HCPA Newsletter August 2021

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HCPA

HCPA Board Members

Deanne DeGraff, Chair

David Morrison, Secretary

Larry Gerdin, Member

Arvid Ledin, Member

Jill Manske, Member

HCPA Officers

Operations Managers: Dale Schmidt and Robert Bailey

Arvid Ledin, Treasurer

David Morrison, Secretary

Advisors

Michael Lammer

Diana Berg

Wes Caine

Mike Mayer

Committees

Membership Committee

Finance Committee

Activities Committee

Marketing & PR Committee

ON THE LINE NEWS

Camp St. Croix Courts Update

It may not seem like it, but we are making progress with construction of the new courts. Phase 1 is complete! And we have Midwest scheduled to finish the courts. But as Deanne mentioned above, there have been pandemic-related delays. Remember last year when you couldn’t find toilet paper, Clorox wipes, or yeast? And recently, there’s been a shortage of lumber and the electronics needed to manufacture new cars. Apparently, the shortages extend to the acrylic that goes into the topcoat material to finish our courts. As soon as the acrylic is delivered to Midwest, they will begin completing the courts. But having them ready by early to mid September is looking less likely. So, if you’re frustrated like all of the HCPA Board members, just think about how much we’re going to love playing on those new courts once they’re ready. Have faith - it will come to pass!

Message from HCPA Board Chair

Having been a member of the HCPA Board through this long process of getting new pickleball courts, I have learned that “patience is a virtue”, a virtue I am still working on! This project has been extremely hard for me, as I like action, and this has been a project of wait and wait and wait some more. My biggest concern is that I want the courts done for all of you passionate HCPA pickleball members, sooner rather than later!

The pandemic has messed up a lot of things, including the latest hold up of back-ordered acrylic for the top coating of the courts. What can I say? I ask for your continued understanding and patience. We will let you know as soon as we know more. Thank you!

Deanne DeGraff, Board Chair

HCPA Newsletter August 2021

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HCPA Webpage

Check out the HCPA webpage www.hudsonpickleball.com for the latest pickleball news.

Membership Renewals

If you haven’t renewed your HCPA membership or if you haven’t yet joined, now is the time to be sure you’re an active member. To play on the new pickleball courts during HCPA hours, you’ll need to be an HCPA member. So, sign up now. You can find the membership form on the HCPA webpage. Membership renewals are $30; new memberships are $35. Instructions for submitting the applications and checks are included on the forms.

HCPA Hats & Visors

If you ordered an HCPA logo hat or visor, thank you! Unfortunately, just like the acrylic needed to topcoat our new courts, the vendor used by OnSite Apparel to supply the hats & visors is back-ordered. Once OnSite Apparel receives the hats & visors, they will put the HCPA logo on them and we’ll let you know that your order is ready. Sorry for the delay! If you’d like to order a hat or visor, you can find the order form on the web page (www.hudsonpickleball.com).

Thanks to Survey Respondents!

HCPA would like to thank the 90 HCPA members who took time to complete our online survey. The Board reviewed responses and are making decisions about use of our new courts based on your input. We’ll have more in the next newsletter.

Thanks again for responding! See the “Playing on the New Courts” section for our plans.

HCPA Operations Managers

The HCPA Board has been working on better defining the roles and functions of HCPA officer positions. As you know, the President position has been vacant for more than one year. After much thought and discussion, the Board voted to change the title to “Operations Manager”, as that better reflects the duties. And after talking to members interested in the position, we decided it should be shared by 2 to 3 people. We are very happy to announce that Robert “Rob” Bailey and Dale Schmidt have accepted the positions. Welcome to them both!

Dale retired from Northwest Airlines after 44 years, is an Air Force veteran and is a member of the American Legion honor guard for parades and funerals. He and his wife, Jeanne, have 2 married sons and 4 grandchildren. Dale’s been playing pickleball for 10 years and feels he’s benefited both physically and socially. He & Jeanne winter in Arizona, where they belong to a pickleball club with 120 members. Rob Bailey joined HCPA in 2020 and is retired from the University of Minnesota. He & his wife Linda have wonderful grandchildren.

In their roles as Co-Operations Managers, Rob and Dale oversee the logistics of day to day operations of the courts, managing court conditions and maintaining court supplies. They oversee play at the courts and monitor players’ concerns. They serve as ambassadors for new members and guests and liaisons to the HCPA Board, attending Board meetings as officers.

Dale & Rob are seeking a third HCPA Co-Operations Manager to ensure court coverage and share the duties. They are also seeking members who play regularly to serve as court monitors when the Operations Managers are not present. For more information, please contact either Rob or Dale.

HCPA Newsletter August 2021

Registering to Play The YMCA Camp St. Croix Director is creating a Pickleball webpage on their Camp St. Croix web site, which should be available soon. It will have the schedule for play (HCPA pickleball hours) as well as other activities at the Camp. There will also be a link to an online registration form, which the Y requires for anyone regularly using the Camp. You will need to register before playing on the new courts. When the web page and the registration form are available, we’ll let you know. You can get more facts about playing on the new courts on the HCPA webpage.

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Hudson YMCA

If you belong to the YMCA, you can play pickleball on the indoor courts in the Hudson YMCA gym. The fall open pickleball hours will be announced soon, and the gym schedule is on the Y’s webpage.

Camp St. Croix Courts Grand Opening

The HCPA Board and the HCPA Membership Committee are planning a grand opening celebration at the new Camp St. Croix pickleball courts. We’ll invite all the businesses who made donations, as well as all members and prospective members. You’ll have a chance to try out the new courts & maybe even do some drills with our expert coaches. We’ll also have refreshments. Once we have a firm date, we’ll let you know.

Photographer Wanted

HCPA needs photos for our webpage, the Camp St. Croix Pickleball webpage, our newsletter and marketing materials. If you love to take photos and are interested in being our photographer, please contact Jill Manske at candjm86@gmail.com.

Round Robin

HCPA is planning a Round Robin tournament for members this fall. Details coming soon!

Playing On the New Courts

The HCPA Board has been discussing how to use our new courts once they’re ready for play. The Board decided to leave the planning and logistics for the new courts to our new Co-Operations Managers, Rob Bailey and Dale Schmidt. They have been busy reviewing our survey data and considering options to optimize play for all HCPA members.

We will have 6 permanent pickleball courts. Each of them will be numbered (1 through 6). We will also have 3 paddle racks for stacking paddles, to determine which group of 4 plays next, as are currently used at Anderson Park. Rob & Dale are planning to start with one court for recreational/social play, one for advanced play, and 4 for intermediate play. They are also looking for a few members to serve as “court monitors”, as the idea is to be flexible with court designations & make changes based on the members playing at any one time. For example, if there are more strictly recreational players, then maybe a 2nd court would be opened for them. Same for advanced players. So, it will be very flexible and fluid. And if this plan doesn’t work well, Rob & Dale will make adjustments and changes.

If you play regularly and would like to serve as one of the court monitors, please let Rob or Dale know.

Anderson Park

The City of Hudson is still planning to resurface the courts at Anderson Park. But the HCPA Board asked if they could wait until our new Camp St. Croix courts are ready, as we didn’t want to leave you with no place to play. When we have exact dates for the resurfacing, we’ll let you know.

Also, remember that you will still be able to play at Anderson Park from 8 am-noon and 4-6 pm even after the new courts are in use. HCPA will leave the storage box, portable nets and balls at Anderson.

HCPA Newsletter August 2021

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Coach’s Corner

By Coach Michael

Five Fabulous Fast Fixes for Better Pickleball

Drill, drill, and drill is my summer mantra for those players who want to improve their skills and game play. Drill once a week while you can get court time. We have a few more weeks before being forced back indoors (except for those hard-core addicts who played outdoors in the snow. lol). When I’m playing recreational pickleball, I get asked by players, “Coach, how can I improve my game?” I respond, “Take a lesson.” Or I give them one tip to immediately fix a skill issue.

1. Bend your knees

2. Quit hitting “out balls”

3. Stop Swinging at NVZ (no-volley zone or kitchen)

4. Stop bending at the waist

5. Two bangs, then reset

Bend at your knees: The more you bend at your knees, the better player you will be. Sound simple? Most players are shocked when I show them tape of their play and they see why they misfired on many shots, as they are standing almost straight up. They think they are bending their knees, but either they are standing straight up or they bend at the waist. When you bend at the waist, you can not get proper weight transfer, so you cheat by usually swinging your arm or snapping your wrist. This is especially true when at the NVZ. Training tip: Exaggerate bending at your knees when warming up.

Head high, bye-bye: When the ball is coming at your head, let it sail deep. If you are playing against someone with a fast forehand, chest high, gone. Especially true at the NVZ. If someone rips a ball at the net and the ball was below the net before the rip, odds are it is GONE. Start yelling OUT for your partner and start winning the rally instead of losing it.

Swinging volley: A jab will do, no need to swing at kill shots. A simple jab at the NVZ will give you great placement. Remember, placement beats power. Most swinging volleys are out of control misfires. Even if your opponent returns the ball, if you’re jabbing DOWNWARD at their feet or toward their backhand (hint: backhand, not forehand), then their next shot should rise up in the air so you have another chance to hit a jab winner. Training tip: Practice with your paddle at ready height with your paddle away from your body. Then turn the paddle and jab about two inches when your partner hits the ball at you. Try to get the ball to land in the kitchen. Go cross court.

HCPA Newsletter August 2021

Bang, Bang, Bang. Sure, lots of fun, swinging at the net, but the ball continues to come back higher and higher until someone slams the ball at your partner’s face. Most pros hit the ball hard twice at NVZ and if they do not hit a winner on the second rip, they reset the ball into the kitchen. Ben Johns is a master of this resetting and one of the reasons why he’s the No. 1 player in the world. It you start the bang war, if you do not win with the first rip, 70 to 80% of the time you lose the battle. Tip: attack when you have the opportunity, not when you are anxious. If the ball is below the net cord-- hit a soft dink not a rip.

Cheers!

Coach Michael

Have a question about pickleball rules, techniques, or court strategy, ask PPR Coach Michael at lammerlawfirm@gmail.com .

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Thanks to Diane Legato for this cartoon!