Miracle League, Member Spotlight & Where to Play

18 hours ago
6 min read

Miracle League Clinic: The Joy of the Game

On April 18, PEPA President Ida Chavira hosted a clinic for the Miracle League of El Paso, an incredible organization that provides athletes with disabilities the chance to shine in the sports they enjoy. It was a morning defined by the transformative power of sports!

A highlight of the day was seeing the focus and persistence of the players. One athlete, working closely with Manny (Ida’s husband), showed great determination as he dialed in his timing and connected his paddle with the ball for a solid hit! The moment sparked a big celebration from the crowd. Talent, enthusiasm, and heart were on full display!

PEPA extends a warm welcome to all our new players and a heartfelt thank you to Sandie Olivar for the opportunity to collaborate. This event was made possible by our members and the generous sponsorship of Fyzical Therapy Balance and Hand Centers. Thank you for helping us bring the joy of pickleball to everyone in our community!

Member Spotlight: Sun City Pickleball–Local Roots, Big Stage

We are thrilled to welcome Sun City Pickleball as our newest Pickleball El Paso Corporate Member! While they aren’t a large corporation, they are a dedicated family-owned business and a true fixture of our local pickleball scene.

Owner Richard Martinez was recently featured in the Carvana PPA Newsletter, representing both Sun City Pickleball and El Paso on a national stage. Richard said he is honored to have been featured and grateful for the opportunity. He’s now preparing for the World Championships, which will be held in November in Dallas. Thank you, Richard, for representing PEPA and the El Paso community so well!

Dink of the Day: The Backhand Flick

Contributed by PEPA member, Juan Balderrama

Watching the pros, you’ll notice each player has a slight variance in how they execute this shot. My focus here is to explain the fundamental basics of the backhand flick.

What is the Backhand Flick? This is a wrist-driven shot used primarily from the kitchen line to inject sudden speed and direction into the ball. It allows you to shift from a defensive position to an offensive one during a rally.

This shot is most effective when the ball is anywhere from slightly below the net to just above it.

To execute: From the ready position, drop your paddle head toward the ground with the face angled slightly inward. Catch the ball away from your body.
The motion: Your wrist should be cocked downward and inward (similar to the motion of throwing a frisbee).
The Strike: Open the paddle head as your wrist turns upward, finishing with a flick to create power and direction.
Follow-through: Do not pop up through the shot; stay nice and balanced. Avoid over-swinging, as this leaves you vulnerable to a return. Instead, reset immediately to the ready position. You will notice most pros keep their paddles lower in the ready position, since most balls hit in the kitchen are kept just barely over the net.

Benefits of the Backhand Flick:

Maximizes your reach at the kitchen line.
Allows you to target your opponent's weaknesses.
Converts defense into offense.

Tips from the Fyzical Therapist

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

Strength Exercises That Help You Move Better on the Pickleball Court

Pickleball demands more from the body than many people realize. Quick direction changes, reaching, rotation, balance, and repeated bursts of movement all add up over the course of a match.

The good news? You don’t need an intense gym program to support your game. A few well-chosen exercises can help improve movement, build confidence on the court, and make the game feel easier over time.

Here are some of our favorite exercises for pickleball players.

1. Multidirectional Lunges

Forward, backward, and side lunges help prepare your body for the positions you encounter during play.

Builds leg strength and balance
Improves ability to reach for shots
Helps train movement in multiple directions
Add a reach with the arms to make it even more sport-specific.

2. Woodchoppers

Woodchoppers train rotational strength and coordination. Pickleball involves repeated twisting and turning, especially during serves, volleys, and groundstrokes.

Using a cable, resistance band, or medicine ball:

Rotate through different heights and angles
Focus on smooth, controlled movement
Train both directions evenly
Think of this as “strength through rotation.”

3. Cable Diagonals (Single Arm)

Single-arm diagonal movements challenge the body in a very functional way. These can be done with resistance bands, dumbbells, or kettlebells.

These movements:

Train shoulder and core coordination
Improve control during reaching movements
Mimic many of the cross-body patterns used in sport
Using one arm at a time also helps build balance and body control.

4. Step-Ups

Step-ups are simple—but highly effective.

They help develop:

Single-leg strength
Balance and control
Confidence moving up and down through the legs
Lateral step-ups can be especially helpful since pickleball involves so much side-to-side movement.

5. Skater Steps or Lateral Bounds

These exercises introduce side-to-side power and control. Start with controlled stepping movements and progress gradually if tolerated.

They help train:

Lateral movement
Deceleration and push-off
Coordination and reaction ability
The goal isn’t maximum jumping—it’s controlled movement.

Pickleball Strength Snapshot

Focus on movements that resemble the sport
Train multiple directions—not just straight ahead
Start simple and build gradually
Consistency matters more than intensity

The Big Takeaway

Strength training for pickleball doesn’t need to be complicated.

The goal isn’t bodybuilding—it’s preparing your body for the movements the game requires.

A little consistent work off the court can go a long way toward helping you move better, feel better, and keep enjoying the sport long-term.

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.

Upcoming Events

Nolan Richardson will host an All-Women's Mother's Day Pickleball Tournament on Friday 5/15.

💐Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible women and nurturers in our Pickleball El Paso community. Whether you are a mom, grandmother, aunt, or a 'mother-at-heart,' thank you for the energy, care, and kindness you bring to the courts. We also hold space for those for whom this day is difficult; our thoughts are with you. Please know we're so glad you are part of our PEPA community.

Dinks for the Brave: Honoring Our Veterans

The Dinks for the Brave tournament will be held on Saturday, May 23, at the Pat O’Rourke Rec Center. More than a friendly competition, this mixed doubles event is a chance to give back to those who have served our country.

Entry Fee: Donations of toiletries and hygiene products, which will be donated to local veterans' groups.

Team Requirements: Teams can be any combination (Men’s, Women’s, or Mixed), but at least one player on each team must be a veteran or an active service member.

Kudos to Eddie Gonzales, Omar Jimenez, and all staff at Pat O’Rourke for hosting this wonderful kick-off to the Memorial Day weekend—community spirit and gratitude!

Two May 13th Beginner’s Clinics!

West side: PEPA Vice President Ben Avalos will host a Beginner's Clinic at Galatzan Rec Center. The clinic begins at noon.

East side: PEPA President Ida Chavira will host a Beginner's Clinic at Gary del Palacio Rec with the clinic beginning at 5:30PM.

Important “Where to Play” Updates & Reminders

The past few weeks, PEPA board members have been reaching out to supervisors and specialists at El Paso rec centers to ensure that our Where to Play page is as accurate as possible.

As we transition to school being out for the summer, some rec centers will adjust their hours to accommodate youth events beginning in June. When in doubt, please call the center directly. Phone numbers for all open play locations are listed on the Where to Play page of our website. Here are a few updates:

Nolan Richardson Update: Please note that open play is no longer available on Tuesdays from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
Galatzan Clinic: No open play on May 13th due to Beginner's Clinic.
Pat O'Rourke Rec Center: No open play on Saturday, May 23th due to Dinks for the Brave Tournament.
Memorial Day Closures: All City Recreation Centers will be CLOSED on Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day holiday.