Pickleball for Kids Play it Forward

                                                         

Mission

To continue and improve the pickleball program, at the middle school and the marina, in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Nayarit, Mexico .

To educate secondary students and empower them to collaborate, respect others, and enjoy physical activities in safe and positive environments.
 

Goals:

Developing students to participate at both recreational and competitive levels;

Investing and improving the playing facilities.

Capacity

Johnny  Davalos

Johnny is an experienced certified tennis coach.   He has taught  in the US and Mexico.  He presently is teaching at Flamingos Sports Club and various hotels including Garza Blanca, Vallarta Gardens, Barcelo , Mar Del Real and the La Cruz Marina.  He is coaching pickleball for the last 2 years to  adults and children..  He is continually providing new and diverse activities.  In addition, he has ample experience in hosting events and tournaments.   Johnny brings a mix of care and mutual respect along with energy and humor. He relates well to adolescents and serves as a role model. Sports are his passion. 


Jorge Sandoval Minakata

Jorge is 18 years old and just graduated from the local high school.  He is the Pirates, a local team, American football quarterback.  His coaching experience includes teaching football and pickleball to children.  As last summer’s pickleball coach, he displayed a knack for teaching and served as a role model.  He is off to college next Fall , in Guadalajara, where he will major in Nutrition and hopes play college level football.


Joan Gil

Joan lives in La Cruz. She was the Instructional Technology Teacher of the Year in Texas, and a finalist nationally. She wrote and implemented multiple grants for her school district that reached the million dollar mark; she has a proven successful track record.   She is “retired” in La Cruz where she initially spearheaded the curriculum for the present summer school camp  for local children and is now actively involved in the Telesecundaria Sports Program. 

 

The Background

La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Nayarit is a charming fishing village to tourists located 20 miles north of Puerto Vallarta. The town has a world marina class that co exists with the local population that live in sub standard conditions. 

In the last 3 years, the number of ex pat pickleball players has increased from a few to over 250 people throughout the Banderas Bay area which includes La Cruz.  In La Cruz, there are 3 courts at the marina, 4 courts at Punta Esmeralda, one at Punta Pelicanos, 2 courts at the Telesecundaria for students and a taped court at Villa Magnolia. The neighboring town, Bucerias  has now 12 functional courts at the local playing fields.

The local school, Telesecundaria Juan Alvarez, lacks basic necessities. The classrooms are small and sparse. There is internet, but a lack of equipment.  The director and his staff perform miracles considering the limited resources.   Recently, a teachers’ bathroom was installed with funds from a local ex pat organization.

In addition to the paid professional coach and volunteer, we have the following at the school:

·         2 painted courts,

·         one donated pickleball net

·         one borrowed mini net

·         20 plastic/wooden assorted rackets

·         5 out of 12 teachers actively playing


 

What We Need To Meet our Goals
 

Item                                                                           Estimated Cost
 
 
Additional Net for School                                       160.00

15 Graphite Paddles                                                  700.00

2 coaches  school year/summer                         3500,00

Celebrations and Reflections                                200.00

Team Trip to Chapala for training                       800.00
 


Cost: $3.33  US per child per year
            
                          
                                                                                                       
 

The Impact

Pickleball is the vehicle being used to promote student growth as well to bring diverse individuals and communities together. Over the course of the 2017-2018 school year, we have provided physical education courses to students on a weekly basis.  The program fosters both physical, social and mental health.  We are offering  alternatives opportunities  to drug use and involvement in crime. Additional benefits include pickleball is a draw for volunteer opportunities from the expat community and can generate dialogue.    Our first offline contribution was made by One Arm Bob, one of the ex pat volunteers. 


Plans for the 2019-2020 year:
 

Muchas gracias to each and every one of you for your support to Pickleball for Kids Play it Forward.  The program continues to grow and have more ups than downs! Your continued support is appreciated.

The school year just ended.  Four of the Telesecundaria team member did graduate; one with honors; it was an iffy situation for 2 of them. The needs of the Telesecundaria are many as well as for its students. Although, they graduated, we intend to keep them in the program as it has benefitted them in countless ways.  The team has learned to collaborate, use better manners, become more comfortable with ex pats and is exposed to role models to emulate.  Two professional pickleball pros from the USA gave clinics, they played with and against the La Cruz Marina players, went to Arroyos Verdes and  are invited to train the Mexican tennis pro at El Tigre Country Club as well as to go to Lake Chapala with Sam Recinos. One student will assist teaching pickleball in the local summer camp and will be paid!    For fun, we went to paintball; it was my first time and I enjoyed it more than the kids.  This semester, we chose to give classes to first year students(US equivalent 7th grade),  Twenty eight  students were invited to be on the summer team and will probably end up a quarter of that number. Ex pats are collaborating with the wonderful director and teachers, connecting them with resources to fulfill their needs.  A part time counselor will be on campus next year thanks to a collaborative effort.  As an example, one of the team members who is 14 is going into the 3rd year of middle school cannot write an elementary sentence, Another team member is surely hyperactive but is not diagnosed properly for treatment. One of the original team members was diagnosed with guillain baree and is now in the US being treated as he is a US citizen. The more I get to know the students, I see more needs.

In addition, Villa Magnolia, a complex with a tennis court, gave permission to deliver tennis clinics on their court on off hours.  The pickleball team is now playing tennis as well; the transition is amazing and easy. This project is in its planning stages and will embrace the La Cruz community including younger children and their parents. 

We had one fund raiser locally and a generous donation from a musical play produced by an ex pat.  Selkirk, Gearbox, the Four Seasons, Hotel Velas and El Tigre Country Club donate paddles of all kinds, hats, balls which are used in the secondary and team clinics and for raffles.

Of course, more funds are needed. There is a need to add staff.  We intend to have a local Zombie Race in October and 2 other events in high season. I am being cautious not to expand to rapidly.  Your continued support is much appreciated.

J
Outcomes

Students actively engage in activities and are responsible for their learning.  

Students develop a sense of belonging;

Students develop self confidence;

Students work well as a team.

 

Other Ways You Can Help

Some people just can't contribute, but that doesn't mean they can't help:

·         Send this to everyone you know!!!

·         Please help me reach my goal of 200 plus donors by making a  small  $5.00 -$10.00 donation.

·         When you contribute $50.00 US, the first 25 contributors will receive a silver plated pickleball charm.

·         When you contribute $100.00 US, the first 25 contributors will receive a silver  pickleball charm.