StJamesPickleball.com

The Spring Compass Draw Pickleball Tournament League

The Spring Compass Draw Pickleball Tournament League will start on Tuesday, February 14^th (Valentine’s Day!).

What better way to show your favorite Valentine how much you care than playing mixed doubles Pickleball?

We are in the process of setting up the tournament brackets and, once we open up registration, we will email everyone to let them know. In the meantime, we need everyone to please verify their current rating on the website.

Check the Accuracy of Your Current Rating

With the widespread availability and adoption of “universal” Pickleball ratings (i.e., Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating, DUPR), we have modified our rating system to allow you to select the range your rating falls into, rather than a fixed rating. The range you select will determine which events you are allowed to register for, as shown in the following table:

Rating Range	*Tournament Division
2.00 – 2.74	2.5
2.75 – 3.24	3.0
3.25 – 3.74	3.5
3.75 – 4.24	4.0
4.25 – 4.74	4.5

* These are general guidelines; rules in specific divisions may vary.

We have automatically converted your current rating to the rating range using the table above. However, we need EVERYONE to verify the new rating is correct (or modify it) by logging to the website, www.compassdraw.com/pickleball/Brunswick and clicking on the Profile Button to either verify their rating is correct or to update it to the correct range. You can also modify any other contact information that has changed. Once you do this, you will be able to view tournaments in progress and will also be able to register for new tournaments when they open.

The best way to give yourself an accurate rating is to register on https://mydupr.com/ to establish their official Pickleball rating. It is completely free! DUPR stands for Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating. Here is a link to an article explaining what it is: https://news.yahoo.com/pickleball-dupr-skill-rating-system-164514124.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall. You can enter scores from ANY of your matches against other DUPR members, including your Compass Draw Pickleball matches to help you establish your rating.

Don’t Have a DUPR Rating?

No problem! You don’t have to have a DUPR rating in order to participate in the Compass Draw Pickleball Tournament League. You can self-rate by getting evaluated by a Certified Pickleball Teaching Instructor or even by just getting input from the people you play with.

What Happens if my Rating Changes?

Once you have registered for a tournament division, you can play at that level, even if your rating changes. If your rating changes, you can request your rating to be modified by sending us an email. We may also open up opportunities to self-change ratings between tournaments (like we are doing now).

Which DUPR Rating Should I Use – Singles or Doubles?

Right now, Compass Draw only allows one rating. Since most players play doubles, you should use your doubles DUPR rating if you have one. Otherwise, your singles rating is OK.

Can I Ever Play in a Division Outside of My Rating Range?

Generally speaking, you should play in a division within your range. However, in some cases you may be able to play in a tournament division outside of your range. In doubles, you can play half a level up in doubles as long as your doubles partner is at the higher range level. The registration system will automatically enforce these rules. If you finish in the top 25% of a division in one tournament, you may be eligible to play up a level in the next tournament. We automatically grant you this “exception rating” (if applicable) at the completion of each tournament.

Thank you in advance for updating your Profile to get ready for a new season of Compass Draw Pickleball! We are looking forward to continue growing this event and proving lots of fun, competitive Pickleball!

Thanks!

Tom Polk, Compass Draw Tournament Director
email: brunswickcompassdrawpickleball@gmail.com

p.s. If you have any questions, please email me here and I will be glad to help! Also, please help get the word out about the Compass Draw to your Pickleball-playing friends (don’t they ALL play Pickleball by now?). Thanks!

PICKLEBALL: Change to the Court Reservation System

As announced last month, beginning Wednesday, January 11, we will be switching to the Chelsea court reservation system for pickleball and tennis due to the discontinuation of our previous software booking system. While many of you may have familiarity with the Chelsea booking system from booking golf tee times, we have created a tutorial to help you navigate your court bookings. Please click on the following links to view:

• Chelsea Tennis Reservation System (If you are not already a Golf user)

• FAQ’s – Chelsea Tennis & Pickleball Reservation System

This is a “The Clubs At St James” (TROON) system. If you have any questions about how to book a court, the system is unavailable, or just general questions, please contact The Clubs.

MONTREAT 2023 PICKLEBALL CAMPS REGISTRATION

GET READY

Registration for Camps #1 and #2 at The Montreat Conference Center in Montreat, NC. Opens Thursday, January 5, 2023, at 8 am ET

PLEASE READ THE NOTES FOR REGISTRATION:

▪ You will not pay after you register. After your application is received, you will be sent a link to pay your mandatory $500 per person deposit. After receiving this link, you will have 48 hours to pay. If you do not pay within 48 hours, then you will be moved to the Wait List. If you pay without getting a link, then you will be subject to a 4.5% refund fee.

▪ One application and deposit per person is required, so couples will need to do an application and deposit for each person and also provide a different email address and different phone number per applicant.

▪ Many updates will be sent via text messaging, so if you want to get the latest news, then provide a cell phone number.

▪ If you complete an application for another person, then the other person must give permission to you to accept all terms on their behalf.

▪ Only 6 commuters will be accepted per camp.

▪ We will not be assigning roommates at camp. If you are registering for double occupancy, then your roommate must register, too. Otherwise, you will be subject to the private room rate.

Do you really want to improve your Pickleball Game
and have fun doing it?

Then sign up for the Montreat Pickleball Camps!!!

CAMP INCLUDES:
·        All-inclusive and Commuter Packages
·        Top-Notch Pros and Instructors
·        Quality Training to Enhance and Elevate your Skills
·        Nightly Socials for Mingling and Entertainment
·        Private Lessons Available from the Pros

CAMP DATES:
Camp #1 – May 14-19, 2023
Camp #2 – May 21-26, 2023
Camp #3(*) – Sept 1-6, 2023
Camp #4 – Sept 10-15, 2023
Camp #5 – Sept 17-22, 2023

REGISTRATION DATES:
Camp #1 – January 5, 2023, at 8 am ET
Camp #2 – January 5, 2023, at 8 am ET
Camp #3(*) – TBD ET
Camp #4 – March 1, 2023, at 8 am ET
Camp #5 – March 1, 2023, at 8 am ET

(*) Camp #3 is an advanced camp for 4.0+/4.5 players. You must have a DUPR Rating or certified tournament rating of 4.0 or higher to attend this camp.

You are receiving this notification so you can get ready to register for the 2023 Suncoast Pickleball Camps #1 and #2 at The Montreat Conference Center in Montreat, NC. Last year we had an overwhelming response for all camp registrations, and the camps sold out in a few hours! Sign-ups go quickly, so get ready to register for the 2023 Suncoast Pickleball

See you at Montreat!!!
Coach Russell, Mindy, & Norm
suncoastpickleball.com
#montreat2023 Click here for Camp Location: The Montreat Conference Center in Montreat, NC

Montreat 2023 Pickleball Camp

Save the Dates for the 2023 Suncoast Pickleball Camps and Registration Dates.

Do you really want to improve your Pickleball Game and have fun doing it?
Then sign up for the Montreat Pickleball Camps!!!

CAMP INCLUDES:
-All-inclusive and Commuter Packages
-Top-Notch Pros and Instructors
-Quality Training to Enhance and Elevate your Skills
-Nightly Socials for Mingling and Entertainment
-Private Lessons Available from the Pros

CAMP DATES:
Camp #1 – May 14-19, 2023
Camp #2 – May 21-26, 2023
Camp #3(*) – Sept 1-6, 2023
Camp #4 – Sept 10-15, 2023
Camp #5 – Sept 17-22, 2023

REGISTRATION DATES:
Camp #1 – January 5, 2023, at 8 am ET
Camp #2 – January 5, 2023, at 8 am ET
Camp #3(*) – TBD ET
Camp #4 – March 1, 2023, at 8 am ET
Camp #5 – March 1, 2023, at 8 am ET

*Camp #3 is an advanced camp for 4.0+/4.5 players. You must have a Dura Rating or certified tournament rating of 4.0 or higher to attend this camp.

You don’t want to miss this fantastic opportunity
to boost your game, so save these dates!!!

This exclusive notification made available so you can save the dates and
get ready to register for the 2023 Suncoast Pickleball Camps at Montreat, NC.

Last year we had an overwhelming response for all camp registrations, and the camps sold out in a few hours!

Sign-ups go quickly, so get ready to register for the 2023 Suncoast Pickleball Camps!!!

See you at Montreat!!!
Coach Russell, Norm, & Mindy
Website: suncoastpickleball.com

#montreat2023

We will not be assigning roommates at camp. If you are registering for double occupancy, then your roommate must register, too. Otherwise, you will be subject to the private room rate.

St James Service Club Holiday Festival

Please stop at the St. James Community Center to see the wonderful display of Christmas trees. The SJPA is building a beautiful, must see tree. You can see the set-up activity in these early photos taken today. Stop at the Community Center to see the finished products and support the Service Club Charity Event.

WHEN: Friday (today – December 9^th) and Saturday (December 10^th)

TIME: 2:00 – 5:00 pm each day

ADMISSION: $10

STOP OUT AND SEE THE SJPA PICKLEBALL HOLIDAY TREE

SJPA Christmas Tree: “Who Pickled the Grinch”

Is There Such a Thing as Pickleball Etiquette?

A question was sent asking about court etiquette. Whether you are new to racquet sports or a seasoned player, we all know there are a few actions we should all follow to respect the other players on the court.

Pickleball is a “social” sport. This generally means that pickleball is as much about interacting and socializing with people as it is about physical activity and competition. This “social” culture around pickleball is one defining characteristic of the sport itself. In connection with this unique culture, it is important to understand some “pickleball etiquette” tips before hitting the pickleball court. These include:

Introduce Yourself to New Players – Before starting a pickleball game with new people, be sure to introduce yourself to others.
Do Not Cross a Pickleball Court During a Point – Avoid crossing over a pickleball court when a point is ongoing. This includes avoiding entering the baseline area or the sideline area.
Do Not Make Excessive Noise or Commotion on the Courts – This includes screaming or yelling at people outside of the courts or to other players more than one court away. Nobody wants to wait for you to finish yelling at other court members (especially if they are outside of the pickleball courts). When you start yelling/screaming everything on the courts usually stops due to your disruption.
Know the Rules – Do your best to know and understand the rules of pickleball. This will help avoid disputes on the pickleball court and ensure that everyone is playing by the same set of rules.
Bring Your Own Ball – Do not rely on other players to always bring the pickleball. Have your own stash! Also, when a pickleball rolls onto your court, avoid switching the pickleball with your own. Keep the pickleball that you or your court is playing with—most players are particular about their ball.
Call the Score Loudly – When you are serving, be sure to call the score loudly so that all players on the pickleball court can hear you.
Call “Ball on Court” If the Ball Is Actually on the Court – For safety reasons, if you see a stray pickleball roll on your court, stop play and call “Ball on Court.” This is a hindrance and you should replay the point. However, do not abuse this calling to help you avoid losing points (for more on this, check out Murmurs from the Losers’ Bracket: Ball on Court).
Allow the Players to Make the Calls – If you are a spectator, avoid the urge to make the call, including line calls. Allow the players on the pickleball court to make the call.
Keep the Coaching to Yourself – Only provide coaching advice when asked. Be wary of coaching other players on the pickleball court, as they may not want to hear any unsolicited advice.
Welcome New Players and Play with Weaker Players Every So Often – The culture of pickleball is welcoming, so, in recreational play, do not be afraid to welcome new player onto your court. Also, if you are a stronger player, consider playing with weaker players from time to time, as they will greatly appreciate your game and you may have an opportunity to work on a specific skill or shot. By welcoming new players and helping weaker players, the sport of pickleball will grow in number and in talent.
Don’t Play Keep Away in Recreational Play – If you are a weaker player that is able to play with a stronger player, avoid the urge to play keep away from the stronger player. Hit more shots to the stronger player for the opportunity to improve your pickleball game and to keep the stronger player willing to play with you more! Also, do not outwear your welcome with the stronger player. Play a few games and say thank you.
Sorry for Let Cords and Praise for Good Shots – This one is probably “common practice,” but not universal. If a pickleball hits the net, then, oftentimes, the striking team will win the point because the net will throw off the expected trajectory of the pickleball. In this instance, the striking team will usually say “Sorry” or give a casual wave to non-verbally signal an apology (this “tradition” seemingly comes from tennis). With that said, the striking team really is never “Sorry,” but rather excited to win the point. Similarly, you may also see hand claps or “thumbs up” for good shots by opponents in recognition of good play. These are common on-court gestures, but not universal.
Practice Good Sportsmanship – Fair play and good sportsmanship are cornerstones of pickleball. Be sure to respect and practice both. (For instance, if you know that you were in the Kitchen when you hit a volley, call a Kitchen violation on yourself. Or, if you hit someone with the pickleball—particularly, in the face, like Matt Wright did to Jessie Irvine—ask if they are okay or apologize, rather than screaming “Come on!” or “Yeah!” in excitement at your body/face attack.)
Practice the Golden Rule – As in life, treat others the way that you want to be treated. Be nice to others and have fun on the pickleball court!
“Paddle Tap” After Every Game – After every game, players meet at the pickleball net to tap pickleball paddles – either with the head or butt of the pickleball paddle. When paddle tapping, also consider giving your opponents a compliment – for instance, “great game.”

SJPA 2023 Board of Directors – Votes Are In

2023 Pickleball Board of Directors

President:	Deb Chiarello
Vice President:	George Johnson
Treasurer:	Kathy McArthur
Secretary:	Mary Heatherly
Communications:	Al Hausmann
Tournaments & Events:	Jeff Franken
Social:	Liz Wilson

Committee Chairs

Instruction:	Christine Cournoyer
Sunshine Committee:	Kathy Goliszek

Changes made to the By-Laws for 2023 were Approved: 98.6%

By-Laws were updated in July and must be approved. You can access and read a copy of the By-Laws on the SJPA website under the category Pickleball Docs. This is a Brief explanation of changes made to By-Laws:

Three new board positions:
o Communications
o Social
o Tournament and Events

• Maximum term for the following is two years:
o Treasurer
o Secretary
o Communications
o Social
o Tournament and Events

• Maximum term for the president is one year since they already served 1 year as VP
• Committee Chairs and those participating, supporting, or assisting must be paid sport or golf members, members of SJPA, and residents of St James Plantation
• All media of any type and use of the logo must be approved

HoliDink Event – December Festivities

The Holidink event will be held on Sunday December 11th from 1:00-4:00pm.

We are suggesting that the participants bring some light snacks/food to share with the group but please bring your own drinks.

Participants should feel free to wear their favorite holiday apparel.

The number of participants will be limited to 48. We will randomly
assign participants to courts for fun social play.

There is no rain date for this event

REQUIREMENTS:
–Sport or Golf Member
–SJPA paid member at the time you sign up

Take me to the sign up page, i can’t wait

Greg Rymer Memorial Tournament: Winners

Well, the weather can never keep a great tournament down.

The tropical storm, Nicole, was supposed to bring two days of rain and wind. Like much of our weather, it was unpredictable. We thought we could play on Thursday, but then it started to rain, and it rained most of the day. The second day of the tournament, Friday, had the greatest chances of rain, so the tournament was cancelled, but the day turned out pretty nice. Who knew! But the tournament organizer, Karen Fania, did not want to give up! She rescheduled all of the matches to Saturday and Monday, and the event, the games, the people, and the support were fantastic!

The winners are:
Women’s 2.5-3.0. Nancy Souza & Kathy Cravinho
Women’s 7.5 Leslie Gourley & Sun Maher
Men’s 2.5-3.0 Gary Purcell & Ron Walter
Men’s 7.5 Dan Heatherly & Tom Alderdice

More photos from the event:

See many more pictures from the tournament (This link may require that you log in to your Amazon.com account. Please report any issues to Al Hausmann.):

Monda y Tournament Pictures

Saturday Tournament Pictures

Nominees for 2023 SJPA Board Offices and Updates to By-Laws

NOTE: An email with a link to vote was sent to all eligible members.

We solicitated for 2023 SJPA Board Officers in October. Filling these positions is critical to the growth and success of pickleball in St. James in 2023. These three positions have received the following submissions and are running un-opposed.

For Vice President position: George Johnson

My wife, Marion, and I moved to St. James in August 2019 and were introduced
to pickleball that fall. After COVID hit, pickleball became our primary activity. As we played, we formed many friendships and developed a love for the sport as
well as for the St. James pickleball community.

We joined the SJPA as soon as we heard about it, and we have enjoyed
participating in its social and on-court activities. I ran a pickleball ladder league
with sixteen 3.0-level men in spring 2021, was captain of one of the teams in the 2021 Summer Fun League, continue to run two weekly round-robin groups, and play with other groups whenever I can. I am currently on the SJPA “Saints” 3.5 intercommunity league team, where I enjoy competing in both the men’s and the mixed matches.

In my previous life I taught mechanical engineering at a university on the west
coast known for its philosophy and practice of “shared governance” between the faculty and the administration. This meant a lot of committee work throughout my 40-year career, with increasing levels of responsibility. My last committee work involved undergraduate admissions, a critical activity where, at this university, the faculty establish the parameters under which students are
admitted. I was chair of the campus admissions committee and later chair of the systemwide committee. This involved regular meetings with senior university administrators as well as navigating the differing needs of the nine
undergraduate campuses. I believe that both the faculty and the administration
viewed me as a creative problem solver, a good listener, and a consensus
builder.

I look forward bringing these qualities to the SJPA Board to help grow and
support the wonderful pickleball community at St. James

For Treasurer position: Kathy McArthur

I have been the treasurer of the SJPA since January of 2022. Previously I was a member of the St. James POA Finance Committee. My responsibilities included compiling the POA budget each year. In 2020 I was the Finance Committee liaison to the Safety & Security Committee. In 2021 I worked on the 30-year plan.

I have lived in St James for 5 years. Prior to moving to St. James I worked in Higher Education as a budget manager and eventually a finance director. I have a B.S. in Accounting from Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT.

For Secretary position: Mary Heatherly

I have been a Business professional with over 30 years of experience, including 20 years in management and a track record of high performance in human resources, project planning, operations, compliance, integrity, and leadership. During that time, I served on several Non-profit Boards, including the role of Board Secretary for a number of years. I have a BS in Accounting from Villanova University.

From 2016 until I retired in 2018, I served as the HR and Office Manager for a large mega church (50 employees and 90 acres of property.) I was able to bring much of my corporate experience to help develop processes and procedures that had not been previously documented. As part of that body of work, I also participated in the weekly leadership meetings and was responsible for the detailed meeting minutes.

I currently serve on the SJPA Social Committee as Secretary, documenting the detailed notes regarding the committee’s activities.

New Volunteers for our committees

—Events & Tournaments: Jeff Franken
—Social: Liz Wilson
—Instruction: Christine Cournoyer

Changes made to the By-Laws for 2023

Three new board positions:
o Communications
o Social
o Tournament and Events
• Maximum term for the following is two years:
o Treasurer
o Secretary
o Communications
o Social
o Tournament and Events
• Maximum term for the president is one year since they already served 1 year as VP
• Committee Chairs and those participating, supporting, or assisting must be paid sport or golf members, members of SJPA, and residents of St James Plantation
• All media of any type and use of the logo must be approved

Copy of updated 2023 By-Laws waiting for approval from the association:

2022_SJPA-ByLaws_Oct-2022_FINAL-wating-for-SJPA-vote Download

7 Tips to Help You Keep the Ball Low

Throughout your journey as a pickleball player, you may find yourself sending your shot over to your opponents’ side higher than you would like, more frequently than you would like. That’s not ideal because the higher you send the ball over to the other side, the more likely you are to be attacked. Especially if your opponents are further up in the court.

What separates a great pickleball player from the rest is their ability to keep the ball low at key moments and on demand. Keeping the ball low makes it more challenging for your opponent to make successful aggressive plays against you.

Here is a link to a YouTube video done by PrimeTime Pickleball.

7 Tips to Help You Keep the Ball Low

Member Appreciation EVENTS

November 16 @ 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Kim & Adam invite you to challenge us.

There will be 2 opportunities for you to teach us a thing or two. We look forward to your challenge and having fun with you on the court. You have an advantage
because Adam and I have never played together! We encourage all levels of play to take advantage of this opportunity. We, as the pros, promise to play in a way that challenges your level of play, whatever that may be.

Both events: Challenge the Pros, Drop Shot Challenge will be held at the Greg Rymer Courts. The Franklin Ball will be used. Prizes will be on hand.

EVENT #1: Challenge the Pros – Wednesday 16th from 3:30 – 5:30 pm

There are many ways of winning, the first is by participating! I want this to be fun for every challenging team/player.

Kim & Adam invite you to challenge them to a 10 minute game. Challengers can be:
— Mixed team
— Women’s team
— Men’s team
It’s up to you!!

*Our schedule will have 1-2 minutes between games
*Our time will allow for up to 10 teams to challenge
*You may play on 1 team only
*As each team arrives, we ask you to use your paddles to determine order of play
*Arrive early to be one of the first challengers
*You can place your paddle in queue once both of you are present

For this to run smoothly we’d like to see at least 3 teams in queue
by 3:30, and 3-4 after that.

ONLY TEAMS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP CAN PLAY.
ONLY 10 TEAMS CAN SIGN UP.
Play will begin promptly at 3:30pm.

I have my partner’s information I want to sign up now to Challenge the Pro!

EVENT #2: DROP SHOT CHALLENGE – Thursday 17th from 1:30 – 2:30 pm

Kim & Adam will feed balls & provide targets which are tomato cages, for you to hit &/or sink your drop shot from various areas of the court.

How we will play the game:
–If you, the player, successfully hits or sinks a ball at or into the
cage from a particular area, then the pro is given 3 chances to do the same.
–If the pro can match the shot, then the score is even (think Corn Hole).
–Pros feed all balls and pros alternate turns to even out the score.

There are four time slots and eight people per time slot.
First start time:
–1:30pm (sign up)
–1:45pm (sign up)
–2:00pm (sign up)
–Last: 2:15pm (sign up)

Open to ONLY 8 different players every 15 minutes. Please sign up for a time
slot.

REQUIREMENTS:
–Sport or Golf Membership
–SJPA paid member

SJPA Annual Meeting

December 2 @ 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Please join us for the SJPA annual meeting at the Community Center to celebrate the successes of 2022. Registration to attend ENDS on November 29th.
–Social will start at 5:30 pm to give everyone some time to visit and settle in (reminder BYOB).
–There will also be a boxed dinner provided by the SJPA. Your food selection will be part of your registration below.
–Meeting will start about 6:15 pm

There will be a summary of the events, both social and competitive, and a synopsis of the finances for the past year.

This event is part of our 2023 Membership Drive

You will have the opportunity to join or renew your SJPA Membership for 2023 and meet the new Board of Directors (checks only, no cash).

–There will be three baskets of fabulous goodies to be raffled at the meeting.
–Each member attending the meeting will receive one free raffle ticket.
–If you join or renew your SJPA membership at the Annual meeting you will receive an extra ticket!
–Each attendee must register separately.

Water will be available: BYOB

I would like to attend the Annual Meeting

New Feature Added to SJPA Website

This new feature we added will make it easier for you to keep up to date.

We added a form to the upper section of the home page and at the bottom of most pages. The form is a sign up to receive notifications every time we publish a new article to the Latest Posts. Note: when you sign up you will receive an email and you must click on the link in the email to validate that it is your email address that subscribed to the service.

This way you will never miss one of the newest articles posted to the website.

Try it out. If you are getting too many emails from us you can always unsubscribe.

UPDATE: Sneakers Fundraiser Gives 2nd Check to WAVES 4 K.I.D.S. TOTAL: $976.35

Picture of John Waters, President, WAVES 4 K.I.D.S., accepting a check for $763.75 from Sharen Hausmann, President, SJPA, from all the sneakers that were collected and turned into cash as a donation to WAVES 4 K.I.D.S. This was the first of two checks that we will be receiving from GotSneakers, as they are still processing the sneakers mailed to them.

2nd check given to John Waters, President, WAVES 4 K.I.D.S., for $212.50 from Sharen Hausmann, President, SJPA, along with team members Kathy Goliszek and Cynthia Mendoza. We shipped nearly 100 bags containing over 1,100 pairs of sneakers. Not only did we raise money for the SJPA donation to WAVES for K.I.D.S., but we helped our environment by keeping sneakers out of landfills through recycling and reuse. Special thanks to Diana Kelly for heading up this partnership with WAVES 4 K.I.D.S.