help_outline Skip to main content
HomeEmailing
Date: 7/4/2022
Subject: First State Pickleball Club Newsletter June/July 2022
From: First State Pickleball Club


July 2022
FSPC Newsletter

 

President's Corner

Andy Staton

Hello everybody, I hope that you are enjoying your July 4th weekend and that you playing lots of pickleball.  

 

As the popularity of pickleball continues to grow, FSPC continues to sponsor/facilitate the building/maintenance of courts in the Sussex County area.  We are happy and grateful to announce that the Colella Courts (behind John M Clayton Elementary School) have recently received a much needed facelift. We are lucky to have the court magician, Dudley Sluder.  But it has taken far more than “waving a wand” to complete this project.  Dudley and the crew from the Southern Sussex County area (pictured below) have worked tirelessly for weeks to repair the cracks and put down two coats of new paint in eye-catching colors.  Before that, Dudley worked with Mid Atlantic Electric to install lights on four courts, lighting which extended well over six courts.

 

The project will continue during the summer, adding lights all the way to court 10, so that players can be active during the evenings until 9:30 pm. The lights project was supported by donations from Senator Hocker, Sussex County, many area businesses, and generous individual contributors.  We encourage members to visit the Colella Pickleball Courts behind John M. Clayton Elementary School, Frankford, DE.  Summer hours are normally 8:00 am until 9:30 pm.  Morning painting continues, but the paint is dry by afternoon and the courts are ready for play in the evenings.

 
For Immediate Club Attention!
 
FSPC continues to pull out all the stops to build up pickleball popularity and play opportunities.  I am very grateful for all of our committee volunteers as well as our FSPC board members.  That being said, there are three open positions on the Board of Directors and we need members to step up and take a turn on the Board. The openings are Vice President, Treasurer, and At Large. "This is a very active club and being a part of the board is extremely gratifying." If interested, please contact Andy Staton, andrewstaton@gmail.com (302-841-2127) or De Raynes (703-963-3893) to inquire about the scope of duties and to volunteer.  
 
PLAYER EDUCATION

June Basic Skills Clinic was a total success

The club offered a basic skills clinic on June 18 for 2.5 - 3.0 skill level players and it sold out in 8 hours on the first day.  It is fantastic to see the interest and enthusiasm of our newer players who want to learn more about the game.  The smiles all morning were all we needed to know that everybody had a great time.  Thank you to the “coaches” (listed on our webpage.) We hope everyone will go to the Player Development webpage and check out the pictures. 

 

COMING ATTRACTIONS:   JULY Skills and Drills Clinic 

This skills clinic will offer a different format of instruction and practice for men and women at the 3.25 to 3.5 skill level.  No beginners - no one under the 3.0 skill level - participants should have a year of court play experience. The date is the morning of Saturday July 30 (rain date July 31).  Registration for this clinic will open on Saturday July 16 at 7:00 a.m.  Cost is $25.  All participants must be members of the club. 

 

Another Way to Give Back to the Sport You Love

Become a Referee!!  Many local tournaments are looking for volunteers to be pickleball referees.  In order to be a sanctioned tournament, the matches need to be refereed. This important task takes a bit of training.  Club member Patty Daley is happy to provide interested volunteers the opportunity to receive referee training.

We will train at the Colella Pickleball Courts at John M. Clayton on Sunday mornings at 10:00 am and the courts behind Rehoboth ES on Monday afternoons at 4:00 pm.  The dates for instruction and practice are 

July 24, July 31, August 14, and August 21 from 10-12 @ Clayton

July 25, August 1, August 15, and August 22 from 4-5:30 @ Rehoboth Elementary School

 Participants must be USA Pickleball Members to access materials. If a session is rained out, the session will be held via ZOOM. Sign up for free training on the website.  

 

Summer Player Development Continues

Pro Clinician Sarah Saari from Venice Florida is presenting a series of instructional sessions and Camps from July 8 through July 11.  Many of our members are registered and ready to work with this very experienced 5.0 coach.  The club will continue to invite professional coaches into our area to meet the demand of members for higher quality instruction without having to travel to other states.  Bring the clinicians to us!!
LEAGUES & TOURNAMENTS
FSPC Competitive League

The FSPC summer league is in full gear with 79 teams participating in 6 divisions.  Click on the button to view the results.
 
 
  
SOCIAL & COMMUNITY EVENTS
A big thank you to Membership Committee volunteer, Beverly Miller, who has been calling people who have let their FSPC membership lapse.  She is helping us increase our membership, one call at a time. 
 
All are invited to see our FSPC display at the Lewes Library from July 7 until July 18. We will have a table at the library on Wed July 13 from 10 am until 2 pm.  We will have an enter to win contest on Wed July 13th.  The prizes will include a FSPC membership and a pickleball paddle.  You don’t have to be present to win, but you do need to stop by our table at the Lewes Library on the 13th between 10 am and 2 pm to submit an entry form.


Watch the website, upcoming Newsletters and the Club Facebook page to learn about:

Happy Hour Get-togethers

Ovations Mystery Theater and Dinner on October 1 at the Elks on Rt 23
UPCOMING LEAGUES & TOURNAMENTS
UPCOMING LEAGUES & TOURNAMENTS
JUL-AUG
24-23
Learn to Referee- Volunteers needed
Patricia Daley is looking for volunteers the opportunity to receive referee training for the upcoming DE Senior Games. The dates for practice if we can use Clayton on Sunday mornings and Rehoboth ES on Monday afternoons at 4: July 24, July 31, August 14, August 21 @ 10-12 @ Clayton July 25, August 1, August 15, August 22 @ 4-5:30 @ Rehoboth ES Participants must be USA Pickleball Members to access materials. If a session is rained out, the session will be held via ZOOM.
AUG
25-28
Delaware Senior Games
Our USA Pickleball sanctioned event is also a Qualifier for National Senior Games in Pittsburgh PA next July 7th thru 18th 2023. Our events will take place at Kent County Levy Court Recreation Center 1683 New Burton Road Dover DE 19904 12 indoor courts.
SEP
11
Save the Date Jean and Joan Pickleball Tournament
The annual Jean and Joan Pickleball Tournament will be held at Kings Creek! September 11th registration at 8 AM, play at 8:30

We would love to have some volunteers for the membership committee to help out.  Contact Meg Rice  at meghudsonrice@gmail.com.
To be a member please Click Here.
Members Having Fun
Social Events, Tournaments, and More!

DON'T FORGET ABOUT OUR SUPER COOL FSPC SWAG  NOW AVAILABLE IN THE ETSY STORE!


You will be styling all summer in the First State Pickleball Club tee shirts, razor backs and hats/visors.  To buy your swag, click on FSPC Club Clothing link on top right of the website or the hyperlink below, find the item(s) and have fun shopping.  This is a great way to promote First State Pickleball Club and you will be styling all year long. 

FSPC Membership Discounts - look at all of these great discounts that come with your membership!

We are actively working to get our members additional discounts on paddles and more.
FSPC members receive a 5% discount from Pickleball Central, just enter “CRFirst” in coupon/apply.  
The New Balance store on Route 1 next to Vernon Powell gives a 15% discount off of court shoes. Just mention that you are an FSPC member. Store staff has a list of members at check out.
Return to Previous Page