Georgia Racquetball Association

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May 15, 2008

GRA MEETING

The last meeting was held on Tuesday, October 23^rd (7:00pm - 9:00pm), at the Concourse Athletic Club (8 Concouse Parkway - Atlanta, GA 30328).

Welcome

Welcome to the Georgia Racquetball Association Website.

Announcements

Clarification about Graduating to a Higher Skill Level
The GRA does its best to maintain a listing (see link below) of players that have graduated (from a skill level) as a result of having won a state championship, won a regional championship, or being a national finalist at a certain skill level. This has been (and will continue to be) applied as the first test that must be met (for eligibility at a skill level). Regarding doubles, your singles skill determines your doubles skill (eligibility). Additionally, once a "team" has won at a certain skill level, they cannot play as a "team" in that skill level any more. However, if one or both players (from the "team") has not been graduated from that skill level in singles yet, then an individual of that "team" may continue to play doubles at that same skill level provided that they play with a new (eligible) partner. We welcome your comments / assistance in helping us to maintain this list as up to date as possible. To view the current listing (as of April 14, 2008), please click on this link to print or download a copy: read more...

Policy for Playing Skill Level Events
Georgia has changed its policy with regard to playing in skill level events. Basically, a player should select a single skill level that s/he wishes to declare themself to play in the tournament. If that player wants to enter more than one skill-qualified division, then it makes sense that those divisions should each be at the same basic skill level. As an example, a player CAN enter both "A" and "35+A"; but, a player CANNOT enter both "A" and "B". Of course, there are some combinations of multiple skill level divisions that might be permissible, such as a player who enters both "C" and a higher skilled, but age-qualified division such as "35+ B"; however, a player would NOT be allowed to do the opposite (i.e. enter "B" and "35+C").

Register
Be sure to register so you will have access to several key features of this website, such as the ability to enter tournaments on-line, vote on survey issues, receive email notifications of upcoming events, etc. There is no cost to register, and we will not share your information with anyone else, so go ahead and get in the loop! While you're at it, also go to the USA Racquetball site (http://www.usaracquetball.com/) and check out the accuracy of your membership data that is recorded there. We often use that data to produce the mailing labels we put on newsletters and announcements for specific events of interest to the state membership.

How Do I Get A Manufacturer To Sponsor Me?

Many players ask about sponsorships. The following is an Ektelon point of view, which might vary a bit with the other manufacturers. Here is what players should know about qualifications for sponsorship:

Sportsmanship. This one should be self explanatory. However, just in case, issues like: No Breaking Equipment, Safe Play, No Threats, etc.
What are you going to do to GROW Racquetball? This is huge! If we do not get more players, playing racquetball, no matter what age, what their gender, what their skill level, then we cannot feel that we are moving in the right direction.
What will you do to promote the company (in this case: Ektelon). If you like the equipment enough to want to play with it and wear the name on your clothing, you better feel like sharing the good news with others.
Are you teaching, running leagues, running tournaments, starting a racquetball club at your school, university, office, apartment complex, social organization, church, etc.
What is your skill level, what do you do in tournaments, and how well do you do in your leagues. A common misunderstanding is that this is the most important issue. However, of all of these, this is the LEAST important, because this is not going to do much to grow racquetball. This is going to get people to notice you, but what are you going to do with that (which is what all of the other / above qualifications refer to).

Hopefully, this helps players understand sponsorship a bit. For more info, contact: Chuck Rousenberg at: rcqutballer@yahoo.com

Action Shots!

Upcoming Tournaments

Local Tournaments

2008 Georgia Games -- Racquetball
Start Date: July 11, 2008
End Date: July 13, 2008
Signup Deadline: July 8, 2008 @ 11:59 PM

GRA Official Ball Sponsor