CRA Rollout, Spring 2015

CRA Rollout, Spring 2015

Read the CRA Rollout Online at ColoradoRacquetball.com

The Colorado Racquetball Association Quarterly ENews

SPRING 2015

STATE SINGLES ... BY THE NUMBERS First-time Men's Open Champ joins Women's Three-peat-er In its 42nd year, the Colorado State Singles Championships drew 103 players to compete in 41 divisions of pool play and single elimination medal rounds.

Thanks to careful scheduling and management, the entire event ran on time and players enjoyed taking full advantage of the host club, Apex Racquetball & Fitness, throughout the weekend.

In this issue: • 2015 STATE SINGLES In Men's Open, Jordan Walters advanced out of his preliminary flight undefeated, • Club & Tourney Updates with straight-game wins over Jacob Eggemeyer and Earl Haskins to take the top • Member Profile: Dick Kincade line in the playoff bracket. A bye into the semifinal put him against Timothy Danos, where he advanced with an 11-4 tiebreaker win to reach the final against • Upcoming Events • Board News Michael Eitzel. Another two games in that round gave Walters his first CRA • Know your Rules State Singles crown.

• From the President On the women's side, Erika Manilla was seeking a three-peat, following title wins • From the Editor in each of the past two years. From her pool, she kept challengers Kathleen • National News Erickson and Briana Jacquet under 10 points per game, then defeated Janelle Past Event Results: Williams in straight games to reach the playoff final. In a redux rematch, Briana • CRA State Singles Jacquet was able to score a few points more than she had in the round-robin • Racquet for the Cure flight, but was unable to unseat the defending champ, Erika Manilla, who claimed her record-setting three-peat.* Other men's victors included: Brent Anderson (Elite), Jacob Kingsford (A), James Hoffman (B), Richard Perales (C), Robert Bruce (D/Novice), Nick Blanchard (25+), Timothy Danos (35+), Lee Beckwith (45+), Bruce Evans (55+), Jurgen Denk (65+).

Combined age/skill winners Scott Walker (25+A/B), Luis Martinez (35+A/B), Rock Carrion (45+A/B) and Victor Manilla (55+A/B).

Among the women champs were: Hanna Shnurman (Elite), Gaye Crossen (A & 35/55+A/B), Danae Morton (B), and Janelle Williams (45/55+).

In a combined Junior 12 and under division round robin, Grant Haskins [ << pictured left ] took home the first place trophy, followed by Evan Gear, Lily Caldwell and Thomas Winnefeld.

In standalone playoffs, the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Racquetball Conference also fielded tough competition throughout the weekend in advanced, intermediate and beginner brackets (see below).

With thanks to Avril Haemmerle, you can also view a photo album of happy medalists and hard-working TDs on Facebook. Congratulations to everyone for a great tournament, all around!

*According to existing records, Erika Manilla is the only woman in CRA history to claim three consecutive Open titles.

Records are spotty, so if you have other, official documentation to fill in the blanks and challenge this claim - please share!

CRA Rollout, Spring 2015

TOURNEY UPDATE | Rocky Mountain Collegiate Racquetball Conference Congratulations to Shannin Rudman, whose appointment as Commissioner of the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Racquetball Conference [RMCRC] was reported in the Spring edition of RACQUETBALL Magazine. Current members of the conference are; University of Colorado at Boulder, University of Colorado at Denver, Colorado State University at Pueblo, Colorado School of Mines, University of Denver University of Northern Colorado and the University of Wyoming.

Pictured at right: Shannin Rudman with Hannah Belle Schnurman  from University of Northern Colorado after the pair won the CRA State Mixed Elite title in November. Schnurman also went on to win the Women's Elite division at State Singles. Photo by Krysia Rudman.

At State Singles, the RMCRC was invited to field players to a special collegiate playoff, and an elite roster of undergrads took up the challenge.

In the Advanced division, Jacob Kingsford represented the Air Force Acacemy, defeating Shawn Lopez of Colorado School of Mines and CSU's Michael Eckfield in pool play. A larger group of Intermediate players saw UNC's Casey Montoya come out on top to take the division title over Dylan Inskeep. Newcomer Eric Hipp, of CSU, advanced out of regulation Novice pool play to gain some valuable tournament experience. Other RMCRC players to round out the roster included: Nathaniel Barden (UNC), Daniel Butler (School of Mines), Joseph Encinias and Greggory Washam (UNC).

CRA Rollout, Spring 2015 MEMBER PROFILE | Farewell to Dick Kincade An icon in southern Colorado racquetball for over 35 years, our good friend Dick Kincade passed away at his home in Divide on February 12, at the age of 89.

The retired naval aviator had been introduced to the game in 1974 by a friend in Lincoln, Nebraska, and then spent the remainder of his lifetime involved in the sport in some way, shape or form. He relocated to New York for work and became an avid player at the Buffalo Athletic Club, before returning to Nebraska to open the Sports Courts of Lincoln in 1976, then founding two more clubs in short order. In 1980, the family retired to the Colorado Springs area, where Dick briefly headed up a club in Woodland Park.

Just a few years ago, he had been characterized as a hard-charging racquetball player in a Gazette feature article that cited his "deeply ingrained competitive drive." He was a National Masters Champion in singles and doubles multiple times over and was inducted to the U.S. Masters Racquetball Hall of Fame in 2008. His final competition was the 2014 Men of October event last fall in Sun City, Arizona.

Dick was devoted to his wife and high school sweetheart, Phyllis (who passed away last year), and the pair had visited more than 35 countries, rafted the Grand Canyon, plus skied and hiked in Colorado and Europe.

His career as a Naval Aviator began in 1943 and he flew missions from the USS Princeton during the Korean war and served as flight deck commander on the USS Midway during the Viet Nam war. During his assignment at Naval headquarters in Washington, D.C., Dick led a project to build and install the first anti-missile devices in U.S. military aircraft, then retired from the Navy in 1968.

CLUB NEWS | Reports & Previews CRA Board Member Ralph Graham reports that the Denver Athletic Club is in full-scale prep for another successful pro tour stop. On April 16-19 the 2015 Mile High Pro-Am will feature a Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour stop, combined with a regional qualifier. Along with amateur singles and doubles divisions and onsite clinics, several sponsorship options for local businesses remain available. For more information, contact Debbie Beldring, or visit www.MileHighProAm.com.

After closing the books on this year's Racquet for the Cure fundraiser, organizers inched a bit closer to their all-time 100k donation goal, adding a 2015 gift of $5500 to the Denver Affiliate of Komen for the Cure.

Special thanks to volunteers Lori Inskeep, Ramona Knipstein (exceptional centerpiece designer!) and Janelle Williams for their outstanding help in coordinating the event.

June 9-13: The Rocky Mountain Senior Games are Colorado's qualifying event for the biennial Summer National Senior Games. The City of Greeley has partnered with the Colorado Senior Sports Development Council (CSSDC) to bring RMSG Racquetball competition to the Greeley Recreation Center.

July 22-25: The National Masters Racquetball Association was formed in 1971 to offer the first national tournament exclusively for players 45 and over. This year's International event will be hosted by Highlands Ranch, in a format that ensures you are never eliminated from play and that sportmanship and friendship are more important

CRA Rollout, Spring 2015

than winning. NMRA tournaments are conducted in full round-robin format, self-refereed, and first time players are not required to join the NMRA (however, USA Racquetball membership is always required for sanctioned competition). Find out more by visiting the NMRA site or go ahead and beat the rush when you enter online today >> Delayed, but still coming up August 6-9: The 30th (and final!) Pepsi Cup will be held at Highlands Ranch, and founder John Foust has re-committed to hosting the event for its last hurrah. Save the date now, then look for more details soon!

CRA SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS ENTRY DOWNLOADS & REGISTRATION • Mile High Pro Am - April 16-19 • Cinco de Mayo - May 1-3 • USAR National Singles - May 20-24 • Rocky Mtn Senior Games - June 9-13 • Rocky Mtn State Games - July 17-19 • National Masters - July 22-25 • 30th & Final Pepsi Cup - August 6-9 • World Seniors - August 27-30 CRA on Facebook

THE BOARD REPORT | by Marcia Richards

Is Your Game Still Moving in the Right Direction?

Everyone can sing. Not everyone can sing well, but with practice we can always perform better. Just don't ask me to sing the National Anthem! But with practice I believe that anyone can learn anything and it's never too late. Studies show the best time to learn is before the age of 20, but that we tend to draw on our stored knowledge as adults. How did you learn to play racquetball? Did you take a lesson, attend a clinic, or teach yourself?

Once you learned, what pushed you to the next level? When did you make the move from being a recreational player to a league player? What was it that drew you into playing a tournament? What is your measuring stick for feedback to assess your game? These decisions are based on personal experiences and motivation. What moves you?

And what is it that holds you back ... fear of losing, or of looking bad?

Psychologists say that discomfort is an indication of being on the right path. When something presents itself as uncomfortable or unfamiliar, it's exactly where you need to go. When you are through improving your game,

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BEST & BRIGHTEST !

Nominations for annual awards are accepted yearround, to honor Adult and Junior players of the year, most improved and outstanding sportsmanship.

Do you know anyone who should be recognized in any of those categories? If so, send an email with their name and a brief description of why they fit the bill, to Board Secretary Avril Haemmerle.

Want to help keep things running smoothly? Learning how to referree or assist at the tournament desk is an easy

CRA Rollout, Spring 2015 those feelings will level out to become your "new normal." In order to move your game in a different direction you have to play different people, add something new to your skill set, and accept the challenge of facing stronger players. What are you willing to do to keep your game moving forward?

way to help the sport continue to thrive in Colorado! Just contact any board member to step up and volunteer!

Some players will move up too fast and jump into a division that is too challenging, without developing a sound base of skills. That void in their game will cause weaknesses and frustration when they're unable to improve and advance consistently. Other players refuse to leave their comfort zone, which causes their game to stagnate and they lose the ability to improve. If either situation applies to you, where would you go for advice on skill analysis and gamesmanship?

When was the last time you had a lesson? The sport could use even more certified instructors capable of guiding our players. Currently, USAR-IP certified instructors based in Colorado include: Doug Buchanan, Teena Fuller, Jim Hiser, Eddie Meredith and Nicholas Riffel. Searchable AmPRO listings can also help you locate some help with your game ... but we could still use more resources!

The CRA would like to develop more certified instructors. If you are interested in taking a certification class please contact me, since we're compiling a list of interested players and programmers. I am certified through AmPro level III, I have my Masters in teaching physical skills, and I'm not through yet. I plan to face the challenge of going to the next level. How about heading outside your comfort zone, and joining me?

MEETING UPDATE | from Board Secretary Avril Haemmerle ... As mentioned in the President's column, the CRA Board spent a good deal of time in discussions surrounding how to best support volunteer tournament directors. In attendance at the March 29 meeting were Dan Davis, Ralph Graham, Avril & Larry Haemmerle, Linda Mojer, Deven Naik, Marcia Richards and George Tellez.

Also on the meeting docket were debriefs of State Singles, venue costs & contract negotiations, development programs, sponsorship opportunities, outreach improvements and new website plans. USA Racquetball is seeking volunteers to assist with hosting National Singles next month (already!), since projections of at least 100 more players are on target, using three facilities. Let us know if you're interested and available!

KNOW YOUR RULES ! Policy & Procedures | by Dave Stone That's out of order ... ! Today we'll focus on the CRA's responsibility to host sanctioned events in an organized and safe way. As Larry details in his column, the CRA has adopted new policies & procedures that everyone who plays in tournaments needs to know!

It should go without saying that Tournament Directors have the final word in approving any schedule or venue changes affecting sanctioned match play. And even though players may have the best intentions (for relieving a backed-up desk, or saving some drive time), the fact is that competing outside the established norm causes more problems than it solves unless the TD supervises any-and-all adjustments.

CRA Rollout, Spring 2015 What many don't realize is that a lot of pre-planning goes into trying to assure adequate - and equal - amounts of rest between matches for the players themselves, as well as separation between divisions (in given blocks of time!) to avoid schedule conflicts and bottlenecks.

As often as not, the CRA Tournament Team is able to run events ahead of schedule, due to good planning. Those same TDs are always willing to consider any changes that can be made without compromising the overall planning grid. What may seem like a simple request by you may - in fact - create a domino effect that slows down a tournament for hours on end! It's always up to the TD to make that determination.

FROM THE PRESIDENT | by Larry Haemmerle In March, we held a very successful State Singles Championships. Congratulations to all of our new champions! Shortly after the event, the Board of Directors met to debrief the event as part of our normal course of business. For that follow-up we were happy to report that the State Singles ran on time; in fact, it ran early for the entire event. Thanks to cooperation by everyone to keep things moving, we were able to leave the club on schedule and manage volunteers effectively.

We also discussed two related situations in more depth: playing off schedule and playing off site. To address liability and management concerns, new rules have been adopted for use at CRA-run events.

The first involves playing matches off schedule without authorization from the tournament desk. When players ask to play a match early, (possibly even one set for the following day) we check to see if we can make it work, given the complex demands of any schedule with so many moving parts. At times, when we've been unable to accommodate such a request, the players have grabbed what they feel is an empty court and played anyway. This results in TDs being unaware of having an available court to assign, which then backs up everyone else who is checked-in and waiting to play on time. The disruption caused by an unassigned match being played without approval, without a referee, and without a scorecard, will no longer be permitted.

The second, and similar, issue involves playing matches off site - which also presents a number of its own problems. When tournaments are sanctioned, specific venues are recorded for insurance coverage, making any match played elsewhere at risk. In addition to potential liability concerns, off site matches are often played without referees, governance or oversight - and without benefit of a tournament committee to assure that proper eyeguards are worn, equipment is safe, or rule on important questions or disputes.

In reviewing both situations, the CRA Board voted unanimously that, if either occurs, the match result will not be accepted. The early match will remain in the lineup to be played as scheduled; the venue will expect players to check in to play at the designated facility. If opponents fail to show up when and where the match is scheduled, the result will be entered as a double forfeit.

Please help us avoid this by playing your matches at their published time and place. We want to help whenever possible, but it's important to respect the tournament desk if we're unable to do so. It's in everyone's best interest!

On a separate - and exciting - note ... our membership has increased by over 26%! This is great news, which also reflects recent increases in tournament participation. We really enjoy and appreciate providing the best possible tournament experience for our members. We have a great tournament calendar this year, so we'll look for you on the courts soon!

FROM THE EDITOR

Spurred by hosting a series of major events in Colorado this year, the CRA is undertaking a number of development and outreach projects to showcase our athletes and programs.

Among them is a re-designed website that will both serve as an information portal for all things CRA, but also make full use of social media platforms to re-deliver messaging about the sport to prospective players. We're shooting for a pre-National Singles "rollout" for the new site, and will be seeking feedback and suggestions as changes begin to take shape.

Another project is planned to support CRA tournaments, TDs and event management, by compiling selected "rules of the road" to help players understand some of the special issues that apply to sanctioned competition.

We all know that tournaments are a bit different from your everyday lunchtime gettogether, so it helps to be up to speed before you head into your first-ever refereed match!

Some of these guidelines are new and others have been in place for a while, so we think that having them available in a single document is a great idea. Once that's complete, we'll use the website, ecommunications and social media platforms to re-deliver what we hope will be a great resource for players.

So look for improved public information in coming months, announcing lots of new ideas, programs, outreach and

CRA Rollout, Spring 2015 growth from CRA - Linda Mojer

NATIONAL NEWS | by Larry Haemmerle We're very excited about two major events coming to Colorado this year.

The first will be the National Singles Championships, hosted at three venues in southern Denver. The Highlands Ranch Recreation Center at Northridge will be the main host facility, along with match play at the Littleton YMCA and the Centennial Lifetime Fitness Center.

If you dropped by last year's National Junior Olympics, you'll be happy to learn that the entire HRCA gymnasium will be converted into a player's village with vendor booths and equipment displays. As always, selected manufacturers preview their new product lines for the next season at National Singles.

This event also features U.S. National Team Qualifying divisions, where many of the top young American players will seek a spot on our National Team. Finally, the Hall of Fame will induct the legendary Sudsy Monchik at ceremonies in a fun venue, with great food and drinks - at no charge for participants. USA Racquetball will also present seven annual awards during the celebration, which should be short on ceremony and long on fun. There will also be plenty of other surprises so keep an eye out for news as it develops. Let's show the nation how Colorado can put on a great National Championships!

We are also proud to host the National Masters Racquetball Association International Championships, again at Highlands Ranch, where the very best "seasoned" players will come together to compete. Some of these amazing athletes are 80 and even 90 years young - and it's likely you'll see a number of top former pros in the draw! If you're over 45, consider competing in this amazing event, which will have you scheduled daily (sometimes playing multiple times each day). The last one I entered had me playing 11 matches - in one division!

You'll want to be in shape for this one, since it's usually the fittest players that win this four-day slugfest!

Wow! The last 12 months have seen Colorado emerge as a prime location for National events. Make certain you take advantage of the opportunity to play in these major events ... without having to incur travel expenses!

Everyone should experience playing in a National event at least once in their racquetball career. I'm certainly looking forward to seeing Colorado well represented and bringing home the gold!

Copyright © Colorado Racquetball Association | With Substance, Inc.

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