MARYLAND PICKLEBALLERS, TIME FOR US TO HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME

PUBLIC FUNDED SENIOR PICKLEBALL
The public funded senior pickleball beginners and open play programs presently don't charge senior participants any fees to play.  The way pickleball is growing, the supply and demand principle will pressure county and state governments to provide more pickleball public playing opportunities for all ages.  And just like the under 60 year old crowd has to pay for court time, seniors will soon see their public funded pickleball programs, charging them a fee to play pickleball.  Pickleball will become just like any other high demand group activity such as Yoga, and Tie Chia. Many seniors will not be happy when this happens, but happen it will. But considering what non-seniors pay out of pocket for court space time and usage hourly rates, the public funded programs will be extremely inexpensive.

The private sector pickleball providers are already cashing in on the Pickleball Money Train.  Private Tennis Club Facilities have also recognized the financial benefits of adding pickleball courts and cross training Pro Tennis Coaches to teach Pickleball. It won't be long before County Government Recreation and Aging Departments, feel the Federal Cuts, and start looking for any way to increase their revenue,

Who do we the "pickleball players" have representing our interests and protecting us from the governmental "revenue raisers ?"  At this time we have the USAPA Pickleball Assn, and "SSIPA" (Super Senior International Pickleball Assn).

Now for the bad news. The power of National representation flows towards States with the most membership. Maryland you say ? WRONG! Maryland Pickleball players are missing in action when it comes to joining the USAPA and SSIPA.  The USAPA provides Ambassadors to represent most every nook and cranny throughout the State.  But few players will join the USAPA as members. 

SSIPA is a new Organization.  It wants members.  But here again, the Organizational muscle  will be applied proportionately to those areas with members.

No longer can we (Maryland pickleball player) bank on the support from the power houses of pickleball, until we have become part of those organizations.  ITS CALLED "HAVING SKIN IN THE GAME !  This all starts with you and I the individual,  and our $20 annual fee to become members.

Just imagine what would be the impact, if within the next week, the USAPA and SSIPA gained 100 new members from MARYLAND.? Considering a rough estimate of 3,000 state-wide pickleball players this amounts to 3.3%.  I would venture to say that our current membership in either of these Organizations is less than 3% of our player population.


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