Referee Seminar

To All Pickleball Club Members

As Director of our March tournament, Al Hager has asked Nancy and me to manage the referee portion of the tournament. For the tournament to function smoothly, it's critical that we have a large number of trained and willing referees. We need to have trained referees for all 16 courts all day for 3 days plus backups so that no one gets burned out from refereeing too many matches. With tournaments at Palm Creek, Mission Royale and Robson, our area needs a large number of qualified referees. I know a number of our members attended the training session at Palm Creek led by Tom Gearhart and then practiced during our round robins at Robson. Tom has again graciously agreed to provide a training seminar. This training is essential for those of you who have not refereed in the past and I'm sure a refresher course would be helpful for those who took last year's training, but have not had much experience at tournaments throughout the year. As noted in the flyer below, the training will require attendance at both the January 5th and 12th sessions.

If you're interested in becoming a referee and willing to attend the 2 training sessions, please send an e-mail to larrykraus@yahoo.com so we can contact Rosemary Reese at Palm Creek to ensure that passes are available and also add you to our list of possible referees. We appreciate the commitment of our members to help ensure that our tournament is a smoothly run, first class endeavor.

Larry and Nancy Kraus

Referee Seminar

Do you want to learn how to referee a pickleball game? If you do, we as a club need you. Just sign up at the pickleball courts.

WHEN: Saturday, January 5, 2013 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.

Where: Pickleball Courts

Commitment: 2 Saturdays (Jan. 5^th & Jan 12^th & practice refereeing 12 games before “In-house Tournament”.

What you should do before the seminar: Go to USAPA.org and click on Official rules, print them and then read and understand them. Understanding the rules is imperative to being a good referee.

Instructor, Tom Gearhart #389

2013 Board of Directors

Election Results for the Robson Ranch AZ Pickleball Club for 2013 are:

Sandy Byrnes - Vice President

Larry Kraus - Treasurer
Dave Lawell - Director-at-Large

Ken McManis - Director-at-Large

The 2013 Board of Directors will be:

Don Pixley - President

Sandy Byrnes - Vice President

Dard Price - Secretary

Larry Kraus - Treasurer

Steve Falek - Director-at-Large

Dave Lawell - Director-at-Large

Ken McManis - Director-at-Large

Robson Ranch View publication

Despite a warm and humid summer, the courts at Robson Ranch here in Eloy have had close to 8-10 people playing daily with an influx of up to 28 or more when the Summer League would visit on Mondays.  On Labor Day, Robson Ranch was the host to the Summer League which you see pictured.  The Summer League consists of hardy desert players from Palm Creek, Mission Royale, and Robson Ranch. The League played throughout the summer varying the venues on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

While many stayed here at the Ranch this summer, others tried to beat the heat and humidity in other parts of the US. Some members were not terribly successful as summer in many other states were sometimes more humid and hot as verified by Larry Kraus who stated July 4th was hotter in Michigan than it was here on the 4th. (In case you forgot, our July 4th pool party and parade was canceled due to rain with very cool temperatures.) Dale Mumy, who visited during the summer for a few weeks, stated it was hotter in Ohio before he left there than it was in Eloy.  I think he brought a bit of humidity with him unfortunately.

Some of our more competitive members were out winning medals of various colors this summer. A quick check shows: Mike Rains with 3 Golds and a Bronze; Al Hager with a Gold, 3 Silvers, and a Bronze; Larry Kraus with 2 Golds; and finally Nancy Kraus with a Gold.

As a club we have at least two very exciting things coming up this season. First, will be lights on courts 5-12 which will enable us to play in the cooler evenings and also enable late tournament games if necessary. Secondly, our first USAPA sanctioned Pickleball Tournament will be held March 21-24, 2013.  I have confirmed lessons for 3.0 and above players will once again be given by Larry Kraus, as well as, referee instruction for our tournament.

For more information about the RRAZ Pickleball Club please go to the RR HOA site under clubs and find pickleball and/or visit our blog at http://robsonranchpickleballclub.blogspot.com/ .  Everyone is welcome to come to a lesson to see if pickleball is for them.  Check the board by the pickleball courts for lesson information.  Membership in the club is $20 for the complete year or $10 after August 31^st.  Our dues year runs from January 1 to December 31.

Royal Oak, MI Tournament

Larry Kraus and his partner Bud Stefanko took the gold in the Men’s 4.0 skill level event at the Royal Oak Summer tournament.   The tournament which was held Aug  24-26^th in Royal Oak, MI had a total of 101 teams playing over the 3 days.   Full results can be found here. 

Michigan Tournament Winners

Nancy Kraus and her partner took a gold in the 65-69 age bracket at the Michigan Senior Olympics which was held June 11-15 in Rochester,  MI.    Full results can be found here . 

Larry Kraus and his partner Tom Burkhart took the gold in the Men’s  60-64 age bracket at the Meijer State Games of Michigan which was held June 23-24^th in Grand Rapids, MI.   Full results can be found here. 

New windsock for courts

Sun City Anthem Pickleball Club Invitational

On Wednesday, April 4^th, the Sun City Anthem Pickleball Club joined the Robson Ranch AZ Pickleball Club in a 3.5 skill level Round Robin.  Despite the early morning drive from Florence, twenty one players from Sun City Anthem met our club members and two Robson Ranch Preferred Guests on the courts at 8 AM.  A Continental Breakfast was provided by our club for our visitors thanks to Veronica Long, Charlie Forbush, and Barb Hager.  Our visitors loved our new courts and thought they were beautiful.  They really appreciated all the extra perks like the nets which were for pickleball, rather than tennis, the different colors of the kitchen from the rest of the court, and the PVC pickleball holders.  A few players who will be here throughout the summer hope to join our summer league also.  All players were glad to play and met new people.  It is great to share our beautiful new courts with others.

Robson Ranch AZ 1st Annual Skill Level Tournament

Keep these dates open: Robson Ranch AZ 1st Annual Skill Level Tournament will be held March 21-24, 2013.  Click here for more information.

Clinic update

Larry Kraus will continue to do clinics until the end of April on Wednesdays at 2 PM.  If you haven't been to one of his clinics, now is the time before he returns to Michigan for the summer.  Every level is welcome.

Round Robin with Sun City Anthem

I recently received an email from a couple of members of the Sun City Anthem Pickleball Club wanting to do a social Round Robin as they have done in previous years.   Although we have always gone to Florence where they are located, I invited them to try out our new courts.  So we have scheduled a Round Robin for 3.5 players on Wednesday, April 4th, starting at 8 AM here at Robson.  Please sign up at the courts for this event so we know how many to expect.  A sign up sheet should be in place by tomorrow afternoon.

I asked if their club had any interest for their 3.0 players to also do a social Round Robin.  She said she would check.  So 3.0 players stay tuned for new competition.

Nancy