 A Final Note of Thanks ~ from Greg Mather ~ As I write what will be my final Commissioner’s Message, I find myself reflecting on what makes APPL truly special…and it always comes back to you. What we’ve built together was never just about pickleball. It was about a shared belief in something different, something bigger ~ a team-based league format that brought people together, created lasting friendships, and elevated the game in ways few could have imagined when this journey began. To our Captains, thank you for leading. Your time, organization, and steady presence have been the backbone of this league. You set the tone for your teams and made the experience meaningful for so many. In short, you have been the face of APPL to over 6000 players. | To our players, thank you for competing the right way. The sportsmanship, camaraderie, and passion you bring to the courts each week are what define APPL at its core. And you’ve even turned “the APPL Point” into a true household, or better yet, court-hold name. I have already expressed my sincere appreciation for what many of you know I consider to be the best team in APPL…our exceptional group of volunteers. But in truth, we are all one team, each playing a meaningful role in something that has become very special. Together, we have filled a gap in this great sport by creating a unique balance of what I often refer to as the five Cs: competition, camaraderie, cost, community, and convenience…an approach that truly distinguishes APPL from any other form of pickleball. I step away with complete confidence in the leadership taking over and in the strength of this community. APPL’s best days are still ahead, and that’s because of all of you. Thank you for being part of this journey. It has meant more to me than I can fully express. With sincere appreciation,Greg |
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| “Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending.”~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow |
APPL State Championships
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| Our recent APPL State Championships, held at the beautiful Pueblo El Mirage Pickleball Complex in March, delivered four outstanding days of high-level, team-based pickleball competition. This year’s championships brought together over 100 of the top APPL teams, representing more than 1,000 players from across Arizona. This marked the first year that all 1,692 games were officiated by referees from the Arizona Pickleball Referees Association, adding an elevated level of consistency and professionalism to the event. From the opening matches to the final points, the level of play was exceptional—defined by intensity, good sportsmanship, and true team camaraderie. Teams battled through a demanding schedule and some intense afternoon heat, making this year’s championships one of the most competitive and exciting in APPL history. In the end, 31 teams earned the distinction of being crowned the best in the state of Arizona. CONGRATULATIONS to all participants! And a special THANK YOU to all of the PEM and APPL volunteers whose time and dedication helped make the event such a great success. |
No Mergers, So Please Recruit!
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| In our continuing quest to keep game play fun and fair for everyone, we have decided to no longer merge flights if there are fewer than three teams that register in a Region for a particular Age/Skill/Gender flight. This change could especially impact Open-Age (18+) flights with only one or two registered teams. APPL offers Open-age flights for all skill levels (3.0+) in Women’s, Men’s and Mixed-Gender divisions. Please help us build more teams in the Open division by introducing the APPL concept to younger players this summer. Refer those who may be interested to the Arizona Pickleball Players League website. The “Get Started/Welcome” link offers very helpful and easy-to-follow information. THANK YOU for helping us encourage people of all ages to consider joining the APPL league. We look forward to ‘growing’ those harder-to-fill flights and not having to turn teams away next season. |
Welcome 70+ Bracket
 Built upon player demand, a change coming to our age-level groupings isn’t just a new idea—it’s in direct response to feedback you recently sent our way…A 70+ division was one of the most requested additions in our recent player surveyPlayers consistently shared interest in competing within a more age-aligned bracket We hear you, and we’re excited to make it happen! APPL is officially launching a 70+ age bracket for Men’s and Women’s teams at the 3.0 and 3.5 skill levels during the 2027 winter season.Each team must have at least four players at the required skill level (APPL Index), but there will be unlimited exceptions allowed within 0.5 below the skill-level requirements. We have more than 1,500 players aged 70 and above already participating in an APPL league. This addition to our brackets reflects the strength of our community and our commitment to creating the best possible playing experience for everyone. Please help us spread the word to those who may be interested so each new 70+ flight can grow to at least three teams. As per the above article on “No Mergers,” flights with only one or two teams will have to be cancelled. We look forward to welcoming our new 70+ teams to APPL next season, and we thank you for your survey responses! If you have questions, please contact Scot Ritchie at picklepongscot@gmail.com |
Flagstaff Starts Summer Season
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| The APPL League is heading up the mountain for its inaugural Flagstaff Region summer season, running from June through August of 2026. Set among the beautiful pines at 7,000 feet, Flagstaff’s first-ever APPL season will bring all the excitement and competition of team-based league play to another garden-spot setting within Arizona’s cooler climes. We join with Flagstaff in welcoming 17 teams competing across six divisions during their first summer league, as we anticipate them building many successful seasons in the years to come. Teams are forming from a variety of locations, including players from the Valley who are willing to make the trek and be part of this pickleball experience. THANK YOU to all those helping to organize these efforts, and GOOD LUCK to all players and participants! |
White Mountain Summer Season
 Already well established and ready for another season, the White Mountain APPL summer league will be upon us shortly. Many players from the East Valley, the West Valley, and the Southern Region will head up to play team-based pickleball in the cool pines of Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside. These mountaintop vistas will have seven locations and host approximately 37 teams competing in APPL-organized play during the upcoming summer months. If you might be interested in joining the White Mountain summer league, you can find more information on the APPL Website under Get Started/Player Registration 2026 Summer Leagues. Registration is now open! League play will begin the first week of June and run through mid-August. If you have questions about the White Mountain league, please contact Jon and Coralee Peake through the Get Started/Contact Us link on our website. THANK YOU to all those helping to organize these efforts, and GOOD LUCK to all players and participants! |
Introducing APPL Sponsorships
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| For the first time, APPL is opening the door to sponsorships—creating an opportunity for businesses to connect directly with one of the fastest-growing and most engaged sports communities in Arizona. As our league continues to grow, we’re excited to introduce a select number of sponsorship opportunities designed to align brands with our players in authentic and meaningful ways. We’ve designed our sponsorship program to be flexible, impactful, and relationship-driven. Opportunities include: – Community Sponsorships – Starting at $500, these are built for APPL members and offer hands-on, local engagement through activations, experiences, and direct interaction – League Sponsorships – Ideal for businesses looking to grow their brand, these provide ongoing visibility across APPL’s digital platforms, email marketing, and social media – Custom Partnerships – Tailored collaborations built around events, content, and unique brand integrations If you’re part of the APPL community and have a business, becoming a league sponsor is a powerful way to support the league while also promoting your brand to a highly engaged audience. Whether it’s introducing your product directly to players, creating memorable on-site experiences, or building long-term brand awareness, APPL can provide a platform to connect in a way that feels natural—not forced. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about partnering with APPL, we’d like to connect and explore what a collaboration could look like. Feel free to reach out via email to HypaMark.exec@gmail.com to start the conversation. We look forward to hearing from you! |
Volunteers Needed
 APPL continues to grow, thanks to the passion and dedication of our players. We’re looking for a few more dedicated people to help keep that momentum going. If you enjoy connecting with others and want to give back to the league, consider stepping into one of these volunteer roles:East Valley ‘Free Agent’ Team CoordinatorEast Valley Venue ManagerVolunteer Events CoordinatorIf you are interested or would like more information about any of these volunteer opportunities, please send us an email through Get Started/Contact Us on the APPL website. We very much appreciate our volunteers! |
You Don’t Need to Keep Your Eye on the Ball!
 Brian Martin, NPL Senior Pro Players hear “keep your eye on the ball” constantly, but let’s be honest — you’re not closing your eyes or staring at the clouds during a rally. You hit plenty of clean shots, which means your visual tracking is working just fine. The real culprit behind that dreaded thud off the paddle is usually something else entirely: your body has slipped out of balance. When your balance goes, your brain goes into emergency mode. Its top priority becomes keeping you upright, not executing a precise swing. That means: Your brain reallocates processing power to stabilize youYour swing mechanics get sloppyYour paddle face wandersAnd the ball meets the wrong part of your paddle This isn’t a vision problem — it’s a stability problem. The fix is simple and incredibly effective: maintain an athletic stance. Knees slightly bentFeet wide enough to create a stable baseWeight centered and ready to move A good test: imagine someone giving you a light shove on the shoulder. If that would knock you over, your stance isn’t athletic enough. Once you’re balanced, your brain is free to focus on getting the paddle to the right spot, and suddenly the sweet spot starts showing up a lot more often.The real challenge is staying in that stance. Most players start a match in a great athletic position… and then slowly straighten up as the points go on. When that happens, mis‑hits creep back in. Pickleball is a sport, and you are an athlete. Staying in an athletic stance throughout the match is one of the simplest ways to instantly improve your consistency. When your balance is solid, the ball doesn’t need to be the only thing you’re looking at — your brain has the bandwidth to process everything else you might want to see happening on the court. Coming up in the next Newsletter: Quiet Feet vs. Happy FeetOnce you’ve mastered maintaining that athletic stance, the next step is understanding how your footwork affects your shot quality. That’s where Quiet Feet vs Happy Feet comes in — and it’s a game‑changer!APPL Team Trainings will begin again in December 2026You can learn more from NPL Senior Pro Brian Martin HERE |
| “Turns out that bending your knees in pickleball is just straight magic.”~ Ben Johns |
