I'm a former multiple sport athlete who has taught HPE and Adapted PE for 30+ years from k-12 in the Parma City School District.
I recently retired started playing pickleball for fun. I used to teach it at the High School but never really got to the 'next' level teaching a unit of 2-3 weeks to high school kids. Trust me they didn't think it was cool. But in any case..I thought I'd give it a go and just like everyone else the passion and addiction began. The next step was to become an Ambassador for the USAPA.org as well. USAPA has made Pickleball a Blast. I'm so thankful to be an Ambassador for them.. I've met some amazing people and new life time friends from all over the country. THANKS USAPA.. I urge you to join if you play. They are the foundation of what we have today.. Visit the USAPA.org website for great info as well. Teaching and coaching came next and is so natural to me and I have become a student of the game from playing to teaching. Then, last year I bought the SIMON pickleball machine. LOVE IT!. It really adds to practice time and an assistant as I teach stroke, serve, drops and dinks to name a few. I love working with it on my own and with my PB partners in crime. It's making our game move to another level.. Next I then became an Ambassador for the USAPA.org as well. USAPA has made Pickleball a Blast. I'm so thankful to be an Ambassador for them.. I've met some amazing people and new life time friends from all over the country. THANKS USAPA.. I urge you to join if you play. They are the foundation of what we have today.. Visit the USAPA.org website for great info as well. SO on with the story>>> My friend Laura E. and I started at the 2.5 level in a Columbus tourney which I talk about another day but we got our first taste of tourney play and got medals our first time around. We play well together and have had fun in a few other tourney's as well. She and I have built our little organization in Independence and having a blast doing it when everyone follows the rules. Now, I've been playing 2.5 years and now have a USAPA ranking of 4.0 thanks to my last partner Mandy T. We finished 3rd in the Great Lakes Regional.. It was great fun and learned so much at that tourney, to add to my experience of athletic accomplishments. Sports has been a big part of my life and Pickleball has brought back the fire. As a teacher of the game now and a nut case about it I jumped in full tilt.. I studied all the videos I could find and then I got all the books. Went to a clinic spent a lot of money there and was disappointed with the event. As a coach and a PE teacher not only was I bored by only doing 5, 15 min drills in 6 hours but I was completely shocked and said.. I can do this with my eyes closed and give more to those who want it. So after reviewing what was out there I wanted to take it a step further.. Back when I graduated from Grad school at Illinois State Univ. in Adapted PE, I went on to teach special education students and learned about life in a different way. These kids made me a better teacher. A big credit goes out to my parents who taught us to stay busy. Never say you were bored to Mom.. She put crafts in our hands and that was the beginning of making things out of nothing and playing with it. She made us resourceful, independent individuals. Oh sorry..Off track here... Well after I graduated I thought an activities book in Adapted PE was needed.. I started it and had it moving along on an old Commodore PC.. Remember those.. well the book was lost in the floppies that are no longer accessible.. AND now Pickleball.. I've decided that a drills book is needed. There is nothing out there that is all in one place and can give a coach or player some ideas to work with. Although it's been a hectic week I've managed to pump out on the PC 50+ drills for my up coming eBook. I'm looking to get it out on Kindle soon. Having some PC issues but the drills are flowing and the way I'm presenting it will be easy to understand for beginning coaches as well as seasoned ones or even for players looking for drills to do on their own or with friends. Once I get it all in order I hope to have a good portion ready for the eBook and ready to download. Still debating on a hard copy, which would be way cool but I think the eBook is the way to go. So please stay tuned and look for my first book to come out in the next few months. All my coaching and teaching experience has been so helpful for this adventure. I think I'm going to do a series type thing so that I can get some stuff out there. Until next time...Be well out there in Pickleball land, use good footwork, stay in ready position by keeping the paddle up and get to the Kitchen line were all the fun takes place. Just like home, the Kitchen is the center of the family fun. SO. Please look for my drill book in the next few months. I'm leaning toward titling the book something like ...CPR Pickleball drills. Jump Start your game. CPR = Coaching Pickleball Readiness. Got some great proven drills and some new ones to aid in elevating a players game.. Can't wait for my dream to come true.. STAY TUNED and welcome to CPR PICKLEBALL |
AuthorHello I'm Claudia and I love Pickleball.. Archives
September 2017
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