Described as a combination of tennis, table tennis, and badminton, the sport of Pickleball will draw players both nationally and internationally when the Northern Illinois Pickleball Association hosts a the 3rd Annual Hot Slam August 3 – 4. Hot Slam will take place at the Louisa Street pickleball courts in Loves Park.
Pickleball is best described as small version of tennis with a few key differences. It is played on a badminton sized court with a tennis style net lowered to 34 inches at the center. It is played with a perforated plastic ball (similar to a whiffle ball) and solid paddles. It is easy for beginners to learn, and can attract any age level of player, but can develop into a quick, fast-paced, competitive game for experienced players. Anyone that has played other racquet sports such as table tennis, tennis or racquetball, will adapt quickly to this game.
“This is our 3rd annual round robin and this year we appropriately named it the Hot Slam,” said Jennifer Selchow, a USA Pickleball Association ambassador. “The first year was 89° and the second year it was 105°. Our group has grown to be diverse enough to host a skill-based tournament rather than an age based event. We are a sanctioned event which will allow USAPA members to earn tournament points when placing in sanctioned events.”
The USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) sanctions the event taking place in August. The USAPA was organized to promote the growth and development of pickleball, on a national and international level. This organization provides players with official rules, tournaments, rankings and promotional materials.
“The non-traditional sports market is one area in which we continue to focus our efforts. We are excited to welcome pickleball players to the Rockford Region and hope these tournaments bring greater awareness to this growing sport,” stated John Groh, RACVB president and CEO.
Locally, there are five pickleball courts in the region: Loves Park Playground on Luisa Street, Sinnissippi Park, Nick Saelens Memorial Park (Durand), Club Fusion, Westlake Village, and Indoor Sports Center at Sportscore Two. The Hot Slam competition will welcome teams from Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, Arizona, Wisconsin, Iowa and the country of Ireland. For more information on how or where to play pickleball, or to register for one of the tournaments, visit www.northernillinoispickleball.com.
About Rockford: RACVB is a private, non-profit organization established in 1984 to champion efforts to promote the Rockford Region as an overnight visitor destination. The RACVB adds wealth to the region’s economy by investing in marketing programs that grow tourism. www.gorockford.com
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