Women’s Racquetball…..

Alive and Kicking

       ...Fran Davis

“Building your Racquetball Dream House”

www.FranDavisRacquetball.com

I just arrived home from the National Singles Championships in Houston, TX where 101 women from around the country competed in this event…up 100% from 2 years ago.

I am very excited to hear and see what is going on for women in the sport of racquetball. Please let me share with you several things that are happening that I believe proves “Women’s Racquetball is Alive and Kicking”.

1

-USA Racquetball has appointed a Women’s Committee, spear-headed by Lorraine Galloway and Cheryl Kirk, to over see the state of women’s racquetball. In just 2 short years the # of women playing in Houston has doubled and there were over 50 divisions for women to enter from Age Group to 24- to 90+ and Skill Levels from D to US Team Qualifying.

2-In Houston this year at The National Singles Championships 2 very prominent women’s events were held:  a) A Women’s Reception was held on Thursday evening with Malia Bailey, Linda Mojer, Lorraine Galloway, Cheryl Kirk, just to name a few women that were present. b) A Women’s Only clinic was conducted on Saturday morning by Rhonda Rajsich, Kerri Wachtel and Brenda Kyzer and was VERY well attended.

3-WPRO – Women’s Professional Racquetball Organization -

During the 2005-06 season they had 8 total stops (4 T1s and 4 satellites).

During the 2006-07 season they had 14 total stops (11 Tier 1 or higher and 3 satellites).

For the 2007-08 season they have 15 total stops (12 T1s and 3 satellites) on the schedule so far. 

For the first time in 7 years, the ladies will receive a raise with T1s going from $8K to $10K and Grand Slams from $15K to $20K next season.

 

At every WPRO stop they have at least one free clinic at every event conducted by a top WPRO player.

This tour is finally giving girls and young women an opportunity to have a professional career in women’s racquetball.

4-“Racquet for the Cure” is a tournament series held nationwide that raises awareness for breast cancer…it raised over $90,000. ...read more

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CPRT
Pro Nationals
Las Vegas, NV

May 1 - 4, 2008

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Entry Form

Building your Racquetball Dream House...

1. SMART Racquetball Goals

1. Fran Davis Racquetball

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SMART Racquetball Goals
    ...Gordon Henry, Ph.D.

    While there is general agreement among sports psychologists that goal setting is an effective means of maximizing athletic performance, the particular characteristics of the best kinds of goals is still hotly debated.  In fact, research on effective goal-setting constitutes one of the most prolific research areas in all of psychology, in general, and sports psychology in particular.  One set of findings regarding effective goals, however, has begun to be fairly widely accepted among sports psychologists, coaches, and other experts in athletic performance as necessary for maximizing the power of goals.

    The common acronym used to denote this set of findings is “SMART” goals.  Each of the letters in this acronym represents a goal parameter that, when instituted, has been shown to consistently increase the influence that the goal has on performance and, subsequently, to consistently increase the level of athletic performance identified in the goal.  Before introducing the SMART characteristics, however, I would note one overarching idea that binds the SMART characteristics together. 

    That idea lies in the power of consequences. Note that goal setting occurs prior to a particular instance of athletic performance.  That is, an athlete first sets a goal for her or his performance, then undertakes actions designed to meet that goal.  This is important to note, because we know what happens to that performance when the goal is reached, but the athlete’s life doesn’t turn out any better in any way.  The next time a goal is set, it is much less likely to encourage high levels of performance.  We see this phenomenon in athletic settings all the time.  For example, what happens to a racquetball player who sets a goal of 10 hours of drill practice each week, accomplishes that goal for a few weeks, but really can’t detect any change in his game and, further, does not improve his standing in the current league and fails to beat anyone he’s consistently lost to prior to the goal achievement.  In fact, no one even notices that the player is hitting more powerfully or consistently.  What would you suspect would happen when a friend of this player suggests a goal of drilling 15 hours each week?  That’s right…the player is much less likely to achieve this new goal.  For him, goals have begun to lose their power to encourage behavior, because goal achievement was not followed by any apparent evidence of success.  The power of the SMART characteristics lies in their ability to help ensure that goal attainment is followed by some additional signs of improvement. Keep this in mind when reading about SMART goals.

...read more
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Question?...Contact Dr. Gordon Henry, Ph.D., Georgetown,  Indiana...

sportdrhenry@yahoo.com