<![CDATA[Pickleball Ozark - Blog]]>Sat, 04 Apr 2026 06:58:35 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[I couldn't have said it better myself!]]>Tue, 18 Jun 2024 02:03:30 GMThttps://www.ozarkcommunitypickleball.com/blog/i-couldnt-have-said-it-better-myselfDo you feel challenged by tennis players? I'll admit it ... sometimes, I do. I recently read an article from that tickled me ... thank you Pickleball Union for sharing your ways to address  the problem and with a sense of humor, too! 

While you're there, sign up for their newsletter! Great stuff!
Read the article HERE
]]><![CDATA[Get Inspired!]]>Wed, 22 May 2024 18:30:54 GMThttps://www.ozarkcommunitypickleball.com/blog/get-inspiredMy 76 year old cousin, John, inspires me! He was an avid pickleball player when was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. While he continued to play after his diagnosis, it became more difficult and more dangerous for him to continue.  While many people would resign to their recliners, my cousin and his dear wife, Pat, stepped it up and he tried his hand at boxing. There are many benefits to both pickleball and boxing in the Parkinson's world, you just need to find what is right for you.

There are many people living with Parkinson's Disease who have continued fighting through pickleball and other sports, like boxing. "Pickleball, Parkinson's, and Persistence: The Inspiring Journey of Scott Rider" is one of those stories!

The video below is about a Parkinson's group and how they are finding success in boxing! 

Bottom line? Motion is lotion ... keep your body moving!
]]><![CDATA[Why Take Beginner Lessons?]]>Mon, 13 May 2024 12:57:16 GMThttps://www.ozarkcommunitypickleball.com/blog/why-take-beginner-lessonsI'll admit I am biased about whether or not to take beginner lessons. As a USPTA certified pickleball beginner instructor, I see the value after teaching 200+ people to play.

One student noted she had been learning from her friend who was 'really good.' I expected more from her than I got. Her serve was illegal, she never moved to the NVZ (non-volley zone aka the Kitchen), she didn't know what a dink was or why it was important to the game, and had no idea about scoring. She quickly realized the game she knew wasn't pickleball at all. After just one lesson she was well on her way to success.

It happens all the time and while I never want to discourage folks from trying to learn to play, I do encourage people to watch videos, learn the rules, and most importantly, learn to play safely.

Our StartUp beginner classes will have you playing games by the end of the first class ... the other five classes will fine tune physicality, positioning, scoring, and more! Many of our beginner graduates stay together to improve their playing before stepping into the pickleball world. That special bonding time encourages stepping out of your comfort zone with your new friends and is a great way to become a better player.

Not sure if you're ready? Text or call me and we'll have a chat. If you're still unsure, go ahead and register then come to your first class - no pressure ... if you don't feel it's right for you there is no pressure from anyone to continue. We will teach you to play YOUR game safely and correctly. We have taught students as old as 90 (91 on June 1). C'mon, give it a try!
CLICK HERE
]]><![CDATA[Would you do it?]]>Sun, 05 May 2024 23:02:12 GMThttps://www.ozarkcommunitypickleball.com/blog/would-you-do-itI found myself at StatMed recently (for something unrelated to pickleball). Imagine my surprise when I was told by a staff member that they had seen numerous pickleball injures - everything from pulled muscles, stitches, and more!

When you don't warm up you are setting yourself up for an injury.

Picture this ... You plan to play at a particular time and you arrive at the courts. You remembered your water, your visor, your safety glasses, and most importantly, your paddle. The anticipation of getting started is overwhelming. The noise of the balls being hit by a paddle, the familiar sound of your playmates laughing, calling you over to play. Would you do it?

I know what I'd do ... I'd grab my paddle and hit the courts! Yep, wrong answer! It is so critical to get your muscles warmed up before you hit the courts. Often you'll have an opportunity to dink for a few minutes, but the urge to get that first point takes over and there you are - on the courts playing. 

We all have five minutes, right? Do the right thing and get your body warmed up before you play. Your body will thank you!
The first video says 'for seniors' but it works for everyone and a great place to start!
]]><![CDATA[Pickleball Injuries on the Rise]]>Fri, 12 Apr 2024 23:37:12 GMThttps://www.ozarkcommunitypickleball.com/blog/time-to-vent
From CBS News  (My Thoughts below)
Bethesda, Maryland — Rebecca Theim is a prolific pickler. A former collegiate tennis player, she's got a solid serve, a dynamic "dink" and even the jewelry for pickleball.

"It can be very competitive," Theim told CBS News. "…It is truly addictive."
What she didn't have were the tendons. "I did get hooked and started playing quite a bit before Achilles tendonitis and tendinosis took over," Theim explained. "I already had existing problems with my knees."

She picked up pickleball during the pandemic, quickly going from a somewhat sedentary lifestyle to hitting the court several times a week.

Then her body boycotted. Dr. Alex Johnson, an orthopedic surgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital, explains that one factor in pickleball injuries is that the game pitches itself as being so accessible that some players don't give their bodies time to ramp up. Johnson said he sees a lot of pickleball-related overuse injuries.

"It's kind of been labeled as the sport for everyone," Johnson said. "And I think it is, but it's definitely a sport. It can be pretty strenuous."

Over the past two years, the number of pickleball-related injuries has nearly doubled, from just under 9,000 in 2020, to just over 17,000 in 2022, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. Since 2018, the popular paddles have been responsible for more than 60,000 emergency room visits, per CPSC data, and approximately 75% of those injured during that time were between the ages of 55 and 75.

"When you start to have sustained soreness, you just got to give your body time to heal," Johnson said.

As for Theim, she's rallying with help from a new knee and a gentler approach.
"Invest in some lessons," Theim advises. "Definitely getting your form correct will get important if you really get addicted."

Dr. Johnson also recommends stretching beforehand and wearing sturdy shoes, not running shoes. 
While I certainly agree with the CBS reporter, my thought is there is a bit more to it. As a certified beginner instructor, I rarely hear about instructors talking to their students about safety. That's a problem for me. I primarily teach seniors and actually am one! I get the hype! I get the competitiveness! I get the struggle to take classes, learn proper stretching - warming up and cooling down!
My instructors and I focus on court safety; we teach our beginners of all ages and skill levels to play "their" game and with people with whom they are comfortable playing. The fact that someone with a knee or hip replacement is interested in becoming more active is wonderful and we encourage them to check out our StartUp (beginner classes). We offer a six week program - an hour a week - to ease them into a more active lifestyle.  We stretch with them and give them the tools they need to play safely. Sadly, the instructor classes I have attended or read about do not focus on safety and I think that is a mistake.

We offer several classes each and every one focuses on playing safely and correctly utliizing drills, a ball machine, and certified instructors.

USA Pickleball:  Things to Consider to Stay Healthy
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