#077 May 21, 2026 | Read on the web Pickleball Galaxy tent sale coming in June This week's newsletter has an absurd about of info in it ranging from summer deals at indoor venues, leagues & tournaments looking for players, amazing photos from the Quad State Tournament last weekend in Vermont so keep reading. Let's start with a save-the-date: Pickleball Galaxy at 606 Pierce Road in Clifton Park will hold a two-day Tent Sale on June 9-10 featuring discounts on paddles, shoes and clothing. The...
22 days ago • 7 min read
#076 May 7, 2026 | Read on the web Video covers the basics for first-time tournament players I had played pickleball casually a few times, but in 2019 I competed in a little tournament at Pickle in the Park in Northville, NY, and from that moment, I was HOOKED on pickleball. Tournaments are a blast, but playing in your first one can be a little intimidating. So, YMCA Tournament Director Jennifer Kendrick, myself and pickleball ref KK Kear held a Zoom webinar to help explain what tournaments...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
#075 April 23, 2026 | Read on the web Volunteering at the U.S. Open in Naples I spent last week in Naples, Florida, at the U.S Open (Pickleball). I didn't get into the tournament to play but I volunteered on the court operations team. I don't quite understand why, but I enjoy it. I tried to find every speck of shade! My spectacularly big hat helped. :) Photo by Peter Bojarczuk. Every game is reffed at the Open. Last year, the refs reported the scores. They would walk off the court and go to a...
about 2 months ago • 8 min read
#074 April 2, 2026 | Read on the web Bring on the drama This is going to be a pretty short newsletter today. I'm bedside with my Aunt D. Aunt D loves to hear pickleball stories - not stories about winning a great point or taking home a medal, but stories about people misbehaving on the court. D loves when humans act inappropriately. She wants to hear about people who cheated on line calls, about the player who serves before their opponent is ready just to get an advantage and about players...
2 months ago • 4 min read
Hello Reader, Registration is open for the 4th Annual Dink for A Cure Pickleball Tournament benefiting the Arthritis Foundation. The tournament returns to Siena University (under newly installed lights) as part of Arthritis Community Weekend. The weekend includes the Walk to Cure Arthritis, the pickleball tournament and a wellness expo, with more than 1,000 people expected to attend the weekend's activities. The pickleball tournament will have divisions for all skill levels, and age divisions...
3 months ago • 1 min read
#073 March 19, 2026 | Read on the web Dink for a Cure returns to Siena for fourth annual tournament weekend Dink for A Cure, a charity tournament to benefit the Arthritis Foundation, will return to Siena University June 5–7. More than 200 players are expected to compete across 16 indoor courts inside the Siena field house, with a full slate of team, singles, doubles and skinny singles events. The tournament continues to grow each year, with a wide range of skill and age divisions, including...
3 months ago • 5 min read
#072 March 5, 2026 | Read on the web Team competition planned for Dink for a Cure at Siena College Registration for the Dink for a Cure Pickleball Tournament benefiting the Arthritis Foundation opens next week. This year there will be both a team event (Friday night, June 5) AND a traditional tournament on Saturday and Sunday (June 6–7). The team event will take place Friday, June 5, from 5:30–9 p.m. Teams must have at least two men and two women, with up to eight players allowed per team....
3 months ago • 8 min read
#071 Feb. 19, 2025 | Read on the web All kinds of options to play this spring When I play in tournaments, I try to tap into my "beast mode." That's where I play my best. But last week, I scared my opponents with a new beastly feature: an infielder's mask. I wore the mask to protect the delicate skin left behind from minor skin surgery on my nose. My doctor advised not playing, but I couldn't resist. I definitely intimidated my opponents. 😊 Spring programming is beginning to take shape across...
4 months ago • 6 min read
#070 Feb. 5, 2026 | Read on the web Share your pickleball news There's a lot happening in upcoming weeks — leagues, clinics, drills tournaments and a few community-driven events worth highlighting. If you have a pickleball event or stories about something special in your pickleball community, feel free to send them to me at cathleen@pickleball518.com and I will publish them. Send pictures too. People love photos! Note: I generally don't run individual photos from the medal podium unless there...
4 months ago • 4 min read