With great reflexes comes great...  The Academy in ACTIONHealthy Youth and Communities Through Pickleball August 2026 Issue No. 14 Sponsored by the Center for Primary Care--Aiken H.O.T.S. Two charities. One tournament to benefit them both.  Bethany Christian Services is a Christian adoption and foster care charity that strives to improve long-term childhood outcomes by focusing on prevention and stabilization services. Whether a child is experiencing trauma at home or watching their parents battle things like substance use or poverty, Bethany is dedicated to keeping children safe and loved within their families of origin whenever possible. Because that’s what’s best for children. The Southern Pickleball Academy is also a certified charity, promoting "Healthy Youth and Communities Through Pickleball." We want to bring the benefits of pickleball to our young generation--we're already donated equipment to 29 local schools. Now we'll be providing our signature First Paddle program to those kids who need it most. By partnering with youth-centric nonprofits such as the Salvation Army, we can provide First Paddle free to these organizations, supporting their work while reinforcing core values to these youth through pickleball. Because that's what's important for our kids. The Heart of the South Charity Tournament provides a perfect match: both nonprofits have a heart for children and work hard to provide them with opportunities for their best lives. Together, these two non-profits are hosting an exciting, high-energy pickleball tournament that serves a dual mission: supporting children and families in the foster care system while empowering youth through the First Paddle program. Sign up for the 3.0 or 3.5 Tournament: https://pickleballtournaments.com/tournaments/heart-of-the-south-charity-tournament Sign up for the Junior or Novice Scramble: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/heart-of-the-south-scramble-2026-registration Want to volunteer or sponsor this event? Click the buttons or reply to this email. Southern Pickleball Academy Serves Up Support for SOAR Students  Southern Pickleball Academy is proud to announce a new partnership with SOAR (Students of Aiken Re-engaged), an alternative program through the Aiken County Public School District designed to give students flexible paths and targeted support to stay on track. The connection came through PE teacher Tanner Turner, who recently moved from North Augusta Elementary to SOAR and saw an opportunity in pickleball. With smaller class sizes than a traditional PE program, SOAR is well-suited for focused, hands-on instruction. "Because we are an alternative school program, our student numbers are smaller than a traditional PE program, allowing for highly focused, impactful instruction," Turner explained. "However, we currently lack the necessary equipment to launch this unit." Southern Pickleball Academy was glad to help close that gap, donating two wheeled nets, sixteen paddles, twenty balls, and two sets of court markers to get the program off the ground. With this new gear, Turner's students will have everything they need to start learning the sport we love — and gain a bit of focus, sportsmanship, and connection along the way. We're excited to watch this program grow and can't wait to see SOAR students out on the court.  Coming Soon to a Court Near You: FIRST PADDLE LEVEL 2, SKILL BUILDERS!  You asked for it--here it is! Our second level of First Paddle will be taught by Perry Wong and Caitlin Barry at the St. John's Methodist gym in downtown Aiken the first week of Aiken's Fall Break. The Skill Builders level of the First Paddle program is an intermediate course designed to strengthen fundamental pickleball skills while introducing strategic gameplay elements. Participants refine dinking consistency, serving accuracy, third-shot execution, volleys, and overheads through structured drills and match scenarios. Emphasizing resilience, teamwork, and court awareness, players learn to make tactical decisions and transition effectively between baseline and net play. To participate in this program, youth should have successfully completed FP1 or have equivalent pickleball experience. They should also
SAY WHAT? A SHOE LIBRARY?  Last March we held a free First Paddle Camp for the Salvation Army kids. They were so excited! BUT Three boys wore Crocs. These were the only shoes they had. We had no choice. We had to turn these three boys away. Pickleball is a fast-moving sport, and the right footwear isn't optional, it's what keeps kids safe and on their feet. With your help, this will never happen again. We're building a Shoe Library: a set of loaner athletic shoes that will be worn during First Paddle sessions, cleaned, and passed on to the next camper. No child should be turned away from their first game because of what's on their feet. Here's how you can help: we're raising funds to buy new shoes — so every pair is the right style, properly sized, and ready to go. $25 buys one new pair for the Shoe Library. We're already off to a great start. We've had two generous supporters walked up and handed us cash on the spot to buy shoes for kids they'll never even meet. And a handful of others have contributed online! That's the spirit of this program, and we'd love for more of you to join them. Donate $25 (or more!) to help a kid get on the court. Every pair we buy means one more kid gets to play their first game of pickleball — the way it's meant to be played. Thank you for helping us make sure no camper is ever turned away. Click this link and we'll be sure your contibution goes toward shoes: https://www.zeffy.com/.../summer-serve-giving-campaign First Paddle™ is a youth development program operated by the Southern Pickleball Academy. Scholarship $$$ for Playing Pickleball? Read on...  TThe Southern Pickleball Academy's mission is simple: grow healthy kids and healthy communities — and yes, pickleball is the secret weapon. We know pickleball isn't just a sport — it's a lifestyle, a mild obsession, and (let's be honest) the reason half of you can't stop talking about "kitchen violations" at the dinner table. So we want to celebrate the high schoolers who've taken that love of the game and turned it into something bigger: getting friends off their phones and onto the court, organizing games, mentoring newer players, and generally making pickleball cooler than it already is. To say thanks, we're awarding $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors headed to college, trade school, vocational school — basically any "what's next" that involves more learning and (hopefully) more pickleball. Here's what it takes to be in the running:
If that sounds like you--or someone you know--here's the link to apply. Come for the scholarship, stay for the pickleball puns. If that sounds like you, we'd love for you to apply. Come for the scholarship, stay for the pickleball puns. *More info on Academy scholarships @ southernpickleballacademy.org !  Friday, September 4: Pickleball & Pizza @ Virginia Acres Park. SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE! 5:30-7:30pm. Family friendly, experienced players and novices welcome, loaner paddles available! And FREE PIZZA! Saturday, Sept 12: Dinks & Donuts + Wellness, starting at 7:00am @ Harrison Caver Park. Family friendly, experienced players and novices welcome, loaner paddles available! And FREE DONUTS! Monday-Friday, Sept. 28-Oct.2: First Paddle2, Skill Builders Fall Break Camp @ St. John's Methodist, downtown Aiken. Ages 9-14 Monday-Friday, Oct. 5-9: First Paddle1 NoviceFall Break Camp with Edgefield County Youth Empowerment Center. Job Opening: First Paddle Lead Mentor  WANTED: an apprentice Lead Mentor for our Fall 2026 First Paddle Camps! We'll train you — just bring your energy and pickleball skills. Future engagement may be available upon successful completion of this apprenticeship. The role: $150/week, 2.5 hours a day, all 5 camp days required. What you'll do:
What we're looking for: Someone who's solid at pickleball, organized, and great with kids. You'll need to pass a background check and complete online training before camp starts. For more information or to apply, email caitlin@firstpaddle.org Pickleball & Pizza School Supply Drive  We are having a school supply drive for September's Pickleball & Pizza! Donations will go to East Aiken Elementary, a Title 1 school with a poverty rating of 67.3%. School Supplies Requested
 Pickleball Etiquette: A Survival Guide for the Kitchen and Beyond So you've picked up a paddle, mastered the dink, and only occasionally yell "MINE!" at the wrong moment. Congratulations — you're basically a pickleball player now. But there's one more skill nobody talks about: not being that person on the court.  Whether you're new to the game or just realized you've been standing in the kitchen a little too aggressively, this guide covers the unwritten rules that keep pickleball fun for everyone — from paddle-tap etiquette to the age-old question of how long is too long to celebrate a winning point. Grab your paddle (and maybe your dignity) and dive in. Your fellow players will thank you.  70½ or Older? Your IRA Can Give Back — Tax-Free. A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) lets you support Southern Pickleball Academy without touching your wallet. ✅ Give tax-free ✅ Satisfy your RMD ✅ No itemizing ✅ Lower your tax bill Your gift grows First Paddle and puts pickleball in the hands of the next generation — while you keep more in your pocket. How: Just ask your IRA trustee for a direct transfer to Southern Pickleball Academy. That's it. Southern Pickleball Academy | 501(c)(3) Public Charity EIN: 92-0510304 404 Key Avenue, New Ellenton, SC 29809 Father, Son, and a Paddle: It’s Not What You Think!  HOW IT ALL STARTED “Pickleball? Honestly, no.” That was Micool Bishop’s response when a friend invited him to play. Yet he obliged, was quickly hooked, and soon spread the contagion to his son Rivver, now eight years old. And what’s not to love? Micool finds the smaller court, welcoming atmosphere, and athleticism a great fit, while Rivver loves the social aspect and team play. Both father and son will often be found playing outside at the courts at Virginia Acres or Harrison Caver Park, but really, they will play “anywhere we get the chance!” Rivver's game got a fast start thanks to Southern Pickleball's First Paddle program. He quickly learned the fundamentals of pickleball and Rivver’s confidence on the court grew. The competitive spirit has spread from father to son: Rivver competed in the Academy’s Battle of the Paddles Junior Tournament and loved putting his practice and skills to work.  A COMPETITOR IS BORN Micool noticed a shift in Rivver’s attitude almost immediately. “That competition really flipped a switch for him. Afterward, he was even more motivated to practice, improve, and see what he could accomplish the next time he stepped on the court. It was exciting to watch him go from simply learning the game to wanting to challenge himself and get better every time he played.”   MORE THAN JUST A SPORT Micool values the ability of pickleball to bring people together. “A parent can play alongside their child, friends can compete together, and kids can build friendships with other players on the court. It’s exercise, competition, teamwork, and community all rolled into one.” Yet he sees the biggest value as the impact it’s had on his family. With an infant at home, his wife has not yet been able to get out on the court, but as Micool notes, “once things settle down, she’s ready to get out there with Rivver and me and show off her inner Anna Leigh Waters!”   THE BOND And all the while, that father-son bond keeps getting stronger. “It’s something Rivver and I can share together, and I think that’s one of the biggest values of all,” Micool says, “It’s given us another reason to get outside, compete, laugh, practice, and spend time together. And honestly, those moments of togetherness are what I value most. The sport is fun, but getting to share it with my son makes it so much more meaningful." Micool would love for Rivver to develop a true passion for the sport and continue to challenge himself. “And if one day he ends up being better than me, I’ll happily take the credit for helping him get there!” “More than anything,” Micool says, “I want pickleball to be something he can look back on and say, ‘My Dad and I did that together.’” Do you have a pickleball story worth sharing? We'd love to feature you or your family in an upcoming Player Spotlight — reach out to Southern Pickleball Academy to get involved! How are we doing? Leave us a review on Google or Facebook!  FAMILY MEDICINE & INTERNAL MEDICINE CPC has been caring for families of the CSRA since 1993. CPC provides patients of every age with the most convenient, accessible, and personal healthcare available. We strive to improve the health and wellbeing of the families we serve by providing compassionate and high-quality care in a joyful setting. Robyn F. Fallaw, MD I Chad E. Millwood, MD, FAAFP I Rachel Latremouille, MD I Leo M. Muniz, MD, FAAFP I Tiffany R. Bryan, DO Dave Zimmerman, MD, CAQSM I Erin Stewart PA-C 131 Rinehart Way | Aiken, SC 29803  With great reflexes comes great... response ability.  Our Sponsors make it possible for us to do what we do!
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