RALLY SCORING MAY BE IN OUR POST C-19 PICKLEBALL FUTURE . . . LIKE IT OR NOT!
POST C-19 RESUMPTION OF PICKLEBALL PLAY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS WITHIN OUR OWN PICKLEBALL PLAYING COMMUNITY.
INDOOR VERSUS OUTDOOR PLAY POST C-19 RESUMPTION OF PLAY
PRIOR HEALTH & WELLNESS COMMON SENSE ARTICLES FOR DISEASE PROTECTION & PREVENTION MEASURES TO RESUME PLAYING PICKLEBALL.
by Coach Joe Palmere Jr.
RALLY SCORING
Rally Scoring simply means a point is scored every rally, regardless of which team served the ball. Having play a few games under this scoring system, I have made the following observations.
Rally Scoring does speed up game play, and rewards the team who had the best performance during each rally. Often times we seem to play better and harder, when not serving, just to keep our opponents from racking-up the points. Then when its our turn to serve, we blow the serve or play like crap. And lose the serve and chance to make a point, back to the opposing team.
Under Rally Scoring, conservative defensive play, keeping the ball in play, patiently waiting for the other team to fault, can be rewarding against aggressive offensive, hard hitters and trick shot artist. . “The Meek Shall Inherit The Earth,” versus “Godzilla and Tron Destroy The World,” mindset. A team who has two great servers with an attacking style of play, ball crushing overheads, and rocket-like forehand drives, can over play themselves off the winners podium, under Rally Scoring.
Rally Scoring will all but eliminate a teams chances of making a miraculous comeback from being in the rears, say 1 to 9 points.
Faster games will reduce player between game wait times. Since a crowded venue often reverts to 9 point games, rally scoring may, at the least, all the game to be played out to 11 points.
Rally Scoring may also eliminate the traditional win by 2 points scoring, again reducing game time.
IT’STIME TO START PLANING HOW WE CAN SAFELY RETURN TO THE PICKLEBALL COURTS POST C-19 RELAXING OF RESTRICTIONS.
WHO BETTER THAN AN “ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF INHOUSE PICKLEBALL PLAYING MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS WHO KNOW THE GAME & WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO PREVENT CONTRACTING AND SPREADING THIS DESEASE, WHEN IN CLOSE QUARTERS WHILE PLAYING OR WAITING TO PLAY THE GAME.
One of our most congenial and highly skilled players, Dr. Dahlia Hirsh, Edgewood Activity Center has taken the initiative to start ZOOM Virtual Pickleball Meetings to discuss “Edgewood Rec Picikleball,” and to reconnect players with each other to chat and view each other. She has also provide great health related tips to address this virus. Oher Doctors, Nurse Practioners, Nurses and Physical Therapist in our pickleball Family, can also provide helpful recommendations on how to prevent catching and transmitting this disease, while playing pickleball. Three of our Medical Professionals, Barbara Dual Johnson, Julio Perez, and Barb Elgin also serve as USAPA Pickleball Ambassadors. Barb Johnson & Julio Perez are Nurse Practioners. Barb Elgin, is a licensed Psychotherapist and Certifies Mental Wellness Provider, Barb could help us deal with our mental anxiety and stress of returning to pickleball play post C-19, after lifting of restrictions.
INDOOR VS. OUTDOOR PLAY
I predict that outdoor pickleball play will become more popular than indoor, especially with the onset of warmer weather. I would suggest, that if you do not have a supply of medical grade facemasks and surgical gloves, now is the time to start buying, along with ani-bacterial, disinfecting or alcohol hand and baby wipes and keep some in your vehicle and paddle bags. Last but not least, if you have a cough, sneeze, fever, or not feeling well, think of your fellow players, and stay home. We do not want to begin playing singles because of not enough players to make up a foursome.
PICKLEBALL IS ALL COACH JOE PALMERE 