THE PICKLE POST
PRESCOTT PICKLEBALL ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER
JULY 2026
UPDATES
NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION
This months new member orientation will be rescheduled due to the July 4th Fireworks Show. The new date will by July 11th at 8:00 am at the Pioneer Park Pavilion. All new members are invited to attend to learn more about PPA, using the website, master calendar, events, and round robins/ladders.
Any questions, please email prescottpickleball@gmail.com.
Happy 4th of July!
Wishing each and everyone a very Happy 4th of July. Pioneer Park will be closed starting at 12:00 pm on the 4th due to the set up of this years fireworks show. Normal play will resume July 5th.
Board Member Elections
WE NEED YOU! PPA has their yearly elections this year and there is a great opportunity for you to join this board to be a part of the ever growing association. This year we have three positions coming up that need filling. These positions are President, Secretary, and Member-at-Large. For more information about the roles click here. For more information send us an email. We look forward to you joining us!
NEW NEWS
Volunteers of the Month
The Prescott Pickleball Association is proud to recognize Pickle for the Pets volunteers as our Volunteers of the Month.
This years tournament was a huge success due in large part to PPA's dedicated members that show the true spirit of giving to our pickleball community. It is for this that we thank the following volunteers:
Ginger Alfini
Sue Brogaard
Mary Crum
Terry Grenier
Ann Marie Hadley
Cynthia Lumley
Judi Mackey
Wayne Mackey
Marcie Moody
Marni Nelson
Peg Travers
Gail Trembly
Janyce Waldbaum
Jeanne Walton
PPA's Website
Prescott Pickleball Association's website is the place to find out everything you need to know about events, calendar, volunteers, member directory, pickleball play, and so much more.
Additionally the Pickle Post is updated each month and can always be found on the website.
Many new players want to know how to join round robins/ladders, what the weather is, and who the instructors are. All this is available by simply accessing the website at
Shade structure is in the manufacturing stage and should be installed very soon!
EVENTS
Girls Night Out 2
This event has been cancelled and will be rescheduled at a later date in the fall. We will keep you posted
Slice Into Summer
This summer's social Saturday round robin will be held in the afternoon in order to celebrate summer with a pizza party and raffle items. As with all of our RR's each player will be able to play 7 matches with all our PPA friends.
Date: August 8, 2026
Time: 4:00 - 7:00 PM
Location: Pioneer Park
Registration will begin July 6, 2026 at 7:00 PM
For more information,
THE
COACHES
CORNER
TAKE 5 and Player Skill Evaluations
By PJ JANIK
I have two things I will try to combine into one! Let’s see how I do.
The first thing; an old Phoenix car dealership known as Lou Grubb Chevrolet
would launch it’s TV and radio commercial Ads like this. Lou would start off by
saying “take 5 minutes to consider this” and then go into his very relaxing easy
going sales pitch regarding his dealership. Nothing crazy, just a calm
straightforward conversation on why Lou Grubb Chevrolet is the place to do
business. Now, transfer that to Pickleball. Most people arrive at the Pickleball
courts already thinking about half a dozen other things. Should I check my cell
phone before playing or answer that Text? Or what did I forget to bring with me,
more water? Sunscreen? Bandaides? my cell phone? Ha!
A lot of distractions! Now try this instead: In the 5 minutes before you arrive,
while in the car or walking to the courts, focus in on one thing. Maybe that one
thing could be “I am going to watch the ball early.” Maybe, “I am going to take
time to focus on my serves.” Or my favorite, “today I am going to play to have fun
and stop being so serious about every point!” By focusing on one intention,
you can make an enormous difference on your approach to the game. Your brain
is already on the court before your feet are! OK, so now the blend.
I receive a lot of calls requesting a Player Skills Evaluation, which is great-thank
you! The two most popular reasons that players bring up are requesting an
evaluation are; (1) I want just see where I am at or for future Round Robin
placement (2) I want to escape my current Round Robin play group for better
competition! Both are great reasons for wanting a Player Skills Eval! My next
question is have you reviewed or drilled these player skills elements? If not, the
next time you go out to the court, take five minutes just to train on one of those
player skills elements, such as baseline to baseline controlled groundstrokes and
practice them. Or “today, I am going to target my opponent’s backhand when
serving.” Two concepts with one goal in mind. Taking time to focus in.
Remember, “it’s just Pickleball!”
PJ Janik is a Certified Coach and Player Skills Evaluator through Pickleball
Coaching International. PJ is one of four authorized City of Prescott Pickleball
Instructors at Pioneer Park and the Prescott YMCA’s newest Pickleball Coach. In
addition, he is a USA Pickleball Ambassador. For a lesson or a Player Skill
Evaluation, call or text him at (928) 237-0452. PJ is also a really nice guy!
