USA Racquetball

The Official U.S. Racquetball Association Website

40th Anniversary

Since the National Office was founded in 1969, racquetball came to be known as one of the fastest growing sports in America. The sport is recognized world-wide in over 90 countries on five continents with 14 million racquetball players. This year we're celebrating 40 years of service to our members and look forward to making racquetball stronger than ever. To become a member of our organization, click here.

Become A Member

Racquetball Logo

As a USA Racquetball member, you show the world how much you enjoy the sport of racquetball. As a member you receive a variety of exclusive benefits available only to USAR members such as--Racquetball Magazine, filled with instructional and training tips delivered right to your door, merchandise and apparel discounts, air and travel discounts, local and national tournaments, as well as developmental programs. Join today by clicking here.

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* Over $100,000 of all membership dues are returned to states to assist with local program development.

GoodSearch

GoodSearch.com is a new Yahoo-powered search engine that donates advertising revenue to non-profit associations. Use it just as you would any search engine, get quality search results from Yahoo, and help donate to USA Racquetball. More than 700 of the top Internet retailers and travel sites including Amazon, eBay, Target, Apple, Expedia and more have joined forces with GoodShop.com to donate part of every purchase to USAR at no additional cost. To read more, click here, to start donating click the GoodSearch logo.

How To Play

New to racquetball?

To play a game of racquetball you only need a few things to get started. Most racquetball equipment and accessories can be purchased seperately or starter kits can be purchased for about $30 from a club proshop or sporting goods retail store.
• Racquet (Cost anywhere from $20-$200, depends on budget, and willingness to pay for feel and technology.)
• Eyewear (Recommended and important, helps reduce the risk of injury if you are hit in the eye.)
• Ball (Balls come in different colors such as blue, green, lavender and black. Any color will do.)
• Glove. (Optional, this will help you keep a firm grip on the racquet during those fast rallies.)
• Shoes (Any type of indoor court or tennis shoe, there are shoes designed specifically for racquetball.)

For more information on how to play, tips from the pro's, video instruction and more visit Racquetball University online.

Do you know someone who is interested or new to racquetball? Send them an e-mail about this website.

If you are NOT a member of the USAR, send us your name and e-mail to receive the free monthly racquetball e-newsletter. In the subject box please write "e-mail newsletter" to insure delivery.

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Donate to USAR

USA Racquetball depends upon public donations to continue its work. There are several different ways you can help and it's TAX Deductible! Click any of the logos to donate today.
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USAR is a proud member of Sports Charities USA

Vehicle Donation Program
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877-999-8322

Click on any of the logos and donate today.

USAR is a proud partcipant in the Combined Federal Campaign

USAR is a proud participant of the United Way Campaign

UP NEXT: WSMRA National Championships, Gaithersburg, MD--Jan. 15-17, 2010

Waselenchuk Makes History

Rhonda Rajsich and Kane Waselenchuk, 2009 US OPEN Champions The 2009 14th US OPEN Racquetball Championships concluded this past weekend in Memphis, TN at the Racquet Club of Memphis and featured all of the top men's players of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), the women's players of the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization, (WPRO) and the Classic Pro Racquetball Tour (CPRT). The US OPEN is racquetball's original and largest "Grand Slam" event and the most prestigous tournament of the season. The event also offered nearly 70 amateur divisions for men and women and attracted players from all across the world.
In the Men's IRT Professional division, World No. 1 Kane Waselenchuk, defending US OPEN champion made history by capturing his fifth US OPEN Championship and became the winningest man in US OPEN history. The record was previously held by Sudsy Monchik with four titles. Monchik presented the trophy to Waselenchuk who went on to say, "It was an honor to have Sudsy here."

The Women's WPRO Professional division saw Rhonda Rajsich win her third US OPEN Championship by defeating defending champion Paola Longoria in the finals. The win for Rajsich ties her with Canadian Christie Van Hees for most US Open WPRO titles at three.

The Classic Pro Racquetball Tour (CPRT) also crowned a new champion as Woody Clouse defeated the ageless Ruben Gonzalez in the finals. This was Clouses's first US OPEN title in the CPRT.

Final Results

US OPEN Site | IRT | WPRO | CPRT

Negrete Retires From IRT

The Men's International Racquetball Tour (IRT) announced that Dave Negrete has decided to retire as Commissioner of the IRT after nine years at the helm. During his tenure, Negrete organized new Grand Slam events and increased the total prize money pool available for players. Negrete's crowning achievement was the creation of a new portable court that will enable racquetball to be exposed to thousands of potential fans around the United States. Negrete will help transition the operations of the IRT through the end of 2009 and then Jason Mannino will step in as the new commissioner.

IRT Website

Junior Team Donation Page Goes Live

The US Junior Racquetball Team will be traveling to compete in the 21st IRF World Junior Championships, December 14-20, 2009 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Show your support for our Junior Team by sponsoring a player and donating. These donations will help offset costs related to the team such as hotel, flights, food and entry fees.

Click the USA Junior Team Donation Page to donate today.

New Program And Clinic Curriculum

USA Racquetball will soon be unveiling a revised instructors, coaching, programming and clinic curriculum. The new programs will include extensive on-line and video education programs, along with various methods to upgrade and improve ones teaching and coaching skills. Current AMPRO instructors will be provided a significant period of time to re-certify, upgrade and maintain their certification. During this extension phase current instructors will maintain their insurance coverage. Instructors who decide to continue their certification will be provided access to many of the on-line continuing classes and information and well as many of the other benefits of belonging to the new program.
The new program will be unveiled at the US OPEN and in the next newsletter and magazine. For more information or questions please contact Jhiser@usra.org

Board of Directors Election

Are you interested in becoming a USA Racquetball Board Member? The USAR Election/Nominating Committee is seeking interested and qualified parties to run for the two Board seats coming available in May 2010. If you have any interested in being nominated, please contact Geoff Peters via email at petersgeoff@hotmail.com as soon as possible. Serving on the Board to further a sport we all love is a wonderful endeavor. There are many ways to help our sport, and contributing to the future of racquetball on the Board of Directors is certainly a major step.
Please take a few minutes and review the information on the Nomination and Election Procedures page.

High School Racquetball

Racquetball Ranked Among Toughest High School Sports

As school begins for students across the country, racquetball was recently included in the ranking of the toughest high school sports by ESPNRISE.com.
These are sports that aren't sanctioned by the National Federation of State High School Associations but have high school national championships. Each sport was ranked based on five aspects of toughness such as the physical demands, endurance and strategy. The rankings are on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the easiest and 5 the toughest...Read More

Guidry Named Head Coach

Mike Guidry Named Head Coach of U.S. National Team

U.S. Team Coach Mike Guidry

USA Racquetball named Mike Guidry as head coach of the U.S. National Racquetball Team. Guidry is one of the most decorated U.S. players in amateur competition and is a former top ten professional player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT).
As a player he captured the USA Racquetball National Men’s Doubles championship in 1999, 2001 and 2002. In 2002, he also won the USA Racquetball National Men’s Singles championship. Guidry is a three time doubles champion in the Pan-American Games (2002, 2003 & 2005) and seven time member of the U.S. National Adult Team.
Guidry brings passion, energy, and an overall knowledge of the international landscape to the table that is second to none.

Racquetball News

The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association recently reported that while the American economy is suffering, many sports, fitness, and recreation activities are growing. According to the SGMA‟s Sports & Fitness Participation Report (2009 edition), a number of activities in the United States are on the upswing as participation is growing.
USAR has prepared a press release for distribution announcing that there has been an 18.1% increase in racquetball participation. Please submit this press release to your local media outlets (newspaper and television) to help share the good news about racquetball.
Click here for the pdf document.

Ruiz and Huczek Win

Rocky Carson, Jack Huczek, Cheryl Gudinas, Aimee Ruiz The 2009 USA Racquetball National Singles Championships presented by Penn Racquet Sports concluded with over 70 players crowned as National Champions. The National Singles, referred to as "The Finals" is the pinnacle of the sport and the only national championship for singles competition...Read More

Member Spotlight-Ron Bouchard

Most 74 year-old men are enjoying the good life, retirement, fishing, taking in the golden years as some would call it. But when you have a deep passion for something, nothing can stop you from sharing it and loving the feeling it gives you. Even with a total hip replacement, a loving wife for over 25 years, 2 grown children, 8 grandchildren, and 1 great grandson, Ron Bouchard still finds the time to give back to something he truly loves--racquetball.....

Read More

Do you know a USAR member who might be a worthy story for Member Spotlight? Send an e-mail to Leo Vasquez, e-mail: leo@usra.org

2008 US OPEN DVD Now Available

Year after year the US OPEN produces the best that pro racquetball has to offer. However, in 2008 Kane Waselenchuk returned to the IRT tour and played a level of racquetball at the US OPEN that has never before been seen.
Enjoy three matches from the IRT division (2 semifinals and the finals) completely commercial free on this Special Edition DVD. Sit back and enjoy witnessing what many call “the greatest player in the history of the sport” playing at his absolute best. Visit the merchandise page to order yours or click here.

New Facility Directory

Maverick Athletic Club, Arlington, TX 10 Courts, www.themav.com

USA Racquetball has recently launched a campaign to update existing or add new court clubs and facilities. The new

Facility Directory is a module built by Jay Mathis for USAR and all the other Racquetball Content Management System websites. It is a compilation of several different sources for club lists and is in need of updating.

A very nice feature of the new Facility Directory is an interactive map that also gives details such as the website, phone number, guest fees, number of courts and other detailed information.
The ability for the general public to submit new facilities or suggest changes to existing records assists in having accurate information (subject to approval). In the near future, players will be able to add their names to individual club listings. The list will be made available in XML format that other websites can use and display however they want. Click on the Facility Directory link or on the left side menu at the bottom.
Feedback on functionality and content can be sent to Jay Mathis [mathisjay@hotmail.com]

Mission Statement

Mission Statement
USA Racquetball (USAR) is the National Governing Body for the sport of racquetball, recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee and is committed to excellence and service to our members. We provide opportunities for members and enthusiasts to actively participate in the sport through sanctioning of events, administration of programs and development of competitive teams.

Vision Statement
To provide racquetball opportunities in the sport of racquetball for all levels of participation........Read More

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New League Software

ESTABLISH AND MANAGE YOUR CLUB'S RACQUETBALL LEAGUES

In an effort to expand services to its members and to promote growth and participation, USA Racquetball has partnered with Vantage Tech Consulting to offer AdVantageClub software to its members. A new program designed to manage racquetball leagues for any size or group.

League Software »

Clouse Wins US OPEN

Woody Clouse won the Classic Pro Racquetball Tour (CPRT) division at the US OPEN in Memphis, TN for the first time in his career by defeating the ageless Ruben Gonzalez in the finals, 9-1, 7-9, 9-7, 9-8.
This is the third year the CPRT has been a featured division at the US OPEN. Jimmy Lowe, the defending champion defeated Clouse in the finals last year in Memphis. Gonzalez won the championship in 2007.

Lowe was upset in the quarterfinals this year by Brad McCunniff, who then lost to Gonzalez in the semifinals. Clouse defeated Doug Ganim in the other semifinal.
Racquetball fans enjoyed watching some of the top pros in the world (over 40) put on a great show at the US OPEN as they cheered loud and often for their favorite CPRT player.

CPRT

John LoMonaco Memorial Grant

John LoMonaco passed away Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at the age of 57. He collapsed in the locker room of the Spectrum Club in Canoga Park, just after winning his last game against Kevin Barlia. John played three or four times a week and had many wins to his credit, including several NMRA medals and a 55A championship in 2007 at the USAR National Singles in Houston. He lived in West Hills, California, near the club, and ran his own fire safety and inspection business.

In John’s memory, a friend who wishes to remain anonymous is donating an all-expenses paid trip to the USAR National Singles Championships in Houston, Texas, May 26-31, 2010. Read more about John LoMonaco

Racquetball Game For Wii

Graffiti Entertainment Inc., a division of Signature Devices, Inc., a consumer videogame manufacturer, announced that it has signed a license agreement with USA Racquetball, the national governing body for the sport of racquetball and for the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Graffiti Entertainment will publish a USA Racquetball videogame initially for the Wii™ system, and shortly thereafter will roll out games for other videogame console formats. Read the official press release.

November 2009 Membership Newsletter

Inside This Issue
Check out this month's USA Racquetball Newsletter, the October/November edition. This issue contains pages of photos and a recap of the IRT, WPRO and CPRT from the US OPEN Racquetball Championships. There is also news about the newly formed partnership with Public Earth, a new website that contains more than 2,700 racquetball facilities across the United States that are in USA Racquetball’s national database. Check out the new Junior National Team program that allows you to donate online with a click of a button. Also included is 2009-2010 Season National Event Calendar and much more.

USA Racquetball October/November Newsletter

September 2009 • July 2009 • June 2009 • April 2009 • March 2009 • January 2009 • September 2008 • July 2008 • March 2008

2007 Newsletters

Club Activities

You may select more than one activity/event.

WHAT ACTIVITIES/EVENTS DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN AT YOUR CLUB?
TOURNAMENTS
LEAGUES
CHALLENGE COURT NIGHTS
MIXERS/SOCIAL EVENTS
DEMO NIGHTS
RACQUETBALL LESSONS

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Rajsich Wins Ektelon WPRO Texas Open

click for larger image

Rhonda Rajsich defeated Kerri Wachtel to win the Ektelon Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) Texas Open in Dallas in five games, 12-10, 11-7, 4-11, 7-11, 11-8. This is Rajsich's first victory since the Miller Lite Open in March, and only her second of the calendar year. Rajsich is trying to regain the #1 WPRO ranking, which she lost to Paola Longoria last season.

Longoria lost to Wachtel in the semi-finals in Texas.

The next WPRO tournament will be the US OPEN in Memphis October 21-25. Longoria is the defending champion, but with their strong showings this weekend Wachtel and Rajsich have both shown they are threats to win in Memphis. Rajsich has won the US Open twice in 2003 and 2007, and Wachtel won it in 2001.

Final Results | WPRO | Photos

Racquetball Magazine

2009 Summer Racquetball Magazine Take a look inside the '09 Summer issue of Racquetball Magazine and you will find this issue dedicated to the Adult and Senior players including valuable tips on how to train to be an elite age group athlete. There is also a recap from the 2009 USAR Junior Olympics Racquetball Championships and also results and photos from the 2009 USAR National Singles. Also included is information about the Hall of Fame nominations including the nomination criteria. USA Racquetball President, Cheryl Kirk offers creative ideas to help save racquetball courts by offering alternative activities and uses to maximize court space. For the entire issue, subscribe by joining USA Racquetball today. For a free preview, click the link below.

Adobe PDF • Free Magazine Preview

US OPEN Memories

Memories from the 2006 US OPEN
Racquetball Championships
Jack Huczek vs Jason Mannino

News Announcement

Danielle Maur, National Director of Racquetball and Squash for Lifetime Fitness and Jim Hiser, Executive Director for USA Racquetball recently announced a joint program to help promote racquetball in all Lifetime Fitness Clubs. "I am thrilled to announce that USA Racquetball and Lifetime Fitness have agreed to work together on various programs to promote the sport of racquetball," said Hiser.
The state of Minnesota, home of the national headquarters for Lifetime Fitness will implement a number of test programs which if successful will be duplicated throughout all of the existing facilities.

Lifetime Fitness operates distinctive and large sports, athletic, fitness and family recreation centers. As of today, Lifetime Fitness operates 84 centers in 19 states (states include Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia).

Did You Know?

• Racquetball participation saw an increase of 18.1% in the year 2008. Penn Logo

• Racquetball is one of ONLY four sports that have shown consistent participation increases since 2000--First-tennis; Second-racquetball; Third-soccer; Fourth-basketball.

More DYK

National Doubles Video

State News

Next State Association Conference Call:
Tuesday - December 1st @ 9pm EDT, 8pm CDT, 7pm MDT, 6pm PDT
The next conference call meeting for State Directors will be Tuesday-December 1, 2009.

• November Presentation (Adobe PDF)
• Treasurer's Update (Adobe PDF)

Archived Conference Call Documents

Sponsors/Partners