IRT Newsletter - Volume 2 - 2010

INTERNATIONAL
RACQUETBALL TOUR
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The IRT Two Serve Rule - Making a Case for the Change
IRT Network Tops 30,000 Viewers
A Preview to the 2010 U.S. Open Racquetball Championships
2010 U.S. Open - The Greatest Show on Earth
Racquetball Warehouse Pro Player Gallery
ProKennex Racquetball Re-signs #1 Kane Waselenchuk
Wilson Racquet Sports Signs Top Player Mitch Williams
The Racquetball “U” featuring Mitch Williams and Shane Vanderson
IRT 2010-2011 Schedule
Championship Racquetball by Fran Davis
Racquetball Changed His Life by Mark Cotterman
I’ve Got Next? by Kathy Geels
World 3 Wall Ball Championships Announced - Las Vegas, NV
2010 World Championships in Cali, Colombia
2010 U.S. Open Information & Entry Form
ISSUE 2 | YEAR 2010
THE IRT TWO SERVE RULE - MAKING A CASE FOR THE CHANGE
By Jason Mannino
fan responses. Some love the
change, others thinks it’s an
abomination.
© Mike Boatman 2010
After considering over twenty
proposed rules changes
designed to increase fan
excitement and enjoyment, the
IRT Board of Directors recently
voted to bring two serves back
to the pro game. In addition,
the IRT passed a rule to
institute a “10 second shot
clock”. Since announcing the
rule change, my inbox has
been flooded with impassioned
In ancient times, the pros
played with two serves. And it
was good. And then a guy
named Cliff Swain came along.
With a lethal arsenal of lefty
drives, jams and Z’s, Cliff was
dominating the pro game.
Turns out that this Swain fellow
would go on to become the
greatest server in racquetball
history. Others got in on the
act – Egan Inoue, Tim Doyle,
Andy Roberts, Tim Sweeney –
these guys hit the serve so hard
that it skid across the floor.
While it was exciting to see
someone rip an ace, it led to
many one shot or two shot
rallies. Many claimed that the
pro game had become boring.
In an attempt to promote more
rallies and put less emphasis on
the serve, the IRT tried quadrant
serving. Once that failed, a
decision was made to allow only
one attempt for the server to put
the ball in play. Many people
believed switching to one serve
would increase the importance of
the rally and round out the game.
There was also a prevailing view
that control players such as Mike
Ray and Ruben Gonzalez would
benefit the most from the one
serve change. Others believed
that it actually would hurt control
players since they no longer had
margin of error for serving, and
therefore had to be more
conservative.
For many years the rule change
achieved its desired effect.
Percentage racquetball was truly
exploited, and even power
players started to utilize the lob
serve in certain situations. Drew
Kachtik and Aaron Katz
developed the “Texas lob”. Andy
Roberts, himself capable of
hitting big drive serves, perfected
the Texas lob and made it an
integral weapon in his arsenal. I
developed a unique lob service
pattern that was effective against
© Mike Boatman 2010
power players.
When these
various lob serve strategies took
on the power of Cliff, Sudsy and
Kane, IRT events were full of
interesting and exciting match
ups. And it was good.
While one serve emphasized the
rally, it also led to a lob serve
generation of players. They are
excellent at hitting accurate lob
serves, and they are equally
skilled at returning lob serves.
While the rallies are still exciting,
there are actually fewer rallies!
You might be surprised to learn of
the very high percentage of two
shot rallies on the IRT (e.g. lob –
kill, lob nick – kill, high lob – kill,
junk lob – kill, etc). There are less
than a handful of top players that
bring serious heat to the serve,
and the crack ace has all but
vanished from the landscape.
Who would have thought that
going to one serve would lead to
fewer rallies?
It is impossible to know what the
unintended consequences will be
of the rule change, but we think
it’s going to be exciting. The
change undoubtedly will help
some players and hurt others.
Some will develop the drive serve
as a weapon, and some may try
and fail! When a player falls
behind in a match, maybe having
two serves will offer a greater
opportunity to mount a
comeback. We think fans will
love seeing the return of the crack
ace and powerful serve and shoot
game styles.
We hope you are as eager as we
are to see how the two serve rule
will impact the IRT, and we
encourage you to continue
sharing your opinions with us.
IRT NETWORK TOPS
30,000 VIEWERS
IRT Network announcer & owner
John Scott announced this month
that the network surpassed the
30,000 viewership mark. Scott,
who took over the network in
March of this year, says that the
growth has been due in large part
t o P a b l o F a j r e ,
(racqetballonline.tv), and the fans
wanting the best in racquetball
broadcasting. "When we took
over the IRT Network we had just
over 1,800 people. That was on
March 8th.
Since then we
merged with Racquetball Online,
and used electronic media like
Facebook to grow our
membership base.
We also
allowed everyone to watch the
matches for free on Fridays which
really helped our exposure."
Scott was asked about the
upcoming season and says that it
is going to be amazing. "There
are going to be twice the amount
of tournaments with the IRT, we
also will have CPRT Network,
WPRO Network, USAR Network,
etc. They will all funnel into each
other and allow racquetball fans
full and complete access to
nearly every major tournament."
The Network also says that the
large amount of registered users
has turned the heads of
advertisers. "While the large
majority of the 30,000 users are
non-paying, it gives us several
hundred thousand hits a month.
Nearly every racquetball
company is now on board as an
advertiser, and we are generating
buzz from outside industry
companies. It's important for
companies to remember that we
aren't just "racquetball
people"...we are PEOPLE who
play racquetball and there a lot of
us!"
Due to the advertising influx the
IRT Network is seeking account
managers.
For advertising
opportunities contact John Scott
at [email protected]
All photography is the property
of Mike Boatman Photography.
http://www.mikeboatman.com/
A PREVIEW TO THE 2010 U.S. OPEN RACQUETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
By Doug Ganim
Well it’s hard to believe it has
been fifteen years but the 2010
US OPEN Racquetball
Championships is approaching!
Obviously, the BIG NEWS is that
the US OPEN is moving to
Minneapolis. This year’s event
promises to be the best ever with
a record turnout expected of both
players and spectators. The
purpose of this special preview is
to give you an idea of what to
expect at this year’s tourney.
Amateur Draws: The amateur
matches will be played at all three
venues—Life Time Fitness
Target Center, Life Time Fitness
St. Louis Park, and Life Time
Minneapolis Athletic Club. No
consolation divisions will be
offered due to the huge draw and
lack of available court time. The
competition will be excellent in all
of the divisions offered as we
always host competitors from all
over the world. The top four
finishers in each division will
receive oversized US OPEN
medals that weigh about 1 lb.
each!
Pro Match Tickets: There is no
better place in the world to watch
pro racquetball than at the US
O P E N R a c q u e t b a l l
Championships.
First of all,
every top player in the world on
the IRT , WPRO, and CPRT will
be in Minneapolis. For the true
racquetball enthusiast this
means incredible matches to
watch right from the round of 32.
Second, ALL pro match courts
are professionally wired for
sound so spectators can hear
every grunt, groan, and under
-the-breath comment throughout
every match of the tournament.
The ball sounds like a missile
being shot off so be sure to wear
your earplugs if you have
sensitive "flappers". Third, all the
feature matches take place on
the NEW breathtaking
made-for-TV portable stadium
racquetball court.
This
engineering marvel has four walls
made of crystal clear Lucite
acrylic that is not only optically
correct (no tinting, blurring, or
bending of light) but is beautiful to
behold. All the Lucite material is
butted up against each other with
Lucite "fins" providing the
support. Even the "L" brackets
are made of Lucite so the result
is a seamless visual experience
that makes you feel like you’re
right in the court with the players.
The stadium seats about 1,100
fans and ticket sales are always
brisk.
Your best bet is to
purchase one of the Ticket
Packages which includes all
sessions. This is by far the best
value. If you like to view the pro’s
from the back wall purchase the
upgraded Preferred Ticket
Package for a guaranteed back
wall seat. Side wall seating this
year will be located above the
court on a mezzanine level. This
less expensive option still offers a
good view but further away from
the court than the Preferred Back
Wall seating.
Parties, Parties, and More
Parties! One of the things the US
OPEN is best known for is the
evening social functions. For
those planning to attend you can
expect more of the same this year
starting with the "free admission"
Pro-Am Doubles for St. Jude on
Wednesday evening, the fun
"Players Gathering" (site TBD) on
Thursday evening, the Players
Dance Party (site TBD) Friday
evening and the largest bash of
the year—the Saturday
evening-PARTY WITH THE
PRO’s. Other activities include a
special Thursday evening
Internationals Reception for all
our "out of the country" guests
and a week long Industry Trade
Show in the Player’s Hospitality
Village featuring all the top
racquetball manufactures
displaying the latest and greatest
gear available in the sport. Look
for returning special events this
year including the IRT
Champions Clinic and the
IRT/WPRO Play the Pro for St.
Jude Challenge.
No way to attend the event this
year! If you absolutely can’t
make it to this year’s tournament
then the last resort is to follow the
action from home. To help make
this easier we will transform our
website - usopenracquetball.com
- into a computer "window" to look
in on the action at the
tournament.
Plans include
offering live amateur division
results posting, up to the minute
pro match results, digital
photography from throughout the
event, streaming video of select
pro matches, and web-radio
voice interviews with top pro’s as
well as play-by-play voice
streaming of the quarters, semi’s,
and finals (pay per view package
required- sign up at
www.usopenracquetball.com).
Special thanks to our computer
guru and webmaster Steve
Kowalski for spearheading this
ambitious project for the US
OPEN.
THE PRO’s! As always, the focal
point of the US OPEN are the pro
players and the incredible
entertainment they provide as
each player quests for the
coveted US OPEN title. Anyone
on tour will tell you that at the US
OPEN intensity is at its highest so
every match yields both players
at 120% effort. Check out the IRT,
CPRT, and WPRO articles in this
special US OPEN Preview
Section for more info!
ATTENDING THE U.S.
OPEN AS A VIP
A v e r y l i m i te d n u m b e r o f
four-person court side luxury
GOLD BOXES still remain for the
2010 US OPEN. The cost is
$2,800 and includes four GOLD
All-Access Credentials to the
event. In addition to enjoying the
pro matches from your private
and comfortable court side GOLD
BOX, All-Access Credential
holders have unlimited access to
the exclusive Pro/GOLD Lounge
throughout the event featuring
complimentary catering
(breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
and drink (beer, soda, water, and
wine) during all hours. Event
sponsors, top ranked men and
women pro players, and GOLD
BOX holders are the only VIPs
permitted in the lounge.
If you are interested please call
(614) 890-6073 to check for
current availability.
PRO-AM DOUBLES FOR
ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S
HOSPITAL
Want to treat yourself to an
incredible racquetball experience
while at the same time supporting
a world-renowned charity
devoted to caring for children with
catastrophic illnesses? Well here
is your chance! On Wednesday
evening Oct. 20th at the 2010 US
OPEN 32 lucky amateurs will
team up with the top stars on the
IRT and WPRO for a special
Pro-Am Doubles tournament. A
$325 donation gets you into the
draw, until 32 commitments are
received. The evening features
free food and drink, an
autographed racquet from your
pro partner, and a complimentary
portrait with your pro partner.
Although this event has sold out
each of the last 14 years, at the
time of this writing there are still a
handful of spots left. If you are
interested in participating, call
(800) 234-5396
ext. 129 to
register.
2010 U.S. OPEN - THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH!
By Doug Ganim
Always the highlight of the US
O P E N , t h e I RT d r a w w i l l
undoubtedly deliver another
memorable year for racquetball
fans throughout the world. More
than ever, young stars and wily
tour veterans will be gunning for
the coveted US OPEN title. For
those of you that like to lay a little
side wager on the action, allow
me to give some insights that may
help you make some cash.
Jack Huczek (3:1 odds) – Despite
never winning the US OPEN,
Huczek still is a good bet to reach
the finals and battle Kane for the
title. A Huczek vs Carson semi
final will make for one heck of a
match. If Jack gets by Carson he
has the best chance of anyone on
the IRT to pull the upset. He is
one of the only players in the
world that has beaten Kane in IRT
pro events. Further, he has the
fitness level to stand tall late in the
match should he find a way to
push it to the wire.
© Mike Boatman 2010
Kane Waselenchuk (1:3 odds) –
The chances of Kane not winning
the US OPEN are slimmer than
slim. Every time he steps foot on
the portable court his game rises
to ridiculous levels. Not only does
he win all his matches at the US
OPEN each year but often makes
the other top players look
downright silly. Of course, an
upset is always possible but
highly unlikely with Kane. If you
want to see the game played at a
level never before seen, pull up a
seat for any of Kane’s matches
and enjoy the show!
© Mike Boatman 2010
© Mike Boatman 2010
Rocky Carson (4:1 odds) – Rocky
Carson will have to get through
both Jack and Kane to win the
title, a tall order for sure. He
usually plays well at the US
OPEN however he has taken
some major league beatings from
Kane throughout the past year
and the scar tissue is starting to
build up. He has a strong chance
to reach the finals but it would
take a Herculean effort for him to
upset Kane and win the
tournament.
Jason Mannino (15:1 odds) – As
of this writing Jason has officially
retired from pro racquetball and is
putting his full time efforts into
© Mike Boatman 2010
serving as the IRT’s new
Commissioner.
However, my
goal is to coax him out of
retirement for at least this one
event! Winning the US OPEN is
about guts, stamina, and the
willpower to dig down deep.
Being the most skilled player on
the court does not even come
close to guaranteeing a win.
Nobody on the IRT has more guts
than Jason Mannino.
His
chances of winning the
tournament are slim, especially
because he will be rusty from not
playing regular IRT events but,
depending on his draw, making
the finals is not out of the
question.
© Mike Boatman 2010
Alvaro Beltran (12:1 odds) –
Beltran continues to be a big
under-performer at the US OPEN
and on tour in general. For a guy
with his enormous talent to have
never won a pro stop (despite 7
finals appearances) is shocking.
Everyone on tour knows how
dangerous this player can be as
he has all the tools. The question
is, will he break through on the
biggest stage and really show the
fans what he has under the hood?
As I said in my review of Mannino,
winning the US OPEN is more
about guts than skill. Would love
to see Beltran finally show some
real fire on the court and put forth
the effort necessary to claim
victory. Last year he missed
nearly the entire season with a
torn ACL. A lot will depend on
how he has recovered from his
surgery. However, he is the only
player in the draw that Kane really
hates to see on the court. For
some reason Beltran usually
gives him a bit of trouble.
© Mike Boatman 2010
Shane Vanderson (14:1 odds) –
Vanderson has had success at
the US OPEN, making the
semi-finals five times, including in
2009. Of all the players who have
never won a pro stop, Shane has
about the best chance of pulling
off the impossible by making the
US OPEN his first victory. The
reason is he tends to get “hot”
from time to time. When he is
rolling the ball from the back of
the court, nobody on tour can
beat him.
He becomes
impossible to score against. All
you can do is “weather the storm”
and wait for him to cool off, which
he usually does. To win the US
OPEN he would have to stay hot
for multiple matches. Time is
starting to run out on this veteran
but - Never say never!
© Mike Boatman 2010
break loose with a life changing
performance. He did a few years
ago at the Nationals in Houston,
knocking off two players in the top
five to win the tourney. Mitch
remains one of my favorite
players to watch on tour with his
big time power and fearless shot
selection.
© Mike Boatman 2010
Ben Croft (15:1 odds) Ben is the
most improved player on the IRT
and has stepped up his game to
the highest level. He is regularly
reaching the semi’s of events and
giving the very top guys fits. Kane
is the only player he has not beat.
The thing I like about Ben is he is
never afraid to go for the win.
Never intimidated, not even by
Kane. He always plays hard and
has the attitude and swagger of a
champion. Don’t be surprised if
he pulls an upset and ends up in
the finals.
Mitch Williams (18:1 odds) –
Mitch has never made the finals
of a pro stop so the chances of
him winning the US OPEN are a
bit remote. However, with the
weapons he has on the court you
never know when he is going to
© Mike Boatman 2010
Cliff Swain (25:1 odds) – The
greatest player to ever play the
game of racquetball, at age 43 he
probably does not have another
US OPEN title in him (especially
with the r etur n of Kane) .
However, the thing about Swain
is he always played his best
racquetball of the season at the
US OPEN. I fully expect to see
him playing at a high level and
would not be surprised to see him
pull an upset of a top five ranked
player. To win the tournament he
would have to string together
multiple upsets which is quite a
tall order. Still probably worth a
small bet with the odds offering a
strong return on your money.
talent on the court.
Nearly
impossible to pass, he proves
that players of all heights can play
at the elite level with his 6’ 5”
stature. Always fired up on the
court, look for Crowther to give
someone fits in the round of 16.
In closing, the men of the IRT are
ready to let it fly at the 2010 US
OPEN. Get your seat early for the
greatest show in sports and
ENJOY!
Tony Carson – Never heard of
him! Well he won the 2008
Intercollegiate Championships
and is one of the best new young
player on the IRT. He has a BIG
game, BIG heart, and
entertaining personality.
Not
much chance of winning the
tournament but a great chance to
upset a top ranked player in the
16’s.
RACQUETBALL
WAREHOUSE PRO
PLAYER GALLERY
© Mike Boatman 2010
Jose Rojas (17:1 odds) Jose has
also improved significantly and
has the big time game to beat
anyone, including Kane, if he got
hot enough. His “go for broke”
game style is thrilling to watch.
He is not afraid of anyone on tour
and likes to bring the heat. There
is no question that Jose is the
best young player in the country
and probably the heir to the IRT
throne down the road. Is he ready
for a career breakthrough at the
2010 US OPEN? We will see!
Honorable Mentions
Andy Hawthorne – last season
was a bit disappointing for
Hawthorne however he remains
a d e t e r m i n e d c o m p e t i t o r.
Perhaps the hardest working
player on tour, look for Andy to go
down swinging (and diving) at this
year‘s US OPEN.
Chris Crowther – also known as
“the crippler”, Chris is another
dark horse that has incredible
Kris Odegard A talented
Canadian, Odegard has been
quietly climbing up the rankings in
the past year and is now in the top
ten! He rarely beats the top
players but also rarely looses to
lower ranked guys. He has the
power to pull an upset.
Want to know what racquet your
favorite player uses? What
glove? Eyeguards? String?
Racquetball Warehouse has put
together a web page dedicated to
IRT players, packed with action
photos, information and
interviews.
Learn about your favorite player’s
accomplishments, products, and
more by visiting:
http://www.racquetballwarehouse.com
/proplayergallery.html
Javier Moreno – Wow is he fun to
watch! Never afraid to win, even
against the very top ranked
players, he has a dangerous
game. Always a fan favorite he
puts as much effort into
entertaining the fans as he does
into winning the match!
IRT National Sponsorship Program
Sponsorship opportunities are available to those looking to host, advertise, or support IRT events throughout the year. Ever think
about speaking one-on-one with professional racquetball players? Want to sit court side at IRT events? Sponsorship opportunities
include these, and other amenities to fit any budget. If you are interested in supporting the IRT National Sponsorship Program
please e-mail us at [email protected].
Help support the IRT by supporting our partners. You can purchase IRT partner gear at www.RacquetballWarehouse.com.
PRO KENNEX RACQUETBALL
RE-SIGNS #1 KANE WASELENCHUK
WILSON RACQUET SPORTS SIGNS
TOP PLAYER MITCH WILLIAMS
July 16th, 2010 - Pro
Kennex International Co.,
Ltd., a world leader of graphite sports equipment and
technology is proud to
announce the signing of
Kane Waselenchuk to a contract extension
July 16th, 2010 - Top touring
racquetball player, Mitch
Williams, has signed a multiyear contract to continue to
endorse Wilson’s entire line
of racquetball products.
© Mike Boatman 2010
Kane is coming off the greatest season in racquetball history. He won a record 5th U.S. Open title
and went undefeated the entire International Racquetball Tour season to achieve his 5th World Professional #1 title.
“The relationship is special and we are proud to be
associated as history is being made” said Michael
Martinez, President, Pro Kennex USA. “Kane will
play a vital role in the success of the sport and Pro
Kennex Racquetball now and into our future.”
“I am excited to continue to be a part of Team Pro
Kennex. My past two years have been unbelievable. I look forward to continuing our successful
relationship with what I think is the best company in
racquetball,” said Waselenchuk.
Waselenchuk will compete with the all new Kinetic
KM 700 designed for unprecedented performance.
ProKennex International Co., Ltd. is based in Taichung City, Taiwan and specializes in graphite
sports equipment and technologies. Pro Kennex
International Co. designs, manufactures and
distributes tennis, racquetball, squash and badminton products to over 45 countries around the world.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT PRO
KENNEX USA: [email protected]
Mitch has been with Wilson
for the past three years and in that time he climbed
to #7 in the International Racquetball Tour (IRT)
rankings. “I am pleased to continue playing and
endorsing Wilson,” Williams said. “They have supported me so much in the last three years and I am
excited to continue our relationship on the International Racquetball Tour.”
Williams recently won two National Doubles Titles
including the 2010 USA Racquetball National
Doubles Championships. Williams qualifies as a
member of the US Team that will travel to Korea
later this year to compete in the IRF World Championships with his Warlock BLX racket. “Mitch is a
dynamic player with an aggressive style of play,”
said Terri Graham, US Business Director of Indoor
Racquet Sports. “He is always a must see match
at events. We are proud of his accomplishments
and look forward to many more championships
added to his list of titles.”
Wilson Racquet Sports is a division of Chicagobased Wilson Sporting Goods, one of the world's
leading manufacturers of sports equipment and
owned by Amer Sports. Wilson designs, manufactures and distributes sporting goods throughout the
world and focuses on making technologically
advanced products which help players of all levels
perform better. Wilson's core sport categories
include: Football, Basketball, Baseball, Volleyball,
Soccer, Youth Sports, Uniforms/Apparel, Golf,
Footwear and Racquet Sports (Tennis, Racquetball, Squash, Badminton and Platform Tennis). For
more information, visit www.wilson.com.
International Racquetball Tour
2010-2011 Schedule
SEPTEMBER 9-12
SEPTEMBER 15-19
SEPTEMBER 30-OCT 3
OCTOBER 1-3
OCTOBER 8-10
OCTOBER 8-10
OCTOBER 15-17
OCTOBER 20-24
OCTOBER 29-31
OCTOBER 29-31
NOVEMBER 4-7
NOVEMBER 5-7
NOVEMBER 5-7
NOVEMBER 18-21
DECEMBER 3-6
DECEMBER 3-6
DECEMBER 9-12
JANUARY 6-9
JANUARY 13-16
JANUARY 20-23
JANUARY 21-23
JANUARY 21-23
JANUARY 27-30
JANUARY 27-30
FEBRUARY 4-6
FEBRUARY 11-13
FEBRUARY 9-13
FEBRUARY 17-20
FEBRUARY 17-20
FEBRUARY 24- 27
MARCH 3-5
MARCH 3-5
MARCH 10-13
MARCH 17-19
MARCH 18-20
MARCH 24-27
APRIL 1-3
APRIL 7-10
APRIL14-17
APRIL 28-MAY 1
MAY 5-8
MAY 6-8
MAY 12-15
MAY 19-22
MAY 25-29
JUNE 10-12
JULY 22-24
GHOST OF GEORGETOWN - KANSAS CITY, KS (T1)
CALI COLOMBIA GRAND SLAM - CALI, COLOMBIA (GS)
SAN DIEGO RACQUET HOUSE IRT Pro/Am - SAN DIEGO, CA (T1)
KITCHENER CLASSIC - KITCHENER, CANADA (T4)
AUBURN VW OPEN - KENT, WA (T4)
LOU BRADLEY MEMORIAL - MADISON, WI (T2)
WEST MICHIGAN OPEN - GRAND RAPIDS, MI (T4)
U.S. OPEN - MINNEAPOLIS, MN (GS)
NEW MEXICO Pro/Am - ALBUQUERQUE, NM (T3)
68 INSIDE SPORTS Pro/Am- KANSAS CITY, KS (T3)
CORONA OPEN - CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO (T1)
POMONA VALLEY OPEN - POMONA, CA (T4)
LONG ISLAND OPEN - LONG ISLAND, NY (T4)
18TH ANNUAL TURKEY SHOOT - GARDEN CITY, KS (T2)
ROSE CITY Pro/Am - PORTLAND, OR (T1)
ST. NICK SPLAT - MILLERSVILLE, MD (T3)
MARKET AMERICA Pro/Am - GREENSBORO, NC (T1)
COAST TO COAST CALIFORNIA OPEN - LOS ANGLES, CA (T1)
NEW YORK CITY Pro/Am - LONG ISLAND, NY (T1)
LAWLER SPORTS Pro/Am - TERRE HAUTE, IN (T1)
NEW JERSEY OPEN - FAIRFIELD, NJ (T4)
CONCORD OPEN - CONCORD, CA (T4)
WICHITA OPEN - WICHITA, KS (T4)
LEWIS DRUG Pro/Am - SIOUX FALLS, SD (T2)
CINCINNATI OPEN - CINCINNATI, OH (T4)
KEYSTONE CLASSIC - WINNIPEG, CANADA (T4)
U.S. NATIONAL DOUBLES - PHOENIX, AZ (USAR)
SEATTLE OPEN - SEATTLE, WA (T1)
TORNADO ALLEY OPEN - WICHITA FALLS, TX (T4)
SAN DIEGO OPEN - SAN DIEGO, CA (T1)
CARL MYERS MEMORIAL - GARDEN CITY, KS (T2)
LEAMINGTON OPEN - LEAMINGTON, CANADA (T4)
FLORIDA SPRING BREAK Pro/Am - FL (T1)
SALT LAKE CITY Pro/Am - SALT LAKE CITY, UT (T1)
NORTHWEST OPEN - BELLINGHAM, WA (T4)
ST. LOUIS OPEN - ST. LOUIS, MO (T1)
TOPEKA OPEN - TOPEKA, KS (T4)
SOUTH CAROLINA OPEN (T4)
MEXICO OPEN - TIJUANA, MEXICO (T1)
ALISO VIEJO Pro/Am - ALISO VIEJO, CA (T1)
BOSTON Pro/Am - BOSTON, MA (T1)
CINCO DE MAYO SHOOTOUT - PUEBLO, CO (T4)
CANADIAN RACQUETBALL CLASSIC (T1)
COSTA RICA OPEN - SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA (T4)
IRT PRO NATIONALS/USAR FINALS - LOCATION TBD (GS)
MARYLAND OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS - LAUREL, MD (T4)
TAMPA OPEN - TAMPA, FL (T3)
Dates subject to change. Check http://irt-tour.com for the latest updates.
CHAMPIONSHIP RACQUETBALL
SPORTS TRIANGLE... TIPS FROM THE COACH!
By Fran Davis
Hall of Fame 2004
Racquetball Woman of the Year 2009
Coach #1 Women’s Pro Player, Paola Longoria
Coach #4 IRT’s Pro Player, Jason Mannino
Master Professional Instructor/Coach USAR-IP
Taylor Knoth just won the Boys
18 & Under Jr. National Championships held in Minneapolis, MN
and could not have achieved this
feat if he did not have all the
elements of the "Sports Triangle"
we talked about in the June
issue... The Racquetball Skills,
Mental Toughness Skills and
Conditioning/Nutritional Skills.
I have been coaching Taylor
since he was 12 years old and he
is now 19 years old. For the last
7 years we have been building
his Championship Racquetball
Dream House from the ground
up. Over the last 7 years Taylor
has won the Boys 12 & U, 14 &
U, 16 & U and now the Boys 18 &
U at Jr. Nationals, as well as 3
High School Championships and
took 2nd as a freshman at the
2010 National Intercollegiate
Championships and beat two
seniors along the way before
losing to Jose Rojas. This winning record is proof of Taylor
working hard in ALL the elements
of the "Sports Triangle". Let's
take a look at what he has done
and continues to do so you can
learn some tips for yourself.
Racquetball Skills
At the ripe age of 12 when I first
started working with Taylor we
worked on EVERY racquetball
skill beginning with stroke
mechanics, court position, shots
of the game & shot selection,
footwork, serves/relocation out
of the box and his return of
serve. He was relentless and
with the help of his mom and dad
he drilled 3-4X per week and to
this day he drills religiously.
Especially this year was his first
year of college and did not have
many top players to play so he
drilled MORE than played during
the week and then on weekends
he either played tournaments or
arranged games for himself to
play.
After the 1st of the year Taylor
and I got together at tournaments where I filmed him playing
and then we viewed those videos
of him and his competitors and
broke down both games one by
one. I would say this was the
MOST helpful to him as he saw
for his own eyes what he did or
didn't do and what his opponents
strengths and weaknesses were.
With that information I gave him
areas to work on in the first quarter of the year. Once April rolled
around and I saw him at the
National Intercollegiate Championships that is where we began
to step it up and really zero in on
some of his weaknesses. The
areas we focused on were his
serve, both drives and half lobs,
his return of serve, re-killing up
front and wide angle passes. He
stepped up his drilling sessions
before the Jr. Nationals and
practiced 4-5X a week on his
shots and 6X a week on his
serves and return of serves. In
my opinion this paid off BIG DIVIDENDS as I believe all of these
helped him beat Nick Montalbano in the semi's and Brad
Kirsch in the finals. His drive
serve to the right was so wicked
which set up all the other serves
and kept the both of them so off
balance and got them frustrated.
Taylor was able to capitalize on
their frustration and being off
balance.
There is NO QUESTION in my
mind Taylor's hard work and
dedication of tweaking and finetuning a few of his racquetball
skills over the last year and really
over the last 3 months was one
of the keys to him winning the
Boys 18 & U Jr. National Title,
but Taylor DID NOT stop there.
Conditioning Skills was next on
his agenda.
Conditioning Skills
Taylor was in tip top shape as he
was working out with a personal
trainer 3X a week and did some
conditioning classes as well, at
his Aunt Jennifer Harding's club
in Milwaukie, OR. On top of that
he was playing high school basketball and worked out pretty
hard with the team on a regular
basis.
Taylor remained in good shape
while at college, but several
months before Jr. Nationals he
came home on weekends and
began to train even harder and
more intensely. His workouts
included Speed and Agility
camps on the weekends, if he
did not have a tournament. Once
school was over for the semester
and he returned home he did
both personal training 3X per
week and some power classes
and even boot camp.
the tournament director to see if
the tournament is running on
time or not. Once he determines
when he will be going on he gets
on the stationary bike and then
stretches and does "happy feet"
movements so he is ready to
move to the ball as the ball can
be moving at speeds of 150+
mph.
His footwork was incredible as
he was getting to more balls than
I ever saw him get to before. He
told me he felt he was in the best
shape of his life and was
READY....and he sure was, but
he now had to take care of his
Mental Toughness.
2 - Routine During the Match:
Mental Toughness
We have worked SO HARD on
his mental toughness skills
because in several tournaments
this year I saw him mentally
break down, get frustrated and
lose it, thus losing the match. I
gave him a few things to work on
in the last 6 months:
1 - Routine Before the Match:
The biggest thing he does is he
DOES NOT hang out at the club
all day. He stays in the room after
eating and plays video games
which relaxes him.
He gets to the club one hour
before he plays and checks with
We got Taylor to SLOW DOWN
before returning serve as when
he is not playing well he rushes.
He now faces the back wall and
plays with his racquet strings
before he turns to receive serve.
This calms him down so he can
refocus and figure out what he
did wrong, if anything, to be
receiving and not serving. By
figuring out the mistake he
makes a quick correction in his
head so history doesn't repeat
itself.
3 - Develop a Game Plan ALL
THE TIME:
There is no excuse not to have a
game plan as that is your plan of
action to carry out so you can win
the match. Taylor scouts his
opponent, or if I am there I also
do it, so he knows their strengths
and weaknesses. If you "fail to
plan you plan to fail"....keep that
in mind.
4 - Playing Tournaments:
The experience Taylor gained
over this past year playing in
some IRT Satellite events, the
US Open, National Singles and
National Intercollegiate was
HUGE for Taylor because of the
EXPERIENCE and learning how
to play under pressure with confidence. He took Shane Vanderson to 5 games before losing. He
lost to Jack Huczek in 2 games 9
and 12, but made it to the quarterfinals at National Singles. He
beat Zach Apperson and Allan
Crockett, both seniors, at the
Intercollegiate Championships.
And lastly he beat Jimmy Lowe
at Regionals after losing to him
several times in some Satellite
events. All the things he does
mentally like develop game
plans, warming up properly
before his match, visualizing,
setting routines, slowing down
the games and all the things I
teach in our book and video he is
starting to DO and BELIEVE in
because he is seeing results.
Taylor Knoth DID NOT accidentally win Jr. National... he worked
hard and smart and is using the
blueprint of the "Sports Triangle".
Stay tuned for his trip to Jr.
Worlds, in November, as he will
be representing the USA at the
Jr. World Championships in Los
Angeles, CA.
In the next issue I will give you
some assessment tests so you
can see where in the “Sports
Triangle” you need more work.
Then, I will start building your
Championship
Racquetball
Dream House one level at a time
so be ready to become the
champion you always dreamed
of, but now you will have the
tools to do it and make it a reality.
For details on more personalized
instruction, a weekend camp,
instructional DVD’s, or the new
book "Championship Racquetball" (to be released early 2011)
please visit:
www.frandavisracquetball.com
RACQUETBALL
CHANGED HIS LIFE
By Mark Cotterman
Yelandi Rivero was out for a fun
day with his kids when everything
turned upside down on February
11, 2005. As first reported by
Gary Curreri, a freelancer for the
Sun-Sentinel News in West Palm
Beach Florida, Yelandi flipped his
ATV and ended up paralyzed
from the waist down. His love of
the sport gave him the motivation
he needed to not only be able to
walk, but to reach the top of the
outdoor game, recently achieving
#1 doubles status in the Open
division. I caught up with Yelandi
to hear more about his story.
Mark: You were injured severely
a while back. Tell me about what
happened, and what the doctors
said your prognosis would be.
Yelandi: I remember the date
well, February 11, 2005.
I
decided to go out and spend
some time with my family riding
our ATVs when I went over on
mine, and broke my back. The
first doctor said I would never
walk again. I sought a second
opinion, and the specialist said
with the right surgery I could get
back some feeling, maybe walk
with a lot of rehab. So I did the
surgery, spent two weeks on a
ventilator, and had a lot of time to
think things through. Would I
walk again? If I did, then what?
Could I do the things with my
family I used to? Would I be able
to play ball again?
loved the game, and have played
it since I was in my teens. The
competitions to me are like a child
being told they’re going to
Disneyland. To see the guys out
hitting as I was rehabbing was
really hard, so I decided that was
where I was going to be – on the
courts again, competing, and
winning. So day-by-day I kept
pushing myself, and now here I
am. Playing at a high level in the
game. As I’d said earlier, so
much of this was mental, and the
love of the sport gave me that
mental edge to drive my body and
mind to get in the place where it
needed to be to make a full
recovery.
Mark: That sounds like it was
pretty scary, and posed quite a
challenge. But you did it. What
was your recovery training like?
What did you do to get back into
fighting shape?
Mark: What are your plans going
forward in racquetball?
Yelandi: The first thing I did was
refuse to sit in a wheelchair the
hospital gave me! But more than
the physical part, it was the
mental. Sitting in the wheelchair
was an admission of weakness –
of giving in to the injury. No way
was I going to let that happen! But
the hospital did work with me on
a lot of rehab exercises, including
some that made little sense to
me. And over time, with lots of
work and concentration, I could
walk again.
Mark: Thank goodness for
experts being good at what they
do. What role did racquetball play
in your recovery? How much of
a role did it play?
Yelandi: A huge part. I’ve always
Yelandi: I want to be at the top
of my game, and move into
playing at the pro level. I can’t
dedicate as much time as I want
due to my work schedule, but
every chance I get I’m out
practicing to play at this level.
And I’m looking forward to
entering as many tournaments as
I can make.
Mark: For all of the racquetball
fans out there hearing your story,
what would you like to say to them
given what you have been
through?
Yelandi: Don’t ever give up
anything in your life due to a
setback. Don’t let people tell you
“you can’t”. Be mentally strong,
always. The game of racquetball
gave me the focus I needed to do
what I’m doing today, and for that
I will always be grateful. The
sport made a huge difference in
my life.
This story has a familiar refrain.
Those that know Jason
Mannino’s story know that his
was another dramatic, “come
from behind” tale. Jason was in
a car accident that left him with
multiple injuries and broken
bones, including his back (in
several places). Like Yelandi,
doctors were not optimistic. It
was months before Jason could
walk, let alone pick up a racquet
and play.
And like Yelandi,
J a s o n ’s r e n o w n e d m e n t a l
toughness took him to new
heights, allowing him to not only
start to play again, but win many
IRT events and secure a #1
professional ranking.
Racquetball gave them their
reason to recover. And their
mental strength – so crucial to
high-level competition, allowed
them to capitalize on their mutual
goal - playing the great sport of
racquetball.
I’VE GOT NEXT?
By Kathy Geels
In looking forward to the 2010/11
season things are looking good
for the International Racquetball
Tour (IRT) and its fans, as well as
for up-and-coming rookie Jose
Rojas of Stockton, Calif. He is
one of a number of new faces
likely to shape the tour over the
next few years. Less than two
years ago the twenty-year-old
turned his sights on his ranking
and by the end of last year's
09/10 season had climbed to
number ten in the world. By most
accounts the talented college
junior has not only “arrived”, but
is ahead of schedule and focused
on taking his ranking even higher
in the upcoming season as he
continues to successfully
balance academics and the pro
tour. Only last September of 2008
at the Motorola World
Championships Rojas
determined to make his move on
the pro ranks, after dominating
juniors internationally since he
was a small child. It was there, in
Denver that he showed his
readiness for the pros by getting
past three rounds of veterans to
the round of sixteen before #4 in
the world, Alvaro Beltran put a
stop to him. Six months later at
the Canoga Park Open, while still
a teenager, Rojas again stunned
the competition with consecutive
wins over IRT's number six and
five players, Shane Vanderson
and Jason Mannino, before
Rocky Carson put the brakes on
his run. Such early composure
has drawn some initial
comparisons between Rojas and
the sport's biggest names, such
as Sudsy Monchik and Kane
Waselenchuk, both of whom while also still in their teens - took
a leisurely four tries in the pro
division to reach the semis.
Maybe the pressure of such
comparisons was a distraction at
his next pro event in San Diego,
where he lost in the round of
sixty-four to Mexico’s Polo
Gutierrez. However, apparently
undaunted, he finished 08/09
with US Intercollegiate and Junior
National titles, and returned in
09/10 to make the sixteens in
every appearance, his season
highlighted by an impressive
quarter-final showing at the 2009
US Open.
Rojas is one of a few talents
newly entering into the
professional ranks. He is highly
touted in part due to his extensive
achievements as a junior, and
has spent most of his life in what
has turned out to be successful
preparation for a grand-entrance
to the pro level. In addition to his
obvious physical and mental
gifts, he has been getting
excellent training and support for
years. He was introduced to the
game at around age six by his
dad Miguel Rojas, from whom he
has received continual guidance
and encouragement, and at
around the same time he began
working on game fundamentals
with Coach Jody Nance, an
experienced and successful
junior instructor in Stockton.
Rojas still has Nance's support,
which is enhanced by close
mentor relationships with
coaches Dave and John Ellis,
and physical fitness trainer,
Jessie Serna. All play a large
day-to-day role in Rojas'
professional decision-making
and training. Coach Dave Ellis,
whose influence now spans three
generations of successful pros,
speaks highly of Rojas, saying,
“Jose brings to the IRT a lot of
experience, tremendous skill,
and personal charm. He comes to
the pro tour with the support of his
coaches and his friends from his
home town. His game is reaching
new levels as it must to be able to
compete with the professional
talent that is the IRT. Yet, in spite
of his success as a junior, he
remains very humble and very
approachable." What is currently
a successful personal journey
also happens to be for Stockton
racquetball a continuation of its
pro legacy, coming as it does
after the lengthy and impressive
careers of Gerry Price, Scott
Oliver, and iconic figure John
Ellis. His success on tour is also
a reminder that due to sheer
numbers California players have
helped define the tour in every
era, from Charlie Brumfield to
R o c k y
C a r s o n ,
(www.bossconsulting.com/irt has
a wealth of careers data for
California players such as Ed
Andrews, Steve Lerner, Craig
McCoy, Rich Wagner, Brian
Hawkes and Dave Johnson,
among others). As was also the
case with his mentor John Ellis,
Rojas has thrived at competition
from very early on, consistently
winning since 1999 in the
eight-and-under division at US
Junior Nationals. By the time his
eligibility ended in the spring of
2009, his junior accomplishments
included a three-peat in the
eighteens (2007,08,and 09) at
US Junior Nationals, and a total
number of Nationals and World
singles titles that put him in the
record books so far second only
to Jack Huczek.
Although his achievements so far
have set him apart from the rest
of his age-group peers, Rojas is
expected to have competition
from those ranks within the next
few seasons as other prospects
for the IRT continue to emerge.
One such possibility is the 2010
18-and-under Junior Nationals
champion, Taylor Knoth. Knoth
also has an impressive record in
the US junior ranks, but as the
younger of the two, he has lost to
Rojas in their most recent finals
match-ups, and his initial
ventures into the pro division so
far indicate his game does not
just yet have the same level of
maturity. Currently working with
Fran Davis, Knoth is an example
of developing talent that Rojas
will probably re-encounter in the
pros, and is also an example of
the success of Oregon's robust
junior program, which along with
Missouri, boasts upwards of
five-hundred. Additionally, the
Stockton junior program is not
pausing for Rojas, working with
prospects such as 2010's 16 and
under champion and finalist
Marko Rojas and Jose Diaz, as
well as David Horn, and Jose
Serrano.
Meanwhile, coming
from the other coast and perhaps
following a path to potential
success, Brad Kirch and Nick
Montalbano of New York are also
thought to be likely to eventually
challenge Rojas. In doing so they
could reignite the nineties rivalry
between New York's Sudsy
Monchik and Jason Mannino and
Stockton's John Ellis. Unlike
Rojas and Knoth, neither New
Yorker has won a singles title in
the US junior ranks, although as
a doubles team they are national
and international champions.
Kirch has been consistently
passing through the second and
third round of the pros since
2007, twice making it as far as the
sixteens. Slightly behind,
Montalbano had his first good
showing against the pros in
January of 2010, making it
through three rounds to meet
Jack Huczek in the sixteens.
Montalbano has been coached
primarily by his father Tom, (a
f o r m e r U S N a t i o n a l Te a m
member), as well as Coach Jim
Winterton (also Kirch's coach). In
09/10 he will be attending
Colorado State on a racquetball
scholarship, following alumni Ben
Croft and Mitch Williams to play
on the school's acclaimed
Intercollegiate racquetball team.
Rojas has so far reached a higher
level of consistency than any of
his closest junior rivals in the US,
but the wide gap between their
current competitive records is not
necessarily a long-term predictor.
Ellis initially proved dominant in
the coastal rivalry, but Mannino
and Monchik both went on to
surpass him in both highest
career ranking and number of
tournament wins. Additionally, in
the history of the sport to date,
only fourteen of the roughly
sixty-five players
that have
reached the top ten ever held a
US junior title, and of the fourteen
that went on to hold the number
one ranking, only six had done
so. As exceptional
as his
accomplishments are,
competition can be exciting for
players and fans alike because
there are no formulas for
success; different athletes reach
their potential at different rates,
some none at all, and life
circumstances frequently comes
into play to change the course of
things. For the time being,
however, in breaking into the top
ten, Rojas has already made it to
a level many players aspire
towards for years but do not
achieve. In doing so at such an
early age, he has increased his
opportunity for continued
success and record breaking in
the sport. But like any rookie, he
is going to have to work his way
up an intimidating ladder of
veterans, and hopefully for the
fans, he will also be competing
against a field of diverse
incoming competitors. It will take
some time to see what
percentage of initial promise is
realized, but so far, especially for
Rojas and the IRT fans, the
prospects are good.
WORLD 3 WALL BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
ANNOUNCED - RICHEST OUTDOOR
TOURNAMENT TO BE HELD IN LAS VEGAS
March 22, 2010 – World Outdoor Racquetball and the World Players
of Handball are pleased to announce the first annual World 3 Wall Ball
Championships to be held September 23-26, 2010 in Las Vegas. A
parking lot on world-famous Las Vegas Boulevard in front of the spectacular Stratosphere Hotel will be transformed with the construction of
10 outdoor courts to host the richest outdoor event in the history of the
sport plus a first ever combined professional racquetball and handball
event. Along with the professional divisions offering over $35,000 in
cash prize money; amateur divisions for men, women, and junior players will be offered in both racquetball and handball singles, doubles
and mixed doubles . . . the event will be extreme . . .
WOR Executive Director Hank Marcus in announcing the event,
“There is no better place to make history then on the Las Vegas strip.
This event is a tremendous step forward for both sports and will
provide racquetball and handball professionals an incredible venue to
display their amazing athletic skills.” Fred Lewis, WPH President
added, "The World Players of Handball Foundation is very pleased to
announce its participation in this event. In September of this year we
will step outside the boundaries of tradition by partnering with World
Outdoor Racquetball to co-sponsor this first of its kind extravaganza.
This will be an attempt to increase the awareness of these two lifetime
sports using the facilities of the Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas to
stage the tournaments. The WPH will invite the best 3-wall players in
the world to compete for prize money. Amateur players of all ages will
also have an opportunity to participate in this historic event. We will
attempt to introduce the sport of handball to a whole different group of
people and spectators through positive marketing and innovation
during this 4-day event. We congratulate World Outdoor Racquetball
for taking the lead in creating this opportunity to market our great
sports."
“As the next step up from our role as a sponsor and host hotel for the
CPRT Pro Nationals, the Stratosphere is excited about the opportunity
to host a first of its kind event right on our property, expressed David
Grolman, Vice-President of Hotel Operations. This outdoor tournament will be one of the biggest and most entertaining events the sport
has ever seen and the Stratosphere is proud to play a major role in
making it possible.”
Along with the support of WOR and WPH, the event has been
endorsed by the Classic Professional Racquetball Tour, Military Racquetball Federation, National Police Racquetball Association, World
Firefighter Racquetball Association and will also provide charity contri-
butions to the National Fibromyalgia Research Association. Number one ranked World Outdoor Racquetball men's professional Rocky Carson upon hearing about the event said, “This sounds like an event I
would not miss and one of the most amazing events in the history of the sport, I will be there and would
love to be first 3 Wall Racquetball World Champion!”
Handball legend and 8-time National Champion David Chapman commented, “Vegas is the perfect home
for a world class event like this. It is about time someone had moxy enough to work with racquetball. WOR
and WPH teaming up is the biggest thing court sports have ever seen!”
Watch for releases of details and new information on each organization’s website or contact Tournament
Director Steve Lerner at (614) 361-7162 or [email protected].
WOR is the parallel universe to the traditional sport of racquetball played by millions in clubs throughout
the country. The rules are the same, the racquets and ball are similar but the attitude and action take this
variation of the sport to a whole new level in the fresh air and bright sunshine.
worldoutdoorracquetball.com
WPH is a nonprofit organization using innovative methods and techniques to promote the sport of handball. They have provided hundreds of thousands of people all over the globe with many hours of viewing
entertainment through their web casts of top handball events.
weplayhandball.com
3 Wall Ball, LLC will be launching in Summer of 2010 to address the need for portable, temporary or
permanent, and affordable outdoor courts for cities, park districts, clubs and individuals. 3 Wall Ball will be
constructing the facilities to host multi-sport competitions beginning Fall, 2010 in Las Vegas where the
World 3 Wall Ball Championships will debut with the support of World Outdoor Racquetball and World
Players of Handball. 3 Wall Ball is the Official Court of World Outdoor Racquetball.
3WallBall.com
THE RACQUETBALL ‘U’
Featuring Mitch Williams and Shane Vanderson
The “U” is an elite level camp that is geared toward making any tournament, league or recreational player
elevate their game. The “U” was developed in order to serve a niche that we felt was missing in the elite
racquetball camp realm. We have both been instructors and participants at various camps throughout
our twenty years of playing and our goal was to create a new exciting experience for racquetball players
looking to take camps. The “U” uses the latest in computer technology and training techniques in a fun
atmosphere to enhance your camp experience.
The next “U” camp will be in beautiful Jordon, Utah, which is in the greater Salt Lake Metro area July
30th-31st. Campers will have the unique opportunity to learn the inside trade secrets from not just one,
but two top eight pro’s that have over 40 years playing experience between them. The “U” will be an
intense two-day camp that will cover all aspects of the racquetball game from one’s mental approach,
after match recovery and pre-match routines. There will be two hours set aside where you will learn how
to train, warm-up appropriately, and prevent injuries. To stay updated on the latest “Racquetball U” camp
dates and locations you can follow us on www.theracquetballu.com or our fan page on Facebook.
The following will be provided at all “U” camps:
•
All “U” camps are limited to 16 participants in order to keep
the student to instructor ratio at a premium, unlike most other
camps.
•
Racquetball notebook to review and take notes, two
instructional DVD’s, and other racquetball giveaways!
•
Training preparation and schedule for tournaments.
•
Stroke mechanics and shot selection (doubles too!)
•
Personalized DVD with video analysis and voice-overs, to
refer back to after the camp. We are able to take a 3 second
clip of your swing and slow it down frame by frame so you
can see exactly where your problem areas are in your
mechanics.
•
Drills to help footwork and other mechanics.
•
Mental aspects of the game.
•
Strategies for singles and doubles.
•
Racquetball specific training.
•
The ability to have two different opinions and perspectives on
your toughest racquetball related questions.
•
Get personalized instruction and the ability to play two top
eight pros.
IT’S A Racquetball Celebration
....AND YOU’RE INVITED!
Witness racquetball’s premiere “Grand
Slam”- the US OPEN Racquetball Championships. See all of the top players
in the world from the IRT, WPRO and
CPRT compete for the largest prize
money purse in the sport -- $48,000+.
Experience the thrill of dramatic player
introductions featuring booming music
and laser light shows. Stroll through the
US OPEN Player Village and see what’s
new from the world’s top racquetball
manufacturers.
Party the nights away with your
favorite pros and racquetball fans
from throughout the world. Be there
to see the stunning “made-for-TV”
portable stadium racquetball court.
In addition, over 700 amateur players will compete in age and skill divisions for every level. Special events
include the Saturday evening Gala
“PARTY WITH THE PROS”,
a Players Village complete with
Rocky Carson
www.usopenracquetball.com
concessions and live entertainment,
International/VIP Reception, ProAm Doubles Tourney for St. Jude,
IRT Champions Clinic, Play the Pro
Challenges, Friday Night Player’s
Dance Party, and continuous fan fair
activities on the stadium court. The
Research Hospital.
The main location and nerve center for the US OPEN will be located
in downtown Minneapolis at the
fabulous LIFE TIME FITNESS Target
Center, the same building in which
the Minnesota Timberwolves play.
All pro matches and many of the
amateur matches will take place at
this facility, located in the center of
the exciting Entertainment District in Minneapolis. Restaurants,
nightclubs, hotels, and world class
shopping are located all around the
club. Just four blocks away is the
second LIFE TIME location that will
be utilized, the Minneapolis LIFE
TIME Athletic Club. Lastly, a short
eight-minute complimentary shuttle
ride to the third location – LIFE TIME
FITNESS St. Louis Park, will complete
the rotation.
MADE-FOR-TV PORTABLE STADIUM
RACQUETBALL COURT
One of the most exciting aspects of the US OPEN
Racquetball Championships is that the NEW
“made-for-TV” portable racquetball court will be
used for all feature matches! The unique construction of the court allows stadium seating for more
than 1,200, in addition to court-side luxury boxes
for sponsors and VIPs. Dramatic player introductions complete with laser light shows and booming
music will treat racquetball fans to a total entertainment experience. The crystal clear LUCITE
acrylic walls will make you feel like you are in the
court with the players!
racquetball bash of the year – the 15th Annual US OPEN
“PARTY WITH THE PROS”. More than 600 racquetball fans
and guests are expected to turn out for an evening of exciting entertainment (location TBD). The cost for guests
and tournament spectators is $20 per person. Players
participating in the US OPEN will be admitted free!
PARTIES, PARTIES
AND MORE PARTIES
US OPEN PLAYERS VILLAGE
That’s right! For those of us who like to enjoy our evenings, the US OPEN promises a solid week of non-stop
VIP Reception and Thursday late-night “get together”
at The Shout House Dueling Piano Bar (located right
next door to the club). And that’s only the beginning!
On Friday evening, the action moves
to a local nightclub, which will feature a DJ spinning
the hottest tunes for your dancing pleasure. Saturday
The nerve center of the event will be the US OPEN Players Village. Many activities are scheduled to take place in
the Village, including an extensive Industry Trade Show,
pro autograph signing sessions, live stage with entertainment, concessions, cash bar, informational seminars, and
plenty of seating to kick back and relax. Admission is free
for all spectators and players.
Official Co-Sponsors
PRO MATCH SCHEDULE
Men’s & Women’s Pro Qualifying
Pro-Am Doubles for St. Jude
Men’s round of 32
Women’s round of 32
Men’s round of 16
Women’s round of 16
Men’s quarters
Women’s quarters
Women’s semis/Men’s semis
CHECK-IN
Wednesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Thursday
Thursday
Friday
Friday
Friday
Saturday
10:00 am - 11:00 pm
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
3:00 pm - 10:00 pm
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
1:00 pm - 9:00 pm
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
All player
registration
will take
the at
downtown
LIFE LIFE
All player
registration
willplace
take at
place
the downtown
TIME FITNESS
TargetTarget
CenterCenter
club (main
host club).
TIME FITNESS
club (main
host Check-in
club). Check-in
is required
prior to
participating
in the in
event.
Hours Hours
for for
is required
prior
to participating
the event.
registration
are: Tuesday,
October
19th 319th
p.m.-310
p.m.,
registration
are: Tuesday,
October
p.m.10Wednesp.m., Wedn
day, October
20th 820th
a.m.-810p.m.,
Thursday,
October
21st 8 21st
a.m.-89a.m
day, October
a.m.- 10p.m.,
Thursday,
October
p.m., and
Friday,
October
22nd 822nd
a.m.-89a.m.p.m.9 p.m.
p.m.,
and Friday,
October
Sunday
9:30 am - 2:00 pm
benchmarks to determine eligibility for skill competition and
reserve the right to re-classify or disqualify players when/if they
are improperly placed. NOTE: Players in Age+Skill must meet the
same criteria.
MEMBERSHIP
All players must be current members of USA Racquetball. If
you’re not, a membership can be purchased at the event ($50
per year). In addition, all players entering the Men’s pro draw
must be current members of the IRT/WPRO Players
Association or join at the event ($20-IRT/$10-WPRO).
PLAY BEGINS/STARTING TIMES/
CONFIRMATION/ENTRY DEADLINE
Players must be prepared to play as early as 8 a.m. on
the dates indicated in the chart below. Requests for special
starting times must be indicated on the entry form. Every
effort will be made to accommodate special requests,
however no guarantees can be made. Starting times will be
available after 5 p.m. on Monday, October 18th
on-line at www.usopenracquetball.com. After 5pm on 10/18,
any event questions can be directed to the on-site tournament office desk by calling (612) 486-3617. Entries and
ticket orders can be confirmed online after October 1st
at www.usopenracquetball.com. Please immediately call
the US OPEN headquarters at (800) 234-5396 ext. 0 if any
errors or omissions are found. All entries must be received by
Wednesday, Oct. 6th and/or postmarked by Friday Oct. 1st.
SKILLSKILL
LEVELLEVEL
CERTIFICATION
CERTIFICATION
level by the state director or country representative as
being legitimately competitive in the entered skill division at
TICKETS FOR PRO MATCHES
Everyone will be required to purchase tickets for pro matches —
see ticket application or call (800) 234-5396 ext.0 All
non-players must purchase a ticket to be admitted to the
Saturday evening “PARTY WITH THE PROS”. Seating is
limited, therefore it is strongly recommended that you
purchase tickets in advance. ABSOLUTELY NO VIEWING
FOR PRO MATCHES WILL BE PERMITTED WITHOUT A TICKET.
Last year’s ticket packages sold out four weeks in advance, so
A very limited number of four-person courtside luxury boxes
(with catered VIP Lounge access) may be available.
Cost is $2,800. Call 614-890-6073 for availability.
HOSPITALITY
Limited hospitality (continental breakfast and lunch) for all
players will be available at LIFE TIME FITNESS St. Louis Park
cash bar and concessions throughout all hours of the event. In
addition, many restaurants are located right next door to the
club in the downtown Minneapolis Entertainment District.
SILENT AUCTION & PRO/AM DOUBLES CHALLENGE
Women’s 50+, 55+, 55+A-B-C, 60+
For the benefit of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital a
silent auction will be held during the event featuring Olympic
Memorabilia and sporting goods equipment from the industry’s
best manufacturers. Checks, cash, VISA and MasterCard are welcome. In addition, Wednesday evening, October 20th, 32 lucky
amateurs will have the opportunity to play in a single elimination (one game to 15) doubles challenge with a top professional
player as their partner. All proceeds will be donated to St. Jude,
and each amateur player will receive an autographed racquet
from their pro partner. Call (614) 890-6073 if you are interested
in participating as spots are limited. Pro/Am Doubles for St.
Jude – $325 donation. (NOTE: Your matches for any other divisions you enter will not be scheduled Wednesday evening so
you can participate in this special event)
Doubles – Men’s 19+, 55+ All Women’s (except W55+ Dbls), all Mixed
ST. JUDE HOSPITAL
OPENING ROUNDS SCHEDULE
Wednesday Oct. 20th
Singles – All IRT/WPRO Pro Qualifying, Men’s Open, Elite, A, B, C,
D, 24 & u, 24 & under A-B-C, 25+, 25+ A-B-C, 30+, 35+, 35+A-B-C,
40+(CPRT), 45+, 45+A-B-C, 55+A-B-C.
Doubles – Men’s Open, A, B, C, 35+, 45+
Thursday Oct. 21st
Singles – Men’s 50+, 55+, Women’s Elite, A, B, C, D, 24 & under, 24 &
under A-B-C, 25+, 25+A-B-C, 30+, 35+, 35+A-B-C, 40+, 45+, 45+A-B-C.,
Friday Oct. 22nd
Singles – Men’s 60+, 65+ 70+, 75+, 80+, Women’s 65+, 70+, 75+, 80+
Doubles – Women’s 55+
www.usopenracquetball.com
The US OPEN Racquetball Championships is once again
proud to name St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as its
designated charity. Founded in 1962 by the late entertainer
Danny Thomas, St. Jude is dedicated to the successful treatment of diseases that afflict children. Having treated more
than 22,000 patients from 47 states and 53 countries, the
hospital is a world leader in the treatment of catastrophic
childhood illnesses. The US OPEN has raised over $260,000
for St. Jude!
4.
9
2.
v
3.
5.
6.
1.
TRAVEL AND LODGING
United Airlines has joined the US OPEN to offer special discounted airfares to the 2010 US OPEN. Please follow the
information below to obtain these special rates:
United Airlines
Discount: 5%-10% off published fares.
Instructions: Must call Olympic Travel Desk at (800)
841-0460 and mention USA Racquetball account #565EF.
HOTELS
When making hotel reservations, you must mention the US
OPEN Racquetball Championships. Discounted rates are
good for up to four people per room. You must make reservations by September 27th for these special rates. Regular
shuttle service will be available between the main host club
(LIFE TIME FITNESS Target Center) and LIFE TIME FITNESS
St. Louis Park (only 8 minute ride). The third club
1. COMFORT SUITES Minneapolis
2.
THE WESTIN Minneapolis
(main host hotel)
88 South 6th Street
(612) 333-4006
Rate: $119
-mention US OPEN Racquetball
-3 blocks to LIFE TIME Target Ctr.
4.
LIFE TIME FITNESS Target Ctr.
(main host hotel)
425 South 7th Street
(612) 333-3111
Rate: $90
-mention US OPEN Racquetball
-7 blocks to LIFE TIME Target Ctr.
3. THE GRAND HOTEL
(main host hotel)
(main HOST CLUB)
615 Second Ave. South
600 North 1st Street
(612) 288-8888
(612) 486-3600
(Minneapolis LIFE TIME Athletic Club) is walking distance from
the main club downtown (4 blocks). All host hotels are located
downtown and are walking distance to the main club.
PARKING / AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION
Parking downtown, like most major cities, can be expensive.
For players staying at the Comfort Suites a special $12 per day
in for the event a rental car is not necessary. For just $1.75 you
can catch the Light Rail train at the airport which will bring
you right downtown to the Target Center. All host hotels and 2
of the 3 clubs are walking distance apart downtown. The third
club, in St. Louis Park, is just 8 minutes away and the US OPEN
club. In addition, dozens of restaurants, shops, and entertainment options are all located all around the Target Center
downtown.
Rate: $159
-mention US OPEN Racquetball
-4 blocks to LIFE TIME Target Ctr.
5. MINNEAPOLIS LIFE TIME
6.
LIFE TIME FITNESS St. Louis Park
ATHLETIC CLUB
(auxiliary HOST CLUB)
(auxiliary HOST CLUB)
5524 Cedar Lake Rd.
615 2nd Ave. South
(952) 546-5474
(612) 752-7000
-free shuttle every hour from main club
(8 minute ride)
-4 blocks to main host club
Paola Longoria
PRIZE MONEY
over $48,000!
RULES/FORMAT/RANKINGS
All amateur divisions will be played according to
datory use of protective lensed eyewear tested to
ASTM F803 or CSA impact standards. Pro divisions
will use IRT/WPRO/CPRT rules. For all age divisions,
players must meet the proper age requirement as
Men’s Pro-$30,000
Women’s Pro $15,000
CPRT-$2,000 (Men’s 40+)
1st
2nd
$1,000
$ 500
Semis $ 250
Men’s & Women’s Open
Singles
1st
2nd
$ 350
$ 175
Semis $ 85
All divisions (pro and amateur) will use the ProPenn HD (purple)
court time restrictions. Every match played in all divisions at the US OPEN will be entered in the USAR’s
new state of the art ranking system.
CPRT (Men’s 40+)
Back for 2010! The Classic Pro Racquetball Tour is
sponsoring the Men’s 40+ division at the US OPEN
with a prize money purse of $2,000. ALL Men
age 40 and over are eligible to enter with official
CPRT ranking points awarded for each match won.
Featured stars include Cliff Swain, Ruben Gonzalez,
Brett Harnet, and Woody Clouse.
OFFICIATING
All players will receive $5 for each amateur
division match they referee. Players losing a
match in pro divisions are required to referee
with no fee paid.
CELEBRATION OF CHAMPIONS
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
Men’s Pro
Women’s Pro
Kane Waselenchuk
Kane Waselenchuk
Rocky Carson
Jason Mannino
Kane Waselenchuk
Kane Waselenchuk
Kane Waselenchuk
Sudsy Monchik
Cliff Swain
Sudsy Monchik
Jason Mannino
Sudsy Monchik
Cliff Swain
Sudsy Monchik
Rhonda Rajsich
Paola Longoria
Rhonda Rajsich
Christie Vanhees
Christie Vanhees
Cheryl Gudinas
Rhonda Rajsich
Cheryl Gudinas
Kerri Wachtel
Christie Vanhees
Jackie Paraiso
Jackie Paraiso
Michelle Gould
Michelle Gould
TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS
Event Director:
Doug Ganim
Floor Manager:
Pete Ulliman
Operations Manager:
Chris Jorgenson
Executive Committee:
Dr. Jim Hiser, Kay McCarthy, Heather Fender,
Aaron Granberg
Pro Commissioners:
Jason Mannino (IRT), Shannon Feaster (WPRO)
Steve Lerner (CPRT)
www.usopenracquetball.com
Jack Huczek
2010 U.S. OPEN ENTRY FORM
Name ________________________________________________________________________________ Birthdate ________________________ Age ___________
Address ______________________________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip ____________________________________
Phone (day) _______________________________________________________ (night) _____________ Fax _____________________________________________
USA Racquetball Membership Number _________________________________ Exp. Date ___________ E-Mail __________________________________________
Seeding Information (2009 US OPEN, 2010 States, Regionals, Nationals) ___________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________ Home Club _____________________________________
Players may enter a maximum of two (2) events: (3 events permitted if at least 1 is a doubles division):
PRO
USAR DIVISIONS
Check one: Men’s
or Women’s
Skill + Age Divisions*
Skill Divisions*
Elite
Can only
enter ONE
from this
group
A
B
C
D
24 & under A
24 & under B
24 & under C
25+ A
25+ B
25+ C
35+ A
35+ B
35+ C
45+ A
45+ B
45+ C
55+ A
55+ B
55+ C
Open & Age Divisions
OPEN
W40+
M40+--see CPRT below
24 & under
45+
25+
50+
30+
55+
35+
Men’s (IRT)**
Open
A
B
C
19+
35+
Doubles & Mixed Doubles Divisions*
MX Open
45+
MX A
55+
MX B
MX C
MX 30+
MX 40+
Partner’s Name ________________________________________________
Division _________________
Partner’s Name ________________________________________________
Division _________________
*REQUIRED Skill Verification Form
Please indicate below your eligibility for competition in the skill level you have selected. This information
will be verified and re-classification may take place if deemed appropriate by the Tournament Director.
___ I have been AMPRO certified at this level by:
AMPRO Certified Instructor (name required) ____________________________________________
60+
65+
70+
75+
80+
___ have recently competed in this skill category in my state, and have been approved for participation in this
category at a Level Five event by the state director or designated representative shown below:
_______________________________________________________________________ (name required)
___ I competed at this level (but did not win the division title) at the:
____ 2009 U.S. OPEN, or the ____ 2010 USAR National Singles
Women’s (WPRO)**
Men’s 40+ (CPRT)**
** The Men’s Pro draw will begin in the round of 32 with qualifying rounds scheduled as needed. The Women’s Pro draw will begin in the round of 32 with qualifying
rounds scheduled as needed. Players wishing to enter the amateur Men’s OPEN division must enter it directly as a second event. CPRT (Men’s 40+) is open to all Men
over 40 years of age. CPRT draw will begin in the round of 16 with qualifying rounds as needed.
WAIVER: I hereby, for myself, my heirs, executors, and administrators, waive and release and all rights and claims that I may have against the USA Racquetball, IRT, WPRO, Ganim Enterprises, Life Time Fitness,
CPRT, and all other US OPEN sponsors, or their respective agents for any and all injuries I may suffer as a result of participation in this event. By registering to participate, I release all rights to the use of event
photographs/videos in which my image appears.
Participant Signature (parent if under 18) ___________________________________________________________________ Date ______________
ENTRY FEES
Players may enter a maximum of two events (3 events permitted if at least 1 is a doubles division). Consolation will not be offered due to court time restrictions. Players in multiple divisions may
play back-to-back matches. Returned checks will be assessed a $23 service charge ($10 for declined credit cards). Phone entries will be accepted through the entry deadline with a $15 service
charge and a major credit card by calling the US OPEN headquarters at (800) 234-5396 ext. 129. Maximum amateur draw is 700 players. Once filled, all additional entries received will be returned
with refund.
Amount Pd.
Division
First Event
($99)
_______________ _______________
Second Event
($51)
_______________ _______________
Third Event
($51)
_______________ _______________
USAR Membership
($50)
_______________ _______________
Late Fee/Phone Entry
($20/$15)
_______________ _______________
Extra Party with the Pro’s ticket
($20 each)
_______________ Quantity: ______
(players admitted free)
TOTAL
ENTRY DEADLINE:
All entries must be received by Wednesday, Oct. 6th and/or
postmarked by Friday, Oct. 1st. No refunds will be given after the
entry deadline. All entries received after the entry deadline will be
assessed a $20 late fee if space is still available in the tournament.
ENTRY FEE INCLUDES:
Limited hospitality, free access to Player Village and fan fair
activities, souvenir US OPEN shirt, US OPEN Souvenir Program,
Jack
ticket to the Saturday evening “PARTY WITH THE PROS”, plus
much, much more!
_______________ _______________
Visa/MC _____________________________________ Exp. Date _______________ Sec. Code ______
Cardholder’s Name (print) __________________________________________________________________
Signature _______________________________________________________________________________
Make check payable and mail to:
U.S. OPEN Racquetball Championships
1685 West Uintah • Colorado Springs, CO 80904-2969
or FAX this completed form to (719) 635-0685
?
Have you enclosed your Pro Match Ticket Application and payment for tickets? Seating is limited. Must purchase tickets in
advance to be guaranteed a seat. One check can be written for
entry fees and tickets.
To enter by phone call: (800) 234-5396 ext. 129
outside US: (719) 635-5396 ext. 129
To enter online: www.usopenracquetball.com
Huczek
PRO MATCH TICKET APPLICATION
Price
SESSION #1 (Mezzanine side wall viewing only): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20
Men’s & Women’s Pro Qualifying Wednesday, 10 a.m.- 11 p.m.
Quantity
Total($)
SESSION #2:(Mezzanine side wall viewing only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20
Men’s round of 32 Thursday, 9 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Women’s round of 32 Thursday, 1 p.m.- 6 p.m.
SESSION #3(Mezzanine side wall viewing only): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $24
Men’s round of 16 Thursday, 3 p.m.- 9 p.m.
SESSION #4:(Mezzanine side wall viewing only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $26
Women’s round of 16 Friday, 9 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Men’s quarters #1,#2 Friday, 1 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. (IRT Champions Clinic 4p.m.)
SESSION #5:(Mezzanine side wall viewing only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $28
Men’s quarters #3, #4 Friday, 5:00 p.m.- 9 p.m.
Women’s quarters Friday 5 p.m.- 8 p.m.
SESSION #6:(Mezzanine side wall viewing only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $30
Women’s Semi #1/Men’s semi #1 Saturday, 10:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.
(Play the Pro Challenge - 1pm)
SESSION #7:(Mezzanine side wall viewing only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $30
Women’s Semi #2/Men’s semi #2 Saturday, 2:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.
SESSION #8:(Mezzanine side wall viewing only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40
CPRT finals/Women’s finals/Men’s finals Sunday, 9:30 a.m.- 2 p.m.
BEST VALUES!– only available in advance!
PREFERRED TICKET PACKAGE (BACK WALL or SIDE WALL viewing for all sessions)........$125
STANDARD TICKET PACKAGE (Mezzanine SIDE WALL only viewing for all sessions)........$99
Guest Ticket for “PARTY WITH THE PROS” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20
(free for all player participants) Saturday, 8 p.m.- 12:30 a.m.
$4
Processing fee (must be paid to process your order) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4
Make check payable or use credit card and mail to:
US OPEN Racquetball Championships
1685 West Uintah
Colorado Springs, CO 80904-2969
To order your tickets by phone call: (800) 234-5396 ext. 129
outside US: (719) 653-5396 ext. 129 or fax this completed form to : (719) 635-0685
To order on-line: WWW.USOPENRACQUETBALL.COM
Visa/MC # ______________________________ Exp. Date _____ Sec. Code _____
Cardholder’s Name (print) ____________________________________________
TOTAL
Tickets will not be mailed in advance. They can
be picked up at the US OPEN Will Call Desk,
located at The Racquet Club (I.D. is required).
Seating is limited. Must purchase tickets in
advance to be guaranteed a seat.
Signature __________________________________________________________
Name to hold tickets under ___________________________________________
A very limited number of four-person courtside
Credit Card Billing Address ____________________________________________
luxury box seats (with table service) may be
City ___________________________________ State _________ ZIP _________
Pro/Gold Lounge with food and drink for the
Day Phone ___________________________ Night Phone __________________
available. Cost is $2,800. Includes access to
week. Call (614) 890-6073 for availability.