TAKE MY POLL!!!!! A few already have and a couple have answered "No Way" .... That's what I used to say before I actually tried it and had someone explain the sport to me. Whatever reply you make, keep in mind that everyone is enthusiastic about something - which is a great thing. As for Shuffleboard, unfortunately the public media has historically described our sport as one for the old and infirmed, making jokes about the geriatric population being it's primary participant.
TOURNAMENT SHUFFLEBOARD is what I'm all about as well as thousands of others. Saying Shuffleboard is only for the old and infirmed is as ludricrous as saying that Baseball is only for kids with nothing else to do, running around in the street hitting a ball with a stick and getting in the way of traffic all the time. That's the way I learned to play baseball growing up and it was true. However, we know there's a lot more to it than just a kid's game. That's the same with Shuffleboard. It is a leisure activity played for fun by many, but it's also a serious, organized sport with thousands of active participants touring the State, National, and International Circuits. This year the International events are being held in Australia .... The International teams include the USA, Canada, Brazil, Germany, Australia, Japan and I'm not sure, but possibly others.
After I retired and finally settled into a community in Florida, I joined the golf club as that seemed to be what everyone else was doing. I had played Golf for over 30 years and that looked like the most popular thing retired people did. One day I looked into the shuffleboard club and at the time, actually felt a little embarrased just being there watching a tournament. What if I was seen by the golfers? My brother-in-law started explaining what was happening on the courts and my interest grew from there. I started to play the game and found that at first, I couldn't win at all playing against other club members. As I grew accustomed to the feel and started learning the strategy, I found I was enjoying this sport a lot more than I ever did playing golf! I found out too that many of the tournament players were competitive individuals who also participate in other sports as well. We have runners, golfers, bikers, skiers, etc., who enjoy Shuffleboard for it's high level of competition. In fact, most of the tournament shufflers consider Tournament Shuffleboard their Primary sport, and their other activities their secondary entertainment.
Go ahead,
TAKE MY POLL..... click on Polls and let me know how you feel. I for one would never be critical of other's choices or primary sports interests. I'm not suited for competitive level Triathelon, or many other sports, but I admire those who are involved. We shufflers are wanting the world to gain a true understanding of Tournament Shuffleboard. Shuffleboard is a true sport and one that every age group can learn and appreciate.
What IF????? The public schools adopted a Shuffleboard Program. Think about it.... How many school age children "do not" participate in competitive sports such as baseball, football, volleyball, hockey, etc., due to a variety of reasons including lack of space - ability - desire - etc.... Shuffleboard can be learned and played by literally - "anyone".... Portable courts are available in a couple of different styles. They can be set up indoors or outdoors on any flat surface. Equipment is not very expensive and lasts for years. Competition could evolve in many ways; girls teams, boys teams, individual competition, mixed doubles, novice, junior, advanced, expert levels based on prior tournament results. All of those bright boys and girls who may not be physically suited for the primary sports offered in schools, could participate in shuffleboard and become just as active and motivated as any other sport offered today. Getting more children involved in competition and getting their minds off the negative distractions todays world offers up to our children could do wonders for the future. Ours, theirs, and yours. A school program that would not only teach more children the values learned from competitive sports, but would follow them home where families could participate together in a family event. Consider the possibilities!!!.... Low cost, portable, exciting, competitive, constructive, instructive, bonding, exciting, no-boundaries, confidence-building, NO OTHER SPORT CAN DO SO MUCH............ O.K... there may be others that can do a lot, but Competive Shuffleboard is for everyone and I encourage you to take a closer look.
Tags: Florida Tournament Shuffleboard
