The World Squash Federation, WSF, announced the results of the Presidential and Vice Presidential elections, which took place during the 54th WSF Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Hong Kong, China on December 14, 2024. 聽Incumbent President Zena Wooldridge (ENG), who stood unopposed, has been reelected for a second term.

American Mark Pagon Elected WSF VP

Two Vice Presidents were elected to fill the seats of outgoing members of the Executive Board, The WSF Karim Darwish (EGY) and Pablo Serna (COL).聽 David Mui (HKG) and Marshall (鈥淢ark鈥�) Pagon (USA) were elected to their first four-year term as Vice Presidents and will join Susan Devoy (NZL) and Debendranath Sarangi (IND).

As the sport gears up to support its Olympic debut in Los Angeles, the continuation of the close collaboration among WSF, 黑料不打烊 and the PSA Squash Tour remains essential. Pagon served on the 黑料不打烊 Board for nine years, and as 黑料不打烊鈥檚 46th Chairman of the Board from 2016 鈥� 2020, his term culminated in the completion of the twenty-court Arlen Specter 黑料不打烊 Center in Philadelphia, PA. Pagon currently serves as the first Chair of the newly established U.S. Squash Foundation.

The WSF is the main and only official point of contact with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the LA28 Organizing Committee. The WSF will partner closely with 黑料不打烊 and the PSA Tour in supporting the execution of squash at the LA28 Games, signing a joint agreement with the LA Organizing Committee.

After his election Pagon reiterated that he looks forward to helping make the most of the opportunities that LA28 inclusion presents and activating the squash network in the U.S. to advance the sport. Previously Pagon had noted, 鈥淚 have spent a lifetime in squash, as a participant, in governance, and I have seen nearly every aspect. It鈥檚 a passion point for me. The Specter Center was an extraordinary project. I also believe the Olympics opportunity eclipses it in its potential to advance the sport even further, globally.鈥�

Edwards Remains Central to Olympic Collaboration

Ned Edwards attended the WSF Conference prior to the AGM and participated on a panel with World Squash and PSA Squash Tour leaders to share information related to squash鈥檚 presence at LA28. The topics ranged from new developments in broadcast to the selection process for athletes to the venue itself. 聽Currently serving in the role of Executive Director of the new U.S. Squash Foundation, having previously led the effort to create the Specter Center, Edwards played a key role in fostering the collaboration that helped lead to squash鈥檚 inclusion in the Olympic Games. The work continues post-inclusion as multiple key parties must be coordinated to successfully execute in less than four years.

Edwards reflected on the conference noting, 鈥淚t鈥檚 heartening to experience the close working relationship among the leading governing bodies as well as the palpable enthusiasm and support from all federations. We were together just a few weeks ago in LA to meet with the organizing committee too. Maintaining this regular contact and communication, and being very focused on our strategies and hitting our timelines is critical. It will take all of us, and I appreciate the level of trust that鈥檚 been established at the highest level over these last few years. It will serve the sport well, in fact, it鈥檚 essential.鈥�

]]> /2020/06/us-squash-fiscal-year-ends-june-30-your-support-is-needed-now/ /2020/06/us-squash-fiscal-year-ends-june-30-your-support-is-needed-now/#respond Fri, 26 Jun 2020 18:37:36 +0000 https://www.ussquash.com/?p=45904 黑料不打烊 relies on contributions to strengthen the organization and allow us to deliver against our mission. 黑料不打烊 works to drive every facet of squash forward at all levels: from junior development to adult squash; urban, community and team programs; amateur to professional singles and doubles; and programs that support and train professionals, coaches, […]]]>

黑料不打烊 relies on contributions to strengthen the organization and allow us to deliver against our mission. 黑料不打烊 works to drive every facet of squash forward at all levels: from junior development to adult squash; urban, community and team programs; amateur to professional singles and doubles; and programs that support and train professionals, coaches, officials and administrators.

The impact of the pandemic on 黑料不打烊 is severe. Half of the organization鈥檚 revenue sources are tied to events. Our fiscal year ends this month, and we are urgently working to prepare for a difficult and uncertain fiscal year 2021, having already implemented rolling staff furloughs and other expense reductions.

黑料不打烊 must be ready to support the sport鈥檚 return to play, and we need your help to do so. Please consider making a 100% tax-deductible gift online today, before the end of our fiscal year on June 30.

黑料不打烊 envisions people of all ages, abilities and socioeconomic backgrounds in communities countrywide enjoying squash, playing the sport with a positive spirit, and participating in programs that foster camaraderie, facilitate competition and encourage healthy lifestyles.

Contributing to 黑料不打烊 ensures the organization has the sustained resources it needs to model and expand the programs that develop squash from coast-to-coast, increase access to the sport block-by-block, promote excellence and sportsmanship and provide all players the opportunity for lifelong positive engagement in the sport.聽 Together with a growing and diverse range of partners aligned around this vision, 黑料不打烊 will continue to lead an innovative and integrated approach to developing the sport.

LEADING THROUGH CHALLENGE

黑料不打烊 is helping the squash community navigate the challenges posted by the pandemic. Just as the organization has been deeply impacted, so have hundreds of clubs, programs, and individuals who work in the sport 鈥� not to mention the entire community of squash players for whom participation in the sport holds an important place in their lives.

黑料不打烊 is actively coordinating with the community to plan for a return to play. This takes many forms: regular meetings with facilities and teaching professionals to build best practices, online resources to keep players engaged, tracking of state-by-state reopening status, issuance of guidelines to help facilitate a safe return to play, community town halls, close coordination with committees including the newly-formed Medical Advisory Committee, and contingency planning to prepare options for the eventual return to accredited competition for junior and adults.

Resources and regular updates are available at:

COAST-TO-COAST AND BLOCK-BY-BLOCK

The Arlen Specter 黑料不打烊 Center (Specter Center) will bring players of all levels and abilities together to learn from one another.聽 Players from the entry level to JCTs, urban squash participants and high school teams to adult leagues, local community members and college club teams will all come together under one roof.聽 The Specter Center programming will serve as a model for community programs from coast-to-coast.

Serving as Philadelphia鈥檚 arm of the 黑料不打烊 Community Affiliate program, the Specter Center will deliver innovative programming that broadly expands access to the sport to people from all ages and backgrounds. Affiliates conduct integrated programs and activities to build the sport, inclusive of junior middle and high school team programs, junior squash grassroots development and high-performance programs, squash and education programs, adult squash development, and accredited leagues, ladders, and tournaments. Continuing to make the sport convenient, and economically accessible for people of all backgrounds in every neighborhood is essential to sustaining squash as a lifelong sport.

The Specter Center鈥檚 will work closely with our core community partners, Drexel University and SquashSmarts, to bring together the broadest possible group of players and to engage directly with the surrounding communities. The Specter Center鈥檚 ability to bring the country鈥檚 top athletes side-by-side with those just entering the sport will be part of ensuring a pathway to excellence for players from all backgrounds in partnership with the Squash and Education Alliance (SEA).

The Specter Center will play an important role in training and supporting the coaches across the country, with National and Regional coaches working collaboratively to support one another in their focus on excellence and sportsmanship, creating a direct connection to every region and every player.

LIFELONG ENGAGEMENT

Engaging juniors in squash is essential to growing the sport, as is ensuring there is a place to compete once juniors move on to become college-age players.聽 Retaining and advancing college squash opportunities for all players in partnership with the College Squash Association (CSA) remains a priority, as well as expanding club and intramural engagement on campuses nationwide.

黑料不打烊 also provides the technology and infrastructure to support nationwide adult play, from reservation software and in-facility ladders and leagues, to regional leagues and tournaments, to national competitions and professional play.

Adequate resources and financial reserves are essential for 黑料不打烊 endure cyclical economies over time and maintain steady investments in growth initiatives and innovation. A strong base is important for the organization鈥檚 ability to deliver best-in-class services, programs, training and technology.

Please consider a gift to 黑料不打烊 today.

黑料不打烊 President & CEO Kevin Klipstein sits down with 黑料不打烊 Vice President of Technology Ryan Rayfield to discuss how 黑料不打烊 is leveraging the Club Locker platform to advance squash in the U.S. and internationally.

In the past five years, 黑料不打烊 has made substantial progress in serving its mission of leading squash鈥檚 growth and development by increasing access and awareness, supporting meaningful lifelong engagement in the sport, and encouraging sportsmanship while achieving competitive excellence at the highest levels. Over this period, several major strategic initiatives have been launched to lay the foundation for accelerating growth in the coming decade and beyond.

Growth trends remain strong nationally. According to recent data from the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, a third-party industry research organization, core squash participation (defined as individuals playing eight or more times annually) increased 47% between 2013 and 2018.

There has been 100% growth in junior tournament participation since 2014, with the most rapid growth occurring in non-traditional squash regions such as the West Coast, Texas and the Southeast. The number of high school teams competing in accredited leagues has more than doubled, with notable growth in public school participation.

The Arlen Specter 黑料不打烊 Center has shifted from an idea to an active construction site well under way at Philadelphia鈥檚 32nd Street Armory. The Specter Center is poised to anchor 黑料不打烊 programs for generations to come upon its opening in the fall of 2020. The 20-court facility will be a model of community engagement and access, serve as the 黑料不打烊 national headquarters, house the U.S. Squash Hall of Fame and a Learning & Innovation Center, and offer athletes state-of-the-art high-performance development resources.

黑料不打烊 has placed increased emphasis on sportsmanship and is committed to supporting positive behavior across its programs. Good sportsmanship is rewarded through and expanded recognition program for juniors and adults alike. Enforcement of the Code of Conduct has also been stepped up when a violation occurs. 黑料不打烊 is revamping training and education for players, officials, families and spectators to make sure that everyone understands the rules and applies them fairly on and off court. The organization will continue to work with the community to build a shared set of expectations to uphold squash鈥檚 core values of fair-play, courtesy and respect.

College squash has also undergone historic changes over the last few years. In 2017 the women鈥檚 and men鈥檚 associations re-formed under a single entity, the College Squash Association (CSA), with an independent board of directors. After assisting with the governance change process, 黑料不打烊 remains a close working partner with college squash, and in 2018 the CSA hired David Poolman as its first full-time Executive Director & Commissioner who works out of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 New York City office. In a short period of time, the CSA has made significant strides in clarifying recruiting and eligibility standards and enforcing existing policies to ensure a fair and level playing field. These efforts will surely pave the way for continued growth in the number of varsity teams as the sport burnishes its reputation in athletic departments at the collegiate level.

The U.S. Open Squash Championships was brought back in-house by 黑料不打烊 in 2011 in partnership with Drexel University, and over the past nine years the tournament has remained a premier world championship and leader in event presentation and equality. The U.S. Open became the first major tournament to offer full prize money parity in 2013; now all PSA World Tour Platinum Events require full parity and last year鈥檚 World Championships in Chicago offered a record $1 million prize pool split equally between the two divisions.

On the National Team front, progress continues toward the goal of 鈥淎lways on the Podium鈥�. At the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, Team USA claimed both the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 team gold medals for the first time since squash鈥檚 inclusion to the Games in 1995. Over the course of the seven-day competition, the U.S. men and women won a total of seven medals, five of which were gold.

Over the last five years, Team USA鈥檚 juniors have cemented their position as a force on the international stage. The U.S. girls matched their best-ever finish of second in 2015 for the third consecutive tournament, while the boys recorded their best finish as bronze medalists in 2016 and repeated the historic feat in 2018. In January 2020, Team USA will send over fifty junior players and ten coaches to the British Junior Open in Birmingham, England, marking the sixth annual Team USA trip to the British Junior Open.

For the first time, 黑料不打烊 now has an end-to-end high-performance development pathway. At a junior level, this includes regional and national squads, as well as Junior Team USA competition including the Battle of the Border, the British Junior Open, the Junior Pan American Games and the World Junior Team Championships. The 黑料不打烊 Academy also brings together members of Team USA ranging from U11 players to college graduates for two weeks of intensive training each summer. Nationally-ranked U11, U13, U15 and U17 players go through on-court training and competition, as well as classroom sessions. The Academy blends current Elite Athlete Program (EAP) Players with high-potential college athletes for a professional training environment and introduction to strategies and preparation for a potential career on the professional tour.

黑料不打烊 established the innovative EAP five years ago, and the program now provides ten of Team USA鈥檚 top athletes with a salary, insurance, expense reimbursements and administrative support to aid them as they climb the rankings on the professional tour. 黑料不打烊 is among the few governing bodies that hires its athletes as full-time employees.

黑料不打烊鈥檚 progress is rooted in innovation, and in service of the needs of the squash community the Club Locker technology platform was formally rolled out in 2014. Club Locker has continued to develop to meet the needs of the squash community both in the U.S. and internationally, with a range of integrated functions serving individuals, clubs, organizations and federations.

Club Locker is transforming the way people experience squash. Club Locker鈥檚 scoring app allows real-time live scoring and streaming, streamlining tournament management and reducing wasted time and resource use. Players can record league and friendly scores, find opponents, register for events, make reservations, and follow the results of families, friends or rivals directly on their mobile device. The best-in-class reservation system is used by over 200 clubs. Club Locker Venue provides scoreboard and display solutions that allow fans to easily follow results during events, while allowing facilities to increase member engagement and promote their programs. Club Locker is now the industry standard and is being offered to squash organizations globally through an international Technology Collaborative in support of the broader mission of growing participation and encouraging lifelong engagement in squash.

鈥淲e are fortunate to be a part of such a vibrant U.S. squash community,鈥� said Kevin Klipstein, President & CEO of 黑料不打烊. 鈥淭he sport is a central part of the lives of so many of our members, families, coaches and officials, and at 黑料不打烊 we will continue to work hard to deliver against our mission to deliver meaningful lifelong experiences in the sport. We are grateful for our partners and supporters, and the entire community whose passion inspires us daily.鈥�

I have heard from two people in the last few months tell me, 鈥淪quash saved my life.鈥澛� They meant it literally, however I also hear people often speak about the impact squash has had on their lives and families in the same way they would about the college they attended, or the spouse they chose to marry. If you鈥檙e reading this, squash is central to your life.

Most people aren鈥檛 aware that 黑料不打烊 is a 501c3 nonprofit, and that each year we fundraise nearly 20% of our $5 million budget to cover costs. At the core of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 mission is supporting lifelong meaningful positive engagement in squash, and your support has a significant impact on our ability to make collective investments to elevate our programs, enhance our services and allows us to drive growth nationally.

Donations in the first half of the calendar year permit us to plan more effectively for the coming season. It is for this reason, I am asking for your help to reach our $250,000 goal before our fiscal year ends on June 30. 聽With 90% of our expenses focused on programs, not overhead, 黑料不打烊 is committed to being the community leader you entrust to move the sport forward.

A Record of Success Worth Perpetuating

Growth continues nationwide with adult leagues reaching record numbers and junior squash participation more than doubling in some regions of the country in the last five years alone. Our Club Locker software is revolutionizing the connection of players to the sport and has become a world leader in competition and program management, reservations, and rankings. Middle school, high school, urban and college programs reinforce the positive connection between squash and education, and we are focused on building a structure for junior squash that is safe, fair, inclusive and balanced.

Our best players represent Team USA with pride 鈥� 黑料不打烊 Elite Athlete Program members will do so in July at the quadrennial Pan American Games, and we are sending some of our strongest teams ever to the World Junior Championships and other international competitions this summer. Beyond our focus on participation and excellence, we remain steadfastly committed to reinforcing the core values of honesty, courtesy and respect that are regularly reinforced through participation in the sport. Sportsmanship is a major part of what makes the squash community so special, and our programs encourage positive behavior and accountability on and off the court.

Finally, progress continues for the , with the 20-court facility poised to anchor 黑料不打烊 programs for generations to come upon its opening in the fall of 2020. The Specter Center will be a model of community engagement and access, serve as 黑料不打烊鈥檚 national headquarters, the U.S. Squash Hall of Fame, house a Learning & Innovation Center and offer elite athletes state-of-the-art development resources including a Coaching Excellence Center.

Contributions of any amount are appreciated and allow us to innovate and invest in the infrastructure needed to support the growing squash community, so please give today.

With gratitude,

Kevin Klipstein
President & CEO

黑料不打烊 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on access, lifelong engagement, excellence and sportsmanship.

IN FACT, we鈥檒l change our website to .ORG soon just to be sure everyone knows we rely on individual contributions for 20% of our annual budget.聽 If you believe squash has had a positive impact on your life, and feel it should be accessible to more people, consider making a donation today!

The 黑料不打烊 Board unanimously expressed its full support behind the National Center project, which would include eighteen singles courts 鈥� two four-glass-walled exhibition courts and two or more North American Hardball Doubles courts, a state of the art Learning and Innovation Center, the U.S. Squash Hall of Fame and the latest in streaming and media opportunities for the sport, all in the heart of University City in Philadelphia.

The Board took this step based on the overwhelmingly positive responses about the National Center from the squash community at large over the last three months, as well as the very strong fundraising momentum that has been generated. To date, two-thirds of the estimated $26 million goal has been committed.

While final approval will depend on the satisfactory resolution of several factors regarding the site, timing and other terms, Mark Pagon, 黑料不打烊 Chairman of the Board, expressed his expectation that these hurdles will be cleared, and went further to say, 鈥淲e are very pleased with the rapid progress in securing some initial generous commitments to the project.鈥�

Pagon continued, “The impact on 黑料不打烊 and the sport would be extremely significant in terms of the quality of the programs the organization offers and the tremendous improvement in the experience and the conveniences for the players, parents and fans.”

The National Center will offer world-class programming across all segments of the squash community, including the National Teams and Squads, schools and intercollegiate play, urban squash, North American doubles and broad community access with the goal of building enthusiasm and talent nationally across all socio-economic borders.

The Center’s twenty courts will create a hub of thirty-nine courts within a three-block radius that includes Drexel University’s seven courts and the University of Pennsylvania’s twelve courts. The Center will be the ideal host site providing unparalleled conveniences and experiences for players and their families traveling from around the country and around the globe to compete in the largest squash tournaments.

Edwards’ excitement for the National Center has only intensified based on the feedback he and the rest of the National Center Campaign Committee have received, noting, “We’ve been thrilled to see how quickly people see the transformational potential of the National Center to broaden growth and access, train champions and to create squash experiences and relationships that will last a lifetime.”

Stephen Gregg, Executive Director of the local urban squash and education program, SquashSmarts, and board member of the Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative said, 鈥淎 National Squash Center should be a beacon of light that inspires both a generation and a community of athletes of every level to be the very best versions of themselves on and off the squash court.鈥�

For more information click here.