Rec Center Culture, Community & Honoring Our Veterans

2 hours ago
7 min read

Learning the Ropes of Open Play

By Liz Luscombe

When I first started playing pickleball, going by myself to open play at different rec centers around town felt intimidating. I worried my skill level wouldn't be welcome, or that everyone would already have a preferred partner.

Two and a half years later, I am thankfully much more comfortable, even in entirely new settings. If you are new to the game, or new to El Paso, here is what helped me learn my way around.

Game-Changers

The "buddy system" was an absolute lifesaver. Making a plan to meet up with others who were also new, or at about my same skill level, provided a welcome sense of security. A couple of other game-changers included:

Connecting with staff: I made an effort to note who the rec center specialists and staff members were. Having names to go with the friendly, recognizable faces made the new venue experience feel much more comfortable.

Simple introductions: Introducing myself to other players before a game and also to those who were waiting to play went a long way in helping to break the ice. Conversations began to flow naturally and even just asking someone how long they'd been playing generated easy and relaxed small talk.

Court "Culutre"– Understanding the Rack System

With time, I learned that most rec centers have "regulars," and every open play setting has its own unique culture. I quickly realized that you will be more readily welcomed if you are open to learning—and sharing—the unspoken rules unique to each rec center. The rack and waiting-to-play systems can vary from facility to facility, and it is completely okay to ask other players or staff how it works. You might find yourself wondering:

Are paddles put in a single queue where the next four automatically play together?
Why are paddles sometimes stacked in groups?
Am I supposed to add my paddle to an incomplete stack of two or three?
What does it mean if someone moves my paddle to another group?
Is someone in charge of monitoring the rack?
Is it okay to have so many questions? (YES!)

Safety and Support

Getting to know the rec center staff is a huge plus. These hardworking folks are happy to see you utilizing the facility and will go out of their way to help you. Feel free to approach them with any questions you might have about open play at their facility.

If an unfortunate mishap occurs—a fall, or a bad hit to the eye (because you haven't invested in protective eyewear yet)—staff will spring into action the moment they are made aware. They will help you out best they can making sure you have access to any support you might need. I have been there myself, and I have seen them jump into action for many others.

Paying it Forward

We are incredibly fortunate to have so many rec centers and venues offering open play in our community. Open play at El Paso rec centers and parks is free of charge (there is one exception and that’s Sundays at Haskins; they're the one city rec center that offers indoor play on Sundays). It's possible to play every single day around the city, and it’s your PEPA membership that has supported advocacy for this kind of access at our rec centers throughout El Paso.

I think one of the best parts of getting comfortable on the courts is that it puts you in a position to pay it forward. You can help other newbies come into the fold, or better yet, invite and welcome players to join you the next time. All of us were once beginners! When we feel comfortable with the ins and outs of open play it can be easy to lose sight of what it was like to be the new person. Here’s to keeping our community inclusive and to modeling the social, and welcoming nature of our sport wherever and whenever we play.

Supporting the Work of Pickleball El Paso

Our ever-growing community depends on players like you. Your PEPA membership directly funds our advocacy efforts.

Not a member yet? Please join us today to support the sport. At $17 per year, it's a great investment in our continued growth.
Already a member? Thank you! Consider gifting a membership. It’s the perfect way to welcome a new player to the courts or thank your favorite partner.

👉 Click Here to Join, Renew, or Gift a PEPA Membership Today!

Beginner Clinics

Speaking of newbies and bringing others into the fold—check out some of the fun happenings at clinics held around the city!

**May 8 Free Beginner Clinic at Nolan Richardson, led by PEPA Vice President Ben Avalos**

Gary del Palacio Rec Center:

BIG fun was had at the May 13 Beginner Clinic led by PEPA President Ida Chavira! We welcomed Girl Scouts, high schoolers, friends, families, and soon-to-be pickleball family members to the courts. A huge thank you to PEPA members for making this possible, and to Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers of El Paso for sponsoring our clinics. We also extend our gratitude to the Eastside Pickleballers and Sun City Pickleball Club for their generous door prizes.Thank you to Amilcar Galindo and the Gary del Palacio staff for all you do, and—as always—to our awesome coaches and volunteers! You are each deeply appreciated. Welcome, new players! We will see you on the courts soon!

Galatzan Rec Center:

Another fun morning of beginner pickleball took place on May 13, led by PEPA Vice President Ben Avalos. We had a great turnout of enthusiastic new players and coaches! A special thank you to rec center site supervisor Richard Salcido for welcoming us and allowing us to use this beautiful facility.

Upcoming Beginners Clinics:

The Inaugural Dinks for the Brave Tournament

The Pat O’Rourke Rec Center hosted the Dinks for the Brave Tournament on Saturday, May 23, honoring our veterans for Memorial Day. Fourteen teams participated, playing in two brackets, with each team playing six games in a round-robin format. Each two-person team had to have at least one veteran or active-duty player, and entry fees for the tournament were donations of hygiene and toiletry products for local veterans' groups.

Monocle Eyewear, which has a community partnership with the City of El Paso, brought their orange "carrito" to the tournament to display lens-free protective eyewear in support of player safety on the courts.

The idea for this tournament was first conceived by Pat O'Rourke Recreation Specialist Eddie Gonzales, while site supervisor Jessica Jones had the idea for the unique entry fee. Both had wanted to put the tournament on for some time, and the timing finally worked out! Excitement is already brewing about the possibility of repeating this format for a Veterans Day tournament. Hats off to all who participated, spectated, and brought donations. Kudos to Eddie, and to Omar Jimenez, for running this event so flawlessly. And of course, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our veterans, to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and to their families.

Congrats to the Medalists!

🥉Third Place: Erik & Bonnie, 🏅First Place: Jackie & Neil, 🥈Second Place: Suzette & John

Recent Tournaments & Community Highlights

May 9: Horizon Ladies-Only Tutu Tournament

The courts at the Oz Glaze Senior Center were filled with positive vibes for a fabulous day of pickleball! A special thank you goes out to Mary Lopez for organizing the event, and to the men who stepped up to keep time, track scores, and keep the matches rolling smoothly.

Congratulations to all the participants!

🥇 1st Place: Vicki, 🥈2nd Place: Rosario & Gee, 🥉 3rd Place: Maria

May 15: Mothers Day Tournament at Nolan Richardson Rec Center

Congratulations to everyone who came out to play and celebrate!

🥇 1st Place: Lori and Sasha, 🥈 2nd Place: Pat and Sandy.

May 16: “Kids in Parks Day” at Lomita Park & Sylvia Carreon Recreation Center

Kids in Parks Day was a major success! Children and their families had a blast learning new skills and hitting the pickleball courts. A special thank you goes out to Pablo Caballero, Director of El Paso Parks and Recreation, and his leadership team for stopping by to support the community. It was wonderful to see players of all generations enjoying the sport together! We also extend our gratitude to Mercedes for inviting the Pickleball El Paso Association to be a part of this year’s wonderful celebration.

Dink of the Day by PEPA Member Juan Balderrama

This will be Juan's last column. Let him know how his tips have helped you next time you see him on the court! Thanks, Juan, the insights you shared as an active PEPA member have been very much appreciated. See you and Suzette out on the courts!

Punch Volley

What is the punch volley? It is an offensive shot designed to quickly and aggressively redirect the ball towards your opponent’s weak side, feet, or open gaps in their defense. As a beginner, some of the scariest shots are drives, counters, and speedups directed at your torso. You have always been told to work your way to the kitchen line, but may not have been told how to defend against these types of shots.

From the ready position at the kitchen line, you will have your paddle 1 to 2 feet in front of you. If your paddle is too close to your body, you will lose power. As the ball comes at you, move the paddle head parallel to your body. Maintain a slight elbow bend. Do not overextend; allow the ball to come into your impact zone. As you make contact, use your elbow, wrist, and knees to punch the ball and create power. As you get better at the punch volley, you can start adding slight paddle angles and wrist movements to create better ball placement. Keep your movements compact, as it helps with counters and getting back into the ready position.

Rec Center Updates: Please note the changes for open play at Pat O'Rourke and Nolan Richardson:

Pat O'Rourke: Heads-up that due to summer scheduling to accomodate youth activities, Friday open play is no longer be available.

Open play will continue to be available on Wednesdays (9:00am-8:00pm) and Saturdays (9:00am-2:00pm).

Nolan Richardson: Beginning the week of June 8th Thursday night open play will not be available. For the month of June, pickleball will only be: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. To compensate the times on Mondays and Wednesdays have been extended until 5pm.

As soon as we are notified of changes, we will keep the Where to Play page updated. Please call rec centers directly if you are unsure!