Everyone’s favorite tournament is just around the corner. We will be playing for all things Thanksgiving related. This years Fall Classic will be November 17-19, 2017. Bring your A game to win a Turkey for Thanksgiving dinner and much more. We will be offering all divisions, including juniors.
R2 Sports link
Entry Form
Racquetball
Racquetball Tip – Returning Serve
One of the toughest assignments in the game of racquetball is to successfully return a well-placed serve in the backhand corner. It is improtant that the receiver be able to neutralize the server’s advantage and get on an equal footing to play the point out. Notice that I didn’t say it is important for the receiver to “kill” the server return or hit a winner to end the point, although there are times when players look like they are trying to do just that. Remember that you are at a disadvantage: the server has great center court position and you are being forced to hit a backhand return from about 38 feet from the front wall. The better his or her serve is, the more you should be thinking defensive, not offensive play.
The best return to a tough serve is a ceiling ball. Ceiling balls force the server to run all the way to the back court from the service area where they will encounter a ball that has to be hit from shoulder height or higher. You should aim to hit the ceiling about 2 to 7 feet from the front wall. Use a full smooth stroke: make sure you don’t “punch” at the ball with your arm or you will not be consistent.
If the serve return can be hit with a good stroke before it gets to the back corner, or if it is hit hard enough and high enough to come off the back wall, you can begin to think more offensively. This is the time for a straight shot down the wall or a crosscourt pass shot to the opposite back corner. Make sure that you have time to actually set your feet and get back far enough to be in position to take the shot.
Remember to be SMART when returning serve. Force the server to back court and wait for another time to try and “kill” the ball in front court…and don’t forget to move into center court position as soon as you can!
Fall Racquetball League
Out with the old and time to try something new!
– League will cost ONLY $10 for members / $50 non members.
– There will be CASH awards based on the number of entries in each division at the end of the 12-week session.
– There will be no playoffs.
– All matches must be played. It will be considered an automatic forfeit if the match is not played within the week that it’s scheduled.
– We will delay our start of league until October 4, and it will go through January 3 (skipping holidays)
Contact Jessie Scott (racquetball@bellinghamathleticclub.com) with questions on this new format.
Love for Lucy Racquetball Tournament
We are very excited to host our first tournament of the season on September 30/October 1. This tournament will not be sanctioned, and all proceeds will be donated to the Michael Mosier Defeat DIPG foundation in Lucy Duersch’s name. Lucy is a 6-year old BAC member who is fighting for her life due to a terminal brain cancer called DIPG.
The suggested entry fee donation is $30 per person; any and all donations will be accepted! We will be offering juniors, singles and doubles divisions. Since we are doing everything by hand, we will limit each player to two divisions, with just one doubles division. Flyers and entry forms are available at the Cordata club. You may contact Jessie (Racquetball@bellinghamathleticclub.com) with any questions. We are really looking forward to this event and we hope that you will come support this cause! Thank you to Scott Wheeler of LithtexNW who printed the flyers and entry forms for this tournament & Thank you to Mary Bailey for designing both the flyers and entry forms; your time and dedication to this tournament is greatly appreciated! If you or anyone you know would like to sponsor, or donate to this cause, please contact Jessie or Wanda.
Junior Racquetball Camp
Mark your calendars! Junior Racquetball camp will be July 24-28th. Camp is led by club pro, Wanda Collins (along with special guests). Camp will consist of racquetball basics including strokes, serves, off the wall back shots, game strategy, foot drills, speed and agility exercises, and a mini tournament on Friday.
For more information and to register, press here.
Registration deadline is July 18th!
Cost: Members-$125 – Non-Members-$140
**$10 of for siblings** **$50 deposit required**
Northwest Open Racquetball Tournament
Bellingham Athletic Club will be hosting the 46th year of The Northwest Open Racquetball Tournament on March 16-19th. This is the largest tournament of the year bringing players in from all over the Northwest. We always like to give our members plenty of warning as this tournament has quite an impact on the Cordata Club. We invite you to use the Downtown Club to accommodate those of you who would like to avoid the crush of the tournament and have a relaxing weekend workout. You are invited to come to the Cordata Club to watch the intense racquetball play, but understand we have 100 players and family members rotating in and out of the club for their matches, so it is definitely not the normal relaxed weekend atmosphere. Because of the size of the tournament we need all the courts so none will be available for recreational play from Friday the 16th at 1:00pm through Sunday evening. Regular Group Exercise classes will run in the Group Exercise Studio all weekend, but Saturday Zumba and Saturday Kids Club will be cancelled. We thank all the members for your patience while we run this great event.
Junior Racquetball Lessons
Open to members and non members!
Sign Up at the Cordata Facility Front Desk
MARCH: Five class series: week of March 6-61
APRIL: Four Week Series: Weeks of April 3 – 24
BEGINNERS:
Tues/Thurs 4:15—5:00
INTERMEDIATES:
Tues/Thurs 5:00—5:45
ADVANCED:
Mon/Wed 4:30—5:15
All classes taught by BAC Club Pro, Wanda Collins. Wanda has been teaching juniors for over 20 years and is currently President of the Washington Junior Racquetball Association.
Junior Racquetball Lessons
Need something to keep your kids active during the winter months? Encourage them to try something new, and sign them up for Racquetball lessons with Club Pro, Wanda Collins! Juniors play in our tournaments for only $15, thanks to the Washington Juniors Associations. This is a GREAT way to make new friends and stay active when we’d really like to hibernate! Stop by the Front Desk for dates and fees!
NW Open Racquetball Tournament
Our biggest tournament of the year is just around the corner (March 16-19, 2017)! Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with us in one of the states’ biggest tournaments! Te Northwest Open brings people from Alaska, Oregon and even Hawaii! We hope to make this year BIGGER and BETTER than last year! Keep your eyes peeled and ears open for sign ups, flash sales and entree fees! Sponsors are needed and greatly appreciated for this event. Contact Jessie Scott if you have any questions.