Senior Planet Sponsored Athletes
Meet Rick Clendenen. He’s one of many 2023 Senior Planet Sponsored Athletes, and he’ll be sharing updates on his well being and wellness journey via the remainder of this yr. Rick, age 72, has at all times been an energetic athlete. After a knee challenge took him off the volleyball courtroom, Rick found the pickleball courtroom and shortly grew to become not solely a fan, however a talented participant and advocate for different older adults to get entangled with one of many fastest-growing sports activities within the nation.
Good day Senior Planet! I’m Rick Clendenen and I can be internet hosting informational classes and writing about pickleball this yr as a Senior Planet Sponsored Athlete. I’m 72 and I grew up within the Midwest, born in Ft. Wayne, IN. I’ve stayed energetic in lots of sports activities all through my life — basketball (I am from Indiana!), racquetball, desk tennis, and many volleyball. I’ve loved enjoying in lots of nationwide volleyball tournaments together with the Huntsman World Senior Video games.
About two years in the past, when a knee challenge grew to become a critical detriment to enjoying volleyball competitively, I wanted to rethink my focus. My spouse and I dwell on Camano Island, Washington, which is one hour north of Seattle. I seen a two-line advert to “Be taught Pickleball” in a small native paper. I attempted it, and favored it…lots!
Camaraderie and Competitors
“There’s a robust communal side to pickleball, as many individuals play primarily for enjoyable and friendship — whereas getting good train too!”
I actually take pleasure in pickleball as a result of it is extremely social, and it may be aggressive too. There’s a nice membership right here on the island, and there are at all times many alternatives to work on enhancing. There’s a robust communal side to pickleball, as many individuals play primarily for enjoyable and friendship — whereas getting good train too!
Pickleball is performed with a paddle and what’s principally a “Wiffle ball,” on a reasonably small courtroom with a web. There’s not an excessive amount of operating, and there’s a big selection of those that take pleasure in enjoying. For people who like being aggressive, you’ll be able to take it up many ranges each regionally and nationally.
I’m a member of the Camano Stanwood Pickleball Affiliation, which has grown to 350 members. I handle and educate within the membership’s mentoring program, and I lead the Match Committee. I’m additionally proud to have been elected to the Board of Administrators. The membership hosts six most important occasions for each enjoyable and competitors annually.
Your Probability to Be taught
I hope you’ll be part of me on Zoom subsequent Wednesday, March 15 at 1:30pm EST for the primary of a two-part presentation all about pickleball. I hope to cowl the next questions and subjects associated to the fundamentals of the sport:
- How do you discover and get entangled in pickleball?
- What is required to take part?
- What are the courtroom traces and guidelines?
- Strategies for warm-up and energy
- Enjoying the sport with diverse contributors
- Good approach for serves and returns
- Protecting rating
Partly 2, we’ll summarize the fundamentals, after which go into additional growth of abilities. Keep tuned for extra particulars… I really look ahead to sharing the “pleasure of pickleball” with the Senior Planet community this yr!