PickleballBC announces that it is hosting a Deaf-only tournament at Harry Jerome Sports Centre in Burnaby on Sunday September 18th 2022. More details to come but here is some initial information:

1. Deaf Players Only 
2. Rotating Partner Round Robin Tournament
3. Mixed / All Gender Doubles
4. Courts open 8:30 for practice, games start 9 am Sunday September 18th at the Harry Jerome Sports Centre, Burnaby
5. Entry Fee $50.00 and PBC/PCO membership required
6. Email 'application' to deafonly@pickleballbc.ca and Indicate skill level & PCO #
7. E-transfer fee to treasurer@pickleballbc.ca
8. Reg open now with entry deadline September 10 - Max entries = 72 players.

Questions? deafonly@pickleballbc.ca or view Tournament details and PDF here...

The second Saturday of August has been designated as National Pickleball Day in Canada, a day to celebrate and promote the sport that connects us all. For 2022, National Pickleball Day will take place on Saturday, August 13th.
National Pickleball Day isn’t only for members and affiliated clubs, just like pickleball, it’s for all! This celebration is an excellent vehicle to drive awareness of our sport and introduce the game to new players across the country. Every club can host events such as learn-to-play sessions to expose new players to the game, promoting social inclusion and health benefits, as well as demonstrating how fun and friendly the game truly is.

Pickleball Canada has posted a Toolkit on their website here with details, media suggestions and hashtag #NationalPickleballDay promotions, social media picture frames, and more. One Club that has posted info on their website and organized special events for Saturday is the Vancouver Pickleball Association (info here). Also the Vernon Pickleball Association has organized "Rally in the Valley" as posted above. There are many more clubs involved in this special day, so please send us info about what you are doing across BC!

Include National Pickleball Day on your club event calendar! If you already have programming scheduled for Saturday, August 13th, make sure to spread the word of the special occasion to your members and consider including National Pickleball Day promotion in the planned programming. If you don’t yet have programming planned for National Pickleball Day, consider planning learn-to-play sessions to attract new members in your communities or get your current members together for some fun matches, practices, or skills sessions to celebrate the day.
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​The possibilities are endless! Find what works best for your club or community and keep the focus on fun and inclusivity. Here are some ideas of events you could organize in your club or community:

• Learn-to-play sessions
• Fundraising activity
• Tournament
• BBQ and play
• Bring a friend day
• Skills and drills session
  

In Jon Wertheim's latest Sports Illustrated 'mailbag' he outlines not the negative, but the positive effects of the Pickleball craze on tennis: "Today, pickleball has overcome a name that resists serious treatment, and moved in from the fringes. There is data–in addition to media coverage and the incalculable buzz—to confirm that. To what extent has pickleball arrived? Already there are turf wars, feuding factions, Tiriac wannabes, threats of breakaway tours. Bad enough this quasi-sport is stealing tennis’ players and real estate; now it has to steal its mode of being? Joking!!​" Read the full article here...

Pickleball BC - Okanagan Regional Club meeting.
 
On July 19th PickleballBC invited representatives of clubs from the Okanagan region to gather together to both introduce themselves to each other and discuss a number of topics of importance to the clubs.
 
Thirty representatives from Kamloops, Salmon Arm, Shuswap Lake, Vernon, Lake Country, Kelowna, West Kelowna, Summerland, Penticton and Princeton gathered in West Kelowna for a full day of information gathering. This group of clubs represent a large number of members. Larger than several complete provincial organizations in fact. 
 
The meeting was hosted by Barry Montgomery, a former Pickleball BC board member, current chair of the Ratings Group for PCO, BC-Yukon representative on the PCO Executive and resident Pickleball Brackets expert as well as Rod Williams, PBC Vice President and Registrar.
 
The topics discussed included the following:

1. Implementing a Ratings system in the local clubs using Pickleball Brackets
2. Using Pickleball Brackets software for Tournament management
3. Club Administration within the PCNS and expected updates
4. Requirements surrounding the national Insurance policy
5. Ideas about engaging and training Youth to enter our sport
6. Local reporting on court facilities available and brainstorming on how to develop new courts and how PBC can help coordinate efforts
7. Discussion on the Policy Statements available on the PBC website, and how they can be used at the club level

 
It was an ambitious agenda, and we didn’t cover all the topics as completely as we may have liked, but the participants all went away more informed, and with lots of contact information of those who could help them make their clubs better for their members.
 
It is our hope to hold more of these types of get togethers around the province and possibly schedule them on a semi regular basis if they continue to prove useful.

Interesting and thorough (although quite long) article from Sarah Larson of the NEW YORKER about the origins of our beloved sport and it's influence on "Americans" of all stripes. Focuses on pickleball's founding on Bainbridge Island   Washington State (where Governor Jay Inslee recently made pickleball the State's official sport), growth in popularity, and the two major professional tours with editorial coverage mainly in the US - but BC does get an honourable mention! Read the full article here... 

Semiahmoo Peninsula pickleball enthusiasts have a newly renovated place to play, after the City of White Rock officially opened its pickleball courts at Centennial Park last week.
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An official unveiling event and ribbon-cutting was held Wednesday, July 13 and featured local pickleball players – including Debbie Lawrance, president of the White Rock Pickleball Association – as well as White Rock Mayor Darryl Walker and members of city council. Read more in the Peace Arch News...

The game of pickleball is surging in popularity. It can be played at any age and skill level. While many might assume that pickleball is a slower, lower-impact sport, experts at Mayo Clinic say it's important to remember that injuries from playing pickleball can and do happen. "P" is for pickleball. And Mayo Clinic hand and wrist surgeon Dr. Sanj Kakar says there are four other P's that players should remember to avoid injury. Read about the four guidelines here...

The Langford Westhills YMCA- YWCA has purchased Pickleball equipment for their gym and has introduced several programs for its members on a daily basis. The Centre Manager Rikki Nevins announced that the Vancouver Island Y is committed to providing shared, safe, and enjoyable program spaces. These programs are included in all Y memberships. Westhills Y – Pickeball – Starts Monday July 11. See more info here...