Andy Jones: Sage of the Sidelines

The Woman Who Taught the GOATs the Rules. 

If you’ve played competitive pickleball in the Northeast, chances are Andy Jones has had a hand in making the match possible. Not just as a referee—but as a builder, a teacher, a leader, and a connector. She’s the rare figure in sports whose influence is both institutional and deeply personal. She has made crucial calls on the biggest courts, trained the next generation of referees, and helped launch the careers of some of today’s top players.

But Andy’s story isn’t just about rules and regulations—it’s about heart. It’s about a promise she made to a friend, Liz Furman, who first introduced her to the sport before passing away unexpectedly. In Liz’s honor, Andy picked up a paddle, stepped onto the court, and never looked back.

She transformed empty tennis courts in Allentown, PA, into a thriving pickleball hub. She petitioned townships for dedicated courts and brought crowds of players to township meetings to make it happen. She housed some of the world’s best players before they had sponsorships, taught the game to the Waters family (before Anna Leigh became the GOAT and a household name), and officiated at international events like the 2024 World Cup in Peru.

And she’s not done yet.

In this exclusive interview, Andy talks about the evolution of pickleball in the Northeast, the challenges and rewards of being a referee, and what she hopes for the future of the sport.

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Official Title

USA Pickleball Ambassador (Lehigh Valley, PA), Certified Referee, Registered Referee Trainer, and Advanced Training Session Assessor (ATSA)

Location 

FL/PA/NJ

How did you get into pickleball, what drew you to the sport?

“I was an avid tennis player for years who lost touch with an old tennis friend, Liz Furman. We reconnected in 2012 in New Jersey. Liz kept mentioning this fun game she fell in love with called pickleball. Who could forget that funny name? Two years later, Liz’s daughter called to let me know Liz passed away unexpectedly after rotator cuff surgery. At that time, I was at our Florida home and our community had just built six dedicated pickleball courts. On behalf of my friend Liz, I felt compelled to see what pickleball was all about.

After playing pickleball every day for a week, I was hooked. Eventually I became a beginner instructor in our Florida community. When I taught, my motto was, “paddles up to the heavens for Liz.” I loved remembering her that way and the players enjoyed hearing about her. I teared up every time I mentioned her, and still do.”

What inspired you to become a USAPA ambassador, and what impact have

you seen from your efforts in growing the sport?

“When I returned to Allentown, PA in May of 2012 (I’m a snowbird), I had no one to play pickleball with. So I taught all my tennis friends (who actually knew Liz), at the time, we chalked lines on a tennis court, and the rest is history. 

I researched pricing for painting lines on a tennis court and communicated with Upper Macungie Township. In 2013, the township painted lines on one of the three tennis courts. Finally, in the third year, all three courts had painted lines on the tennis courts for pickleball.

I offered free beginner lessons to those interested. I learned quickly, if you teach them they will come. They started coming in droves after I created a FaceBook group for the Allentown, PA Pickleball, ABE area. Everything was great for picklers, BUT the tennis players were not happy because we monopolized the tennis courts.

My Long Beach Island (LBI), NJ USA Pickleball Ambassador friend, Karl Lombel, recommended I become an Ambassador to promote pickleball in the Lehigh Valley. So I applied and became a USA Pickleball Ambassador. We petitioned Upper Macungie Township for dedicated courts, and showed up at the township meeting along with 100 players. Our wishes were granted, they approved our own pickleball facility at Grange Park with 12 dedicated outdoor courts.

I was present when Leigh & Anna Leigh Waters were introduced to the sport after they evacuated Florida to Leigh’s parents' Neil and Ann Eichelberger’s home in Allentown, PA. We played at Prater Park and I taught them the pickleball rules.

Before the tour wars and COVID, I housed Dekel Bar for a year because he couldn’t return to Israel. Simone Jardim was looking for housing for some of the pros visiting Florida and so it all began. Ben and Hannah Johns, Adam Stone, and Steve Deakin all visited me. But that was then, they all weren’t making much money and Simone knew I could help them in some way. Dekel is like family to me and always will be. 

Another funny thing,  I was at Kristen Clemmer and her husband Troy’s pickleball wedding in Ventnor, NJ. I may have been invited because I was their first referee at a tournament. Beautiful people. I’ve known her since she graduated high school. 

I’ve refereed all sorts of women from the area, including, Taylor Hartman, Hannah Rose Nussbaum, Kristen Clemmer, Anna Leigh Waters and especially Leigh Waters. I also refereed Renee Hollander and the US team at the World Cup in November, 2024 in Peru. All delightful women.”

As a referee, what’s the most challenging part of officiating a match, and what’s the most rewarding?

“The rewards outweigh the challenges. I’m a Philly girl who can handle just about anything.

The most rewarding part is being a registered referee trainer; watching referees you trained and mentored grow, while following their journey to become a certified referee. That really warms my heart. It’s all about paying it forward and helping others. The time we spend with trainees is priceless.”

Have you ever had to make a particularly tough call during a match? How did you handle it?

“It happens now and then. If you know before any situation occurs how to handle things, you will be prepared for everything.

SELL IT with confidence, but at the same time be fair and reasonable. I am a firm believer that kindness matters. The #1 responsibility of a referee is to interpret and enforce the rules and that’s what I preach to trainees.”

What advice do you have for players who are interested in getting involved in

officiating or becoming an ambassador for the sport?

“As far as refereeing, become a champion member of USA Pickleball and contact a trainer in your region. Also, you can contact your local ambassadors. They will help you find a trainer and are extremely helpful. The referee community is like a family. We work as a team and help one another.”

What’s been the most defining moment in your pickleball journey so far?

“My most defining moment was passing my evaluation to become a certified referee. It’s not an easy process, but extremely rewarding. I love playing, teaching, training and especially refereeing.”

What do you think makes the Northeast pickleball scene unique?

“I am so happy they are building so many indoor facilities throughout our area. Clubs are opening everywhere with seven to 20 indoor courts. That was desperately needed for the growth of the sport”

What advice would you give to women looking to get into pickleball?

“Contact your local ambassadors for resources. Contact me and I will personally assist you. Once I have ladies in a beginner group they immediately exchange contact information, then their friendships begin.

The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) is having a women’s only tournament in October. That means all referees, head referees, employees and players are women supporting Breast Cancer Awareness month. I look forward to refereeing this special event to show how much women matter.”

Who inspires you in the sport—past or present?

“Mark Peifer, the former Managing Director of Officiating for USA Pickleball, is my inspiration. Mark is a head referee for the APP Tour and also the Head Referee of the US Open in Naples, Florida. He’s a great role model for referees. Mark is always there for you in a positive manner and gently takes you under his wings.

He taught his referees the 3 Ds of refereeing - Discipline, Decisiveness and Discernment:

• Discipline - Behave or work in a controlled way, often to achieve a goal.

• Decisiveness - Sell it. Know the rules. Give quick answers to appeals; foot fault, right foot, momentum.

• Discernment - Enhance player experience. Use what’s in your toolbox. Be fair and reasonable.”

What’s one thing you’d love to see change or improve in pickleball?

“Line calls are the biggest problem in pickleball. What other sport do players make their own line calls?

What I like to point out when there are arguments with a referee regarding line calls (when appealed) is there’s a Code of Ethics for Line Calling. We should all respect one another’s calls. ‘Players are responsible for calling the lines on their end of the court

(excluding short serves, service foot faults and all non-volley-zone faults, if being called by a referee). If a player makes an initial line call we need to respect that call if the referee did not clearly see it.’”

If you had to describe your pickleball style in three words, what would they

be?

“I describe my referee-style as fair, reasonable & kind—I want to give the players the best experience possible.”

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The Female Pickleball Titans of the Northeast is a Lindsey Leigh Creative storytelling series celebrating the women who are shaping the future of the sport. 

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