with a different partner. the new season, clear out your equipment So who will it be this year? Check the 2012 results to see which defending locker and bring your old champs will claim their top seed in this year's lineup ... then enter online frames to State Doubles.

by MONDAY, October 28 - to $AVE! They'll be donated to Junior programs in Colorado!

Last year's event drew greater numbers than 2011, with 119 players entered in 22 divisions, including the popular Centurion bracket. Players in "Centurion" must have a combined total age of 100+, in any configuration (junior+veteran, mixed pairs, 50+ each), to enter this playoff. If you're looking for a second division, this one is well worth a try!

OH YES THEY DID ! Racquet for the Cure Gets Ready to Celebrate 15th Year Highlands Ranch to Host Landmark Event: February 7-8, 2014 From truly humble beginnings, Colorado's own, original Racquet for the Cure Benefit Tournament has kept its resolve - year after year - to support the cause of defeating breast cancer in our lifetime.

Now getting ready for its landmark 15th Anniversary - organizers have an ambitious goal ... to RAISE a total $15,000 donation in a single year - which would push its cumulative giving over the top, to $100,000 in all-time giving.

So ... look for website updates to begin populating soon, then mark your calendars, check your budget to consider an outright donation (in this tax year, or next), begin thinking about what you might be able to donate toward giveaways, and start sharing your support of this cause - among your neighbors and friends, in your workplace, and on your social media. We can do this ... with your help!

CRA Rollout, Fall 2013

PROGRAM UPDATE | Ladies Days Somewhere behind the athlete you've become, the hours of practice, the coaches who have pushed you, and the fans that cheer you, is the little girl who fell in love with the sport and never looked back. Play for her! --Unknown Author The CRA is dedicated to bringing back our monthly ladies days. We started out in Colorado Springs with hosts Chantel Anderson and Michelle Sikorski. Everyone received a gift and walked away fully satisfied with the workout and the fun interactions among the group. If you are not on our ladies list please make sure you let Marcia Richards the CRA secretary know to add you. If you want one of the ladies days to come to your club let us know that as well. So help us gear up for the season by introducing a new woman to the game.

Email Marcia now >>

CLUB UPDATES | by Ralph Graham

The annual Back to the DAC racquetball blast was held on Friday, September 27 with a "Back to the Future" theme, ala '80s movies. Debbie Beldring went one step further with a “Blast from the Past” approach, encouraging players to wear and play with “old school” clothing and racquets.

Finalists and winners were: Men’s A Singles: Eric Jacquet, 2nd - Mike Smalley; Men’s B Singles: 1st James Drury, 2nd - Dave Coldiron; Mixed Advanced Doubles: Kevin Holmes/Ellie Stanton, 2nd - Ralph Graham/Kathleen Erikson; Best Costume: Rich Zavoda, Ralph Graham.

Pictured L-R: Rich Owens, Eric Jacquet, Rich Zavoda, Victor Manilla, Ralph Graham, Dave Klein, Alan Roy, Mike Smalley. Photo courtesy Ralph Graham.

Denver Athletic Club offers junior classes, leagues, free beginner clinics and a networking Oil & Gas Racquetball League for anyone in the industry. For more information about DAC programs, contact Debbie Beldring at 720.931-6812.

CRA SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS

CRA Rollout, Fall 2013

ENTRY DOWNLOADS & REGISTRATION • CRA State Doubles - Now • Colorado Madness - December • Blizzard Bash - January CRA on Facebook

THE BOARD REPORT | by Marcia Richards, CRA Secretary Do you remember the first time you picked up a racquet? How it felt? For me there was no turning back. I was a tennis player, not very good, but played and enjoyed being on the court. I loved drilling in tennis more than anything else because that was when I got the best workout.

When I first picked up a racquetball racquet I got that same feeling, and I was still not very good.

There was a time, early on, that I remember playing doubles (wow, I wouldn't recommend that to a beginner today!). But we played mixed: a 6’5” basketball player, a huge football player, a gal who played center on the University of Arizona basketball team and (comparatively) little me. It was so dangerous, but we didn't know any better. We had so much fun.

I was reminded of this when four guys came up to me recently to ask for help with some rules. It turned out they had never played and wanted to try some doubles. Four beginners ... yikes! I calmed myself, spent 30 minutes with them - and loved seeing the rules sink in and how excited they were to learn. They had a great time and I hope they look me up for more instruction. It's experiences like those with friends, just playing and having fun, that I still cherish.

GREAT NEWS ... In June, Colorado will host the national Junior Olympics - and you can help us make this event fun for the entire family!

Contact any board member so we can put together a list of volunteers. We'll need help with off site activities like bowling, movies, downtown events … running the desk, daycare … just to name a few ideas that come to mind!

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

So shall we sign you up?

Volunteering is an easy way to help the sport continue to thrive throughout Colorado!

Just contact any board I think it's important to remember those days when we innocently member to volunteer! played the game with no real expectations and, therefore, no pressure about the outcome. In "the good old days" I didn't have to worry about how many matches I had scheduled on a given day, what to eat or when to rest - OR - how many hours of time I'd committed to spending at the tournament desk ...

Helping others can be very rewarding - and studies show that volunteers have better health, self esteem and ... well ... a host of other great things!

1. When you share what you know about the game, you naturally revisit the basics necessary to establish good skills. Explaining or breaking down the skills for someone else is good for you!

2. Remember your first tournament, where everyone seemed to know each other and you felt like an outsider? If you're the veteran, be sociable; if you're the new kid on the block, take this opportunity to reach out and connect with others.

3. Give back to your facility - especially if they're eyeing your court space. Keep courts full by inviting new players to the game; help young players find a place on the courts.

4. We're all working our own jobs and there a few facilities that pay someone to develop programs. And the CRA can always use your help networking and sharing on social media.

JUNIOR UPDATE | Colorado HIgh School Racquetball Series

The Colorado High School Racquetball Series allows students to sample racquetball through supervised play and fun, interactive activities. Register your program and with the CRA and we can get you started with

CRA Rollout, Fall 2013 a bag of racquets and balls, eyewear (as available), simple rule book and a DVD on how to run some drills with easy games to get your program off the ground. These resources will make your club a success, and you can host whenever you'd like. Please take a look at the expanded details online then contact Marcia Richards to get set up.

KNOW YOUR RULES ! Amendments | by Dave Stone Many players over the past couple years have asked when USA Racquetball would reinstate the 2-serve rule to coincide with the IRT. Short answer – the rule was amended on September 1, 2013. This begs the question as to how USA Racquetball makes the decision to amend the rules. The answer is found in Section E of the official rules which governs the procedures for rule changes.

We encourage all players to take an active voice in proposing and/or commenting on the rules. USA Racquetball identified seven proposals to include on the 2013 ballot – four were adopted, and three were not. Included in the three rejected proposals was a clarification on the required shots for balls rebounding to the center of the court. This has been a long contested issue that begs for clarification and will go without answer for at least one more year. The other rejected proposals include discontinuing stoppage for identified court hinders and clarifying that comments or noises by the defensive player(s) are not permitted. Read the full column here >>

FROM THE PRESIDENT | by Larry Haemmerle We are rapidly preparing for another Colorado racquetball season beginning with our first championship event, the CRA State Doubles Championships. We will be well prepared, but how about you?

You should be preparing physically for the challenge but how about your equipment? This is a great time to ensure you don't have any equipment failures in the heat of competition that could cost you matches.

My recent column in Racquetball Magazine addressed some of my personal opinions on equipment. Please check it out (pg.6) if you want some humble opinions from a very seasoned (old) competitor.

In that article, I shared that you should start by checking the condition of your racquet. Are there any cracks you haven't noticed? Is the grip in good condition? How about the bumper guard? Is it cracked with the potential to snag clothing or scratch you? Is the tether frayed and ready to break or come out of the handle? Are the strings fresh or beginning to notch and get brittle? Most of you have multiple racquets. Are they all in great condition in case you need to switch out in the middle of a match? Don't get caught without a good performing racquet when you need it most!

Top players make certain they have plenty of gloves in good condition, shoes that are new enough that they're still supportive, ample clothing for the event, and a newer warm up ball that matches the one being used.

You work hard to assure your best performance, make sure your equipment prep will give you the best opportunity to maximize your potential. See all of you soon!

FROM THE EDITOR Having just returned from the UnitedHealthcare US OPEN, where I'd done some social media work, I just pitched a fit when I searched for some simple information from a local club here at home and came up empty-handed.

Can management please get with the program? The internet isn't going away, and it's the BEST and MOST cost effective way to share information that promotes your court facilites and racquetball programs.

It's a well-known fact ... if a client, customer or potential member ... goes to your site and can't find what they're looking for - in 10 seconds or less - you've lost them.

Clubs can't afford that, and neither can racquetball. Invest in good web presence the same way that you care for the courts themselves and who knows what profits might actually be realized? Just sayin' ...

- Linda Mojer

NATIONAL NEWS | by Larry Haemmerle The biggest national story for Colorado players is the awarding of the National Junior Olympics to our state next June at Highlands Ranch! This is the biggest Junior event in the U.S. and is also a qualifier for the

CRA Rollout, Fall 2013 Junior National Team. We're very excited to host this premier event and will be soliciting donations and seeking volunteers to support the event.

Staying with the Junior theme, two Colorado Juniors are representing the United States at the World Junior Championships in Sucre, Bolivia (through 10/26). Adam and Erika Manilla have made the long journey to compete and we know they'll both make us all proud with outstanding play and sportsmanship. Follow along as Adam and Erika try to bring home the Gold!

I just returned from the UnitedHealthcare U.S. Open in Minneapolis, and every year the event gets better. Of the 726 competitors, Colorado was well represented by Jason Bredenbeck, Felipe Camacho, Tony Carson, Kevin Deyo, Penny Hietala, Joe Massa, Jason Padilla, Joe Williams, and Phil Zavala. I met up with a number of our players who were equally impressed with the scope of the event.

As with all of the large events, I spend a great deal of my time in meetings. However, I was always able to catch up with what was going on by talking with my wife, who has a great network within the racquetball community. Everyone knows and talks with Avril!

The portable court was set up in the Target Center Lifetime Fitness (supervised by Colorado's own Eddie Meredith) and was even more impressive than ever. Breaking Cliff Swain's all-time career win record, Kane Waselenchuk earned pro title #71 and U.S. Open crown #9, while Paola Longoria won her 4th U.S. Open title, losing only a single game throughout the event. Congratulations to both!

There was a very special reunion of many of the sport's legends, in tribute to Charlie Brumfield. There was a reception in the VIP hospitality area for all of these members of the Hall of Fame, and I was impressed with the passion these legends still show for our sport. I chatted with a number of them and enjoyed talking about the "good old days".

If you ever decide to attend one of the larger National championships, I highly recommend a trip to the U.S. Open. It's the biggest event of the year, with competition at four separate venues, and is truly as much an experience as a tournament.

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