The snow had melted and leaves were starting to appear on the trees. Knees swollen from a winter of pounding on the paddle courts had started to heal. Tennis whites and racquets with strings had been removed from the closet. Then the phone call came. A good friend called and said, "I played tennis last night. It occurred during the match that paddle is much more fun than tennis. Would you be interested in playing paddle during the summer?" Three thoughts came to mind after hearing the proposal. First, that paddle really is more fun than tennis. Second, there was no reason that we couldn't play during the summer. Last, could we find anyone else crazy enough to play? [enlarge image to read full story]
PHILADELPHIA — The APTA held its Annual Meeting and Board Meeting at Waynesboro Country Club in Paoli, PA, May 5-6, 2006. Highlights from the meetings include:
A new APTA mission statement was developed. It reads:
The mission of the APTA is to:
A. Govern the sport
B. Grow participation
I. Among all levels and types of players
2. Across all our regions
C Improve all aspects of the game
We will accomplish this mission by: maintaining the rules and codes of behavior to ensure the integrity of the game; creating and increasing awareness of our sport; providing guidance to clubs and municipalities on how to start platform tennis programs and then how to make those programs successful, and; promoting the sport among current players to raise their level of addiction
APTA finances in 2005-06 were in the black by approximately $49,000.
The Board approved a $12,500 grant for [...]
Viking Athletics announces the manufacture of its 25,000 OZ paddle, the most played with paddle in platform tennis.
To celebrate, Viking is giving away more than $25,000 in product.
Viking will be supplying every paddle manufactured for the upcoming 2006/2007 platform tennis season with a scratch-off ticket that is redeemable for product at the Viking Pro Shop.
The APTA and PPTA will partner this season in an effort to bring more juniors into our sport. The APTA will provide the funding and the PPTA the know-how at Junior Paddle Days around the country. Generally, these will be scheduled to precede a junior tournament by a few weeks, in order to build interest in those "follow-up" events. All juniors who become APTA members, during one of these events (necessary for participation in APTA tournaments), will receive a gift from the APTA. If you would like to host an event in your area, or learn about an event scheduled for your area, please contact Marjorie at the APTA Office. Parents, pros and other interested adults are encouraged to get involved.
Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol.8, Issue 1, September, 2006
Jerry Brown of The Paddle Company provided an update:
Since 1995, platform tennis has enjoyed an amazing technological transformation with graphite, carbon fiber and titanium making paddles lighter, stronger and easier to play with. This has helped to reduce the stress on players' bodies and encouraged a broader participation in the sport. Developing new paddles for the sport has been an enlightening and rewarding experience. Within standards developed, by the American Platform Tennis Association, there are numerous ways which paddles can be adjusted and made to look and feel different from one another. And with the new materials accepting vibrant colors, the new graphics allow paddles that are distinctive and attractive.
Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 8, Issue 1, September, 2006
Bob Callaway, Chair, Rules Committee reported:
At the Annual Board of Directors meeting in May, a number of rule changes were approved and will be in effect for this 2006- 2007 season. Since a most recent edition of the Official Rules of Platform Tennis has not been printed and distributed, the APTA wanted to alert all players of the following changes:
Rule 1: Dimensions and Terminology
The Board approved as an option, a gap of up to six inches in the alley lines where the alley lines meet the service line and extending toward the baseline. It was felt that this optional alteration in the painting of the lines will make it easier to make calls on serves.
Rule 10: Fault or Out
In the third paragraph an additional sentence will be added: "In an officiated match, depending on the Chair Umpire's responsibilities regarding line calls, agreed to ahead of time with the Tournament Dir[...]
Brook Kindred was inducted posthumously at his home club, Fox Meadow Tennis Club, by Bob Brown in a heartwarming, well-attended ceremony on March 18,2006.
Sue Aery and Gerri Viant were inducted into the Hall of Fame ceremony in Summit, N.J., where Patty Hogan, a 2005 Hall of Fame recipient, stressed the significance of their talent and the disciplined approach to the game that they both possess.
Howard Sipe was inducted into the Hall of Fame at a ceremony at the National Championships on March 4, 2006 at the Glen View Club.
Prior to presenting the award, 2004 Hall of Fame recipient Walt Peckinpaugh expressed that "Chicago is the 'hub' of the sport right now, in part because of his pioneering efforts."
Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 8 Issue 2, November, 2006
They came to the Four Bridges Country Club in Cincinnati from all over: Chicago, Toledo, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, Boston and Cincinnati. Sponsored by Premier Platform Tennis, Wilson Sporting Goods and Michelob Ultra, David Dodge (Premier) and promoter Jason Gray invited the top 16 men's players to compete for a $5,500 purse at the 2006 Premier Cup.
"The best tournament of the year!"
"The highest level of play in the game today"
"I'm here to take home the cash."
These were a few of the quotes offered by the players. An overwhelmed and enthusiastic Cincinnati audience had similar comments not suitable for printing.
After a Saturday round-robin featuring two four-team brackets, the top two teams in each paired off against the top two in the opposing bracket on Sunday morning semi-final play. Sunday saw David Keevins and Chris Gambino play aga[...]
Springfield, IL demonstrated yet again why it is the oasis of right-minded paddlers, opting to join its brethren from the east in embracing Premier Purple courts during resurfacing in September.
Prior to the resurfacing, Premier's Dave Dodge, with assistance from friend and competitor Bullet Brown, re-welded two of Springfield's courts. This eliminated dead spots that some locals referred to as a "Clark Spot," or a "Bean There."
"Premier and Bulletworks work together on a number of each other's bigger projects," said site impresario, Dan Kepner. "It's nice to see that kind of cooperation amongst rivals in a sport so small that clashing personalities and interests could bring it down."
The decision to go purple was difficult. Local players were evenly divided between "traditionalists" and "innovators."...........(cont.)
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Jean Kempner reported for PTM:
As the first "major" of the year, the Chicago Charities tournament picked up where last year's Nationals left off. Story lines were continued, rivalries were resumed and new partnerships featured exciting and fresh dynamics.
The Women's tournament showcased all of last season's top teams and, though the pairings hadn't changed, the results were clearly different. Mary Doten and Susie Keane came in as defending National Champions and made it to the final without dropping a set to stage a rematch of last season's National final against Kerry Delmonico and Aila Main. Delmonico and Main had a tougher road and won a three-set semi against Cynthia Dardis and Amy Shea 4-6, 6-2, 6-1. Doten and Keane had beaten Sally Cottingham and Chris Sheldon in their semi in a 6-3, 6-3 slugfest. Cottingham and Sheldon had broken through to their first Chicago semi by defea[...]
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