Clinics, Wins, & Pro Tips

12 hours ago
6 min read

Updated: 10 hours ago

Heartwarming Clinic: Sharing the Game of Pickleball with Autism Hope El Paso

Three Saturday mornings in March were filled with smiles, skills, and a whole lot of heart! Amanda Quintana, Marketing Manager at FYZICAL, reached out to PEPA Vice President Ben Avalos to ask if PEPA could host a series of mini-clinics for children ages 8–13. On March 7, 14, and 28, these wonderful young athletes and their parents were welcomed to the courts for an hour of skill-building, coordination, and pure fun.

The children grew more confident with their paddles each week, especially with their parents right there playing alongside them. Ben was joined on the courts by PEPA President Ida Chavira and PEPA member Stan Stack. A huge thank you to the staff at the Michelle T. Adjamian Recreation Center for hosting the March sessions and to all who participated so that we could share the game we love with the Autism Hope El Paso community!

Las Cruces Wins: El Paso Players Shine at the Doña Ana County Senior Olympics!

The 2026 Doña Ana County Senior Olympics pickleball events were held at the Meerscheidt Recreation Center in Las Cruces, NM.

Gold Medalists:

Bonnie and Lynda (Division win)

Lynda and Marty (1st Place)

Bonnie and Federico (1st Place)

Silver Medalists: Lali and Julio

Congratulations to all!

Non-stop Fun at Gary del Palacio!

Gary del Palacio is becoming the non-stop hot spot for pickleball fun and action! Between their tournament on 3/28, Beginner Clinic on 4/09, and the "household object" paddle open play on 4/11, there’s been something for everyone. Check it out!

An incredible day of fun competition. Congrats to all who played! 👏 Shoutout to Amilcar Galindo and staff at the Gary Del Palacio Recreation Center for putting together a great event. It was wonderful to see families on the court competing and in the bleachers cheering for everyone!

1st place Nick & Manny

2nd place Lori & Luis

3rd place Michelle & Marissa

No paddle, no problem! Who says you need a paddle to play anyway?!

When was the last time you tried playing pickleball with a frying pan? At Gary Del Palacio open play, they banned paddles for the day and let household objects take over! From a watering can to a JOOLA dustpan, the creativity was unmatched. Players showed up with dustpans, a cheese grater, skillets, a giant spatula, and even a license plate! If you're wondering which object produced the greatest power - check out the chart with mph! 100% FUN!

Beginner's Clinic 4/09/26

What a fantastic Beginner’s Clinic! Our clinics wouldn't be possible without our amazing PEPA members. Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fyzical Therapy, Balance and Hand Centers, and to Sun City Pickleball Club for the awesome door prizes!

Starting 'em young! Future PEPA pro in the making.

To the Gary del Palacio staff and the East Side Pickleballers: thank you for giving so much of your time and heart, again and again! PEPA is proud to grow this sport with inclusivity and diversity at our core. Welcome to all our new players—let's keep the momentum going!

Don Haskins Rec Center Upcoming League, and Horizon Beginner's Clinics

Don Haskins Rec Center Pickleball League returns for a 9-week season beginning Friday, April 24th. Men’s and Women’s Divisions will compete on Fridays, with the Mixed Division playing on Mondays. This league is for Intermediate skill levels, and the cost for the season is $40.00. Interested players should call the rec center and ask for Jack Castro to sign up! Players meeting will be held Tuesday, 4/21 at 8:00AM.

Beginner's Clinics in Horizon

On April 9, a Beginner's Clinic was held by Horizon City Pickleball at the Oz Glaze Senior Center, also known locally as the "Lee Courts" (a name being championed in honor of former Mayor Walter Lee who was instrumental In the building of Corcoran Park). The clinic was organized to encourage local seniors to get active, but everyone from the community was welcome. Requests for evening sessions were received. The next clinic is set for Thursday, May 7 at 8:00 AM, weather permitting!

Pro-Tips and Wellness

Tips from the Fyzical Therapist: Before you Play!

Contributed by Roy Kohn, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT, and Andres Fernandez, PT, DPT

Provided by the experts at FYZICAL, this routine helps prepare your joints for the court.

The 5-Minute Pickleball Warm-Up:

One of the most common things we see?

Players step out of the car… grab their paddle… and jump straight into a match.

Your body can handle pickleball—but it performs (and feels) much better when it’s prepared first.

The goal of a warm-up isn’t stretching. It’s getting your body ready to move the way the game demands.

Here’s a simple 5-minute routine you can do before your first game.

1. 4-Way Lunges with Reach

Step forward, backward, and side-to-side while reaching your arms.

• Warms up hips, knees, and ankles

• Introduces balance and directional movement

• Mimics the reaching positions used during play

Perform 3–5 reps in each direction per leg.

2. Diagonal Shuffle

Move in a diagonal pattern across the court, then back.

• Prepares for quick changes of direction

• Trains lateral and rotational movement

• Helps simulate real court coverage

Keep it light and controlled for 20–30 seconds.

3. Forward–Backward Run (below)

Caution: If you have any balance concerns, perform the backward portion of this warm-up activity by turning around and walking or jogging back to the starting point rather than moving backwards.

Jog forward, then backpedal (or turn and walk back) to your starting point.

• Prepares acceleration and deceleration

• Warms up calves and hamstrings

• Builds comfort moving in multiple directions

Repeat for 20–30 seconds.

4. PNF Arm Patterns

Move your arms through diagonal, crossing patterns (like drawing a sword or fastening a seatbelt).

• Warms up shoulders through functional ranges

• Prepares for swinging and reaching

• Encourages coordinated, full-body movement

Perform 8–10 smooth repetitions per side.

5. Practice Hitting

Finish with dinking, light rallying or controlled hits.

• Bridges the gap between warm-up and gameplay

• Helps timing, coordination, and feel

• Gradually increases intensity before your match

Start easy and build up over a few minutes.

Pickleball Warm-Up Snapshot

• Focus on movement, not static stretching

• Keep it short (about 5 minutes)

• Match the warm-up to the demands of the game

• You should feel looser and more ready—not tired

The Big Takeaway

A good warm-up doesn’t need to be long or complicated.

Just a few minutes of the right movements can help you move better, feel better, and get more out of your time on the court.

Roy Kohn, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT & Andres Fernandez, PT, DPT (FAAOMPT Fellow-in-Training)

Roy Kohn is a fellowship-trained physical therapist and Director of Education with Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers in El Paso. Andres Fernandez is a physical therapist currently completing his final year of fellowship training in orthopedic manual physical therapy.

Dink of the Day: Backhand / Forehand Roll Shots

Contributed by PEPA member, Juan Balderrama

We have previously discussed the importance of moving up to the kitchen line and using dink shots on balls that are below the knees. Now, we will discuss some of the different shots we can use offensively.

What is a Roll Shot?

A roll shot is a ball that height-wise is between your knees and waist (the yellow zone) and that can be hit out of the air when standing at the kitchen line, usually from below the net. It requires a low-to-high paddle motion, brushing the ball to create topspin.

Roll shots are especially useful when an opponent is in the transition zone; by targeting their feet, you can force a pop-up. If both opponents are at the kitchen line, you can use roll shots to move them out of position (down the line, center, or cross-court) or attack their weak areas (the "chicken wing" or backhand).

Executing the Roll Shot

From the ready position at the kitchen line, you receive a ball in the yellow zone. With your knees slightly bent and your arm slightly extended, drop one top corner of the paddle toward the ground. Using your forearm, create a "windshield wiper" motion from bottom to top. Use your wrist only slightly to bring the top of the paddle toward the sky. Remember to return to the ready position.

Next time you’re at the kitchen and see a ball in that "yellow zone," commit to one roll shot aimed at your opponent’s feet—and see if you get that pop-up!