Joan Gil inspires kids with Pickleball!

Pickleball in La Cruz; children and adults alike are passionate about the sport!

When Joan Gil moved to La Cruz she  had no idea that pickleball was in her future! Joan grew up in Yonkers, New York. She met her handsome Eduardo (an architect) in Mexico City; they married and raised three daughters in Mexico City, Juárez and El Paso, Texas. They retired and moved to La Cruz de Huanacaxtle in 2009 and Joan loves when her ‘proudest achievements’ visit; her six grandkids!

When asked what she loves about living here she says “The people… everything!” As for the changes in the area “It is what it is, progress and it is cleaner and busier. I miss Philo and Philo’s bar! The town is small and has everything one needs and most of what one wants.”

Her favourite quote “The sign of a Wiseman is one who knows what he does know and knows what he does not know.” Confucius

When I met Joan 9 years ago she had no voice and was fighting cancer. Today at 74 she speaks with passion and told me “I am beating cancer!” Joan is a force to reckon with and does much for our community. Joan’s always active; she loves swimming and boogie boards four or five times per week. She’s always played tennis and when she learned pickleball she was hooked and now plays either sport five times a week.

If, like me, you have no idea what this sport is, I checked Wikipedia; pickleball is a paddle sport (similar to a racquet sport) that combines elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis. Two or four players use solid paddles made of wood or composite materials to hit a perforated polymer ball, similar to a wiffle ball, over a net. The sport shares features of other racquet sports, the dimensions and layout of a badminton court, and a net and rules somewhat similar to tennis, with several modifications. Pickleball was invented in the mid 1960s as a children’s backyard pastime but has become one of America’s most popular growing sports among all ages.

In the last three years, the number of expat 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 three courts at the marina, four courts at Punta Esmeralda, one court at Punta Pelicanos, two courts at the Telesecundaria for students and a taped court at Villa Magnolia.

The passion Joan has for pickleball extends far beyond exercise; Joan and friends are teaching 150 Middle schools students during the school year. The classrooms are small and sparse; there is Internet, but a lack of equipment. The director and his staff perform miracles considering their limited resources. Recently, a teachers’ bathroom was installed with funds from a local expat organization, the Beta Sigma Phi! Joan is raising funds for the 2018/19 school year and for both 2018 and 2019 summer camps. The summer camp project will allow for thirty students to carry on their passion yearlong and is at the La Cruz Marina.

All children inspire Joan and that passion has informed her entire life. She taught for 40 years and was honoured with Teacher of the Year, in the State of Texas and was a finalist nationally. She wrote and implemented multiple grants for her school district that reached the million-dollar mark. In La Cruz Joan initially spearheaded the curriculum for the present summer school camp for local children and her ‘present’ favourite cause is the Telesecundaria in La Cruz; she’s always involved in teaching and learning.

Joan’s joined by five teachers and two coaches; one is a professional tennis teacher and the other a local school quarterback.

Johnny Davalos is an experienced certified tennis coach who 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 has been coaching pickleball for the last two 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 is 18 years old and just graduated from the local high school. He plays for 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 to play college level football.

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

• Two painted courts,
• One donated pickleball net
• One borrowed mini net
• Twenty plastic/wooden assorted rackets
• Five out of twelve teachers actively play pickleball

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:

• To develop students to participate at both recreational and competitive levels;
• To invest in and improve the playing facilities.

What We Need To Meet our Goals (in US$)

1. Additional Net for School: approximately $160.00
2. 15 Graphite Paddles: approximately $700.00
3. 2 coaches school year/summer: approximately $3500.00
4. Celebrations and Reflections: approximately $1200.00
5. Team Trip to Chapala for training: approximately $1800.00

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 physical, social and mental health. Our hope is that youth will be inspired to continue with sports and see the benefits of education rather than more destructive pastimes. Additional benefits include:

• Pickleball is a draw for volunteer opportunities from the expat community;
• Generates dialogue in the community;
• Offers opportunities for contribution in sports; our first offline contribution was made by One Arm Bob, one of the expat volunteers.

Plans for the 2018-2019 year:

1. Continue weekly program at the Telesecundaria.
2. Train the mixed student team at the marina site to prepare for competition locally and in Guadalajara.

Outcomes

• Students actively engage in activities and are responsible for their own learning;
• Students develop a sense of belonging;
• Students develop self-confidence;
• Students work well as a team.

Benefits beyond enjoyment and health include the kids being much more disciplined and are always eager to play.

Enthusiasm and joy emanate from the kids. Students start off as undisciplined groups and five short months later the difference is awesome, students know the expectations and follow the structure always anxious for it to be their section’s turn to learn and play. Meet Joan; watch the children play and learn how you might get involved; https://www.gofundme.com/wsm8cy-pickleball-for-kids-play-it-forward

In similar news:

Clara Sabina and Claudia Mclean, La Cruz winter expats from Vancouver Island, BC, won the Gold Medal in the women’s 4.0 category at the Canadian Nationals Pickleball Championships in Kelowna, BC this past weekend. Clara’s rise in Pickleball has been fast due to her 15 yrs on the Cuban National Table Tennis team and Cuban National Champion in the 80’s. Clara will be a certified pickleball teacher this year and will be offering clinics and lessons this coming winter season.

Clara Sabin

Clara Sabina and Claudia Mclean