QCPC Newsletter
June/July
Please welcome our new members!
Tod Horner Rebecca Horner Scott Wettleson
Donna Schulz Enrico Grippo Al Monaco
If you notice someone who seems new, say “hi” and ask if they need any help. If you can, answer questions they might have, or direct them to the information on our bulletin boards. Or, let them know they can email QCPC at qcpickleballclub@gmail.com for help and information.
Happy 250th America!
Let’s celebrate!
July 4th Stars & Stripes Social Team Play Event
Two teams will be made up of players from all skill levels, with a social round robin at each level. All scores will count and players can enjoy informal team pickleball.
Play will be a 6-game round robin between two teams, Stars & Stripes, with rotating partners and opponents. Teams will be created randomly (with minor adjustments to balance teams, if needed). Round robin sheets will direct players during play.
Registered players will check in at the Ramadas at 7:30am. Play will be from 8:00-10:00am. There will be music, snacks, and drinks provided during play and cake and prizes to celebrate America’s 250th afterwards. There will also be an event banner for photo ops.
Register on CourtReserve under Events/Categories/QCPC Events. Register early so we can accommodate as many people as possible. Register for your appropriate level to make play enjoyable for all.
Please note - we have combined the 2.0 and 2.5 levels to encourage more beginners to enjoy round robin play in an informal team format.
Scheduled Play
Summer is here and with it is hot weather and upcoming monsoons. Our seasonal members have returned home and many of our hardy full timers are taking much needed holidays. Because of this you may see times when our organized play events cancel and our open play may not be as readily attended! We will keep offering play in prime time and have some evening play available. Please register early for any scheduled play events as courts are often reduced.
We will be planning our fall and winter offerings soon. If there is anything you would like to see offered and are willing to lead, please reach out to Brenda Davis at scheduledplayqcpc@gmail.com. We would love to hear from you.
At the Board Meeting on May 12th, it was decided to change our Policies and Procedures to allow members to join more Organized Play during Prime Time. Below is the new policy:
Organized Play Attendance Policy - Members are allowed to participate in one primetime individual round robin, one primetime ladder event and one primetime mixed doubles event per week. Members can participate in an unlimited number of events outside of primetime.
You can find the entire QCPC Policies and Procedures on the Board Info page under the About QCPC tab.
Also, during the summer since we have less demand for space, if there is room in a scheduled play event, you are welcome to register for multiple round robin events in primetime, provided there is no waitlist.
CourtReserve ‘Open Matches’ and ‘Private Matches’ Functions
Reminder that QCPC has enabled the following functions on CourtReserve to better serve club members:
Open Matches
Players can reserve courts and make them open for others to join. This is a great way to include new people into your group.
You book courts (following QCPC policies) and mark as "open reservation," setting specific parameters for who is eligible to join. This can be used for play or drills. You decide the parameters, as long as they do not exclude people inappropriately.
Click here for instructions: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UTvr1n36Pkr75TvP-zar0Vm8CodrIWPn/view?customId=119048&pli=1
Private Matches
This function allows a group organizer to create a private match that can only be joined by using a password created and shared to group members by the organizer. This could be used instead of texting or using Team Reach.
Click here for instructions: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VDdR8b-Ju7yb3K3N8K7fpvGVk7DYB6hd/view?customId=127098
Player Development
During the summer season there is a pause on most QCPC Player Development activities. But …
Tom Dean and Susie Eckhardt have generously offered to continue the Intro to Pickleball and 2.0 Assisted Play through summer.
If you are brand new to pickleball, email Tom Dean about the Intro class. He will cover the very basics, including equipment, how to hold a paddle, serving, returning, keeping score and playing safely. Tom will schedule the 2-part lesson depending on interest. Contact him at dragonfly3210@yahoo.com .
If you are new to pickleball and have played a little but need guidance with the rules and basic play, sign up for the 2.0 Assisted Play on CourtReserve. Susie will guide you on pickleball basics and help you to gain confidence to play with others.
June, 2026 “QTIPS”
From Gary Quantz, your USA/PPR Certified QCPC Instructor
I hope everyone is having a great month of June. I know many of you (including me) are either away for the summer and/or traveling to be with family and friends.
As I enjoy some down time away from the courts, I do a personal review on how my season went and reflect upon how I can improve as an instructor and teacher and try to keep up with the ever-changing way this game is played. I kindly ask if you would like to comment on what you liked or disliked about my lessons and teaching structure to drop me a comment at GQPickleball@gmail.com . My lessons and format have changed a bit since I began teaching in 2021 and I value any and all comments. This game is ever changing but I still want to concentrate on the essentials and strategies that fit well for us 55 and over crowd.
Lastly, I want to thank the QCPC Board for their continued support and appreciate all that Al Wascher has done as our Player Development administrator. Please know he always had YOU members as top priority! I look forward to working with Fred Baum, who is our new Player Development contact. I also want to thank Shireen Kolarik for her OUTSTANDING newsletters. We are lucky to have such talented and dedicated volunteers!
I leave you with a reprint of my “7 RULES OF LIFE” that I first shared back in 2023. Have a wonderful and safe summer. Season #6 is planned to start in mid-September. ”
7 “RULES of LIFE”
Converted for Pickleball from the “7 Rules of Life”
By Gary Quantz, QCPC Certified Player Development Instructor
1. LET IT GO!
Don’t let an error get you down and carry over to the next shot. Mistakes happen! Inhale slowly through the nose, exhale through the mouth, settle down and get ready for the next shot. Take a quick mental note of what happened and why. If the mistake repeats itself, work on how to improve yourself. In most instances, you know why and how the mistake happened (not watching the ball, lack of communication with your partner, or not moving your feet are the most common). If you’re not sure why you’re repeating the same mistake over and over, ask a mentor or your Player Development Instructor(s) for advice. Also, your opponent(s) can and will make great shots that will force you into errors. Give credit where credit is due. My best quote: “Holding on is believing that there's only a past; letting go is knowing that there's a future.”
2. IGNORE THE “KNOW IT ALLS”!
Filter out negativity from others. Consider the source. Everyone is NOT a pickleball expert! Seek advice from those that want to truly help. Most Quail Creek pickleball members play for fun, exercise, competition, and social interaction. However, there can and will be an occasional “expert” that has ALL the answers and knows what’s best to “fix” your game. Be polite, don’t get frustrated and consider the source. Stay within the framework of how YOU want to enjoy the game. My best quote: “The people who actively find fault in others are the same people who are completely blind to their own.”
3. GIVE IT TIME!
No one becomes an expert overnight. Even when you partake in drills and lessons, it takes time to get consistent with all the shots and strategies of pickleball. If you are a “social player” but want to seriously improve your game, consider setting aside a day (or two) per week and just practice and drill. You can check out the ball machine, sign up for a lesson, or get with a friend or mentor and work on what needs improving. Did you know that most professional players rarely play pickleball when not playing in tournaments? Instead, they constantly drill and practice specific shots and game strategy, review videos, scrimmage with coaches, and work on conditioning when away from the spotlight and tournament circuit. Also, our very own top players within the community are good for a reason; they play and practice DAILY. My best quote: “Trust the process. Your time is coming. Just do the work and the results will handle themselves.”
4. DON’T COMPARE!
Most of us want to be a better pickleball player and often compare ourselves to others. However, we also must be honest in our self-evaluation depending on age, athleticism, and how much time we want to commit to the game. Be comfortable with what you want to get out of the game and how much time and effort you want to commit yourself to improving your skill and playing level. By comparing yourself to others, you may not get the most joy out of playing. However, if you truly want to play up to a higher-level status, compete in tournaments, hold your own against advanced players or just cut down on mistakes and be a better student of the game, that involves commitment on your part. My best quote: “Comparison is the thief of joy.”
5. STAY CALM!
Have fun, relax, and enjoy your time on the court with your friends and fellow neighbors. It’s OK to be competitive but don’t sacrifice good sportsmanship or be “that” person who’s hypersensitive, constantly complains, always gives excuses, and nitpicks every call. Pickleball is FUN only when ALL involved are having FUN! My best quote: “A calm mind is the ultimate weapon against any challenge in life.”
6. IT’S ON YOU!
Be comfortable and know what you want to get out of this wonderful game. YOU are in charge! If you want to only play pickleball occasionally and enjoy the social aspects of the game, then go for it! If you want to work at moving up to a higher level and play every day, then go for it! If you strive to be one of the top players within your age group or all of Quail Creek, then go for it! My best quote: “If you don’t go after you want, you’ll never have it.”
7. SMILE & HAVE FUN!
Regardless of what you want to get out of pickleball and how much work you want to put into it, HAVE FUN! When the game becomes too much work or a chore, you then put too much pressure or stress on yourself, greatly reducing the enjoyment of the game. You can be competitive and focused but don’t forget to have fun too! Nobody wants to be on the court with someone that is so competitive that they lose self-control and take all the fun out of the game. Don’t forget to SMILE and HAVE FUN even if you’re having a bad day – it’s why we play in the first place, right? My best quote: “Winning is only half of it. Having fun is the other half.”
QCPC GroupSpot
The Quail Creek Pickleball Club has a GroupSpot site. This allows QCPC to post club announcements and easily schedule reminders. Members can decide how they want to receive notifications. QCPC can also send push notifications for important messages.
QCPC will use GroupSpot to post announcements and reminders about new events (like MLP play), special events (like July 4th Happy 250th America), and urgent notices (like court closures due to resurfacing). It will also be used to send a single weekly reminder for established events (like organized play and player development) and especially if there is something new or different to notify members about.
QCPC members will still need to refer to CourtReserve for the most current event details and registration, as change is inevitable. We will also continue to post on the CourtReserve Announcements page.
QCPC will not be enabling or allowing Personal and Group chats on this GroupSpot site. We do not have the volunteer time to monitor chats. If you have questions please direct them to qcpickleballclub@gmail.com.
To join, create a GroupSpot account or sign in to your existing account, and use the invite code to join. You must use your first and last name and phone number as it is on QCPC CourtReserve so we can check that you are a club member.
https://web.groupspot.app/welcome
Invite Code: JgxWY3
Rules for this site:
You must be a member of QCPC. This is for official QCPC correspondence only. Personal and Group chats on this site will not be enabled or allowed. Questions can be sent to QCPC at qcpickleballclub@gmail.com.
QCPC hopes using GroupSpot in this way will help to communicate about new and special events, and urgent notices, more directly and efficiently.
NOTICE
Pickleball Courts 1-16 will be resurfaced this summer, with the plan to start on July 6th and resurface 4 courts per week for a total of 4 weeks. All of this is contingent on weather. QC Maintenance will post an announcement in "What’s Happening” as the dates approach.
Next Meeting
Board Meetings and Coffee with QCPC are suspended until September unless something urgent needs to be discussed.
Court Cleaning
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QCPC does not endorse any product or service displayed or promoted.