黑料不打烊 today announced the launch of its first national Squash57 growth campaign, introducing an exciting and welcoming way for new players to discover squash鈥攁nd for former players to return to the court. Squash57 delivers the same clever tactics, long rallies, and full-body workout people love about squash, while offering a fun, sustainable pathway for lifelong play. Whether you鈥檙e a beginner, a racquet-sport enthusiast, or a longtime squash fan, Squash57 invites everyone to be part of the community.

Launched under the slogan 鈥淪quash57 – Play squash. Your way.鈥�, the campaign highlights Squash57 as an inclusive and accessible way to experience the sport. Played on a traditional squash court with a larger ball and shorter racquet, Squash57 creates longer rallies, a gentler learning curve, and an inviting entry point for beginners, returners, and players from tennis, pickleball, and padel.

鈥淪quash57 gives us a powerful gateway to bring more people into the squash community,鈥� said Linda Elriani, Senior Director of Professional Development and Programming at 黑料不打烊. 鈥淚t is fun, accessible, social, and ideal for lifelong play. With the Olympics on the horizon and the Pan American Squash57 Championships coming to Philadelphia in 2026, this is the perfect moment to build national momentum.鈥�

Squash57 truly is for everyone. From first-time players and those returning after time away, to individuals seeking a more comfortable way to stay active or experienced players looking for competitive rallies across mixed abilities, Squash57 meets players where they are. The format also shines in doubles, where teamwork, communication, and plenty of laughter make for an especially social and enjoyable experience. Across all settings, Squash57 brings people together through movement, fun, and connection.

The campaign will also introduce the inaugural Squash57 Festival Series, welcoming players of all abilities and ratings. Four events across the country will culminate in the Squash57 Pan American Championships at the Arlen Specter 黑料不打烊 Center.

Beginning in January 2026, 黑料不打烊 will roll out monthly Squash57 themes鈥攆rom What Is Squash57? and For Racquet Sport Lovers to Masters & Lifelong Players. These themes will be supported by national storytelling, social media activations, and expanded coach education.

To support access and participation, 黑料不打烊 will provide clubs and coaches with links to affordable starter equipment, along with posters and flyers to share within their communities. Coach education will include a free online Squash57 certification for Coach Pass holders, and clubs nationwide will be invited to showcase their programs through a national spotlight series.

鈥淭his campaign is a key growth initiative as squash builds toward its Olympic debut,鈥� said Kim Clearkin, Chief Programs Officer at 黑料不打烊. 鈥淲ith squash heading to the LA28 Olympic Games, there has never been a better time for people across the country to try our thrilling sport.鈥�

For more information, resources, and updates, visit .

12-week program for 8鈥�11 year-olds will kick off Saturday with instructor training program

Los Angeles (September 16) 鈥� 黑料不打烊, the national governing body of the sport, announced today the launch of an outdoor pilot program for Los Angeles youth ages 8-11 years old. The program, being run in collaboration with the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks and , the regional district affiliate of 黑料不打烊, will be held at two locations this fall as part of the PlayLA program. Eventually, the program will expand to introduce squash to local middle and high schools in the immediate area.

The 12-week program will run from October through December, and kickoff with a training session this Saturday to train 15 instructors from the LA Department of Recreation and Parks and volunteers from the local squash community.

Weekly clinics will target local Angeleno youth at two locations鈥攖he Pecan Recreation Center and Chevy Chase Park. The sessions will leverage existing outdoor handball courts, modeling future programming that can be easily scaled to introduce large numbers of new players to the sport in Southern California.

The provides youth of all abilities access to quality sports available from their local neighborhood recreation center, to inspire and engage the community in the lead up to the LA 2028 Olympic Games. With clinics offered in over 30 sports, PlayLA welcomes all youth to eliminate economic barriers and promote recreation that is inclusive of all communities in Los Angeles.

鈥淭here is tremendous growth potential for squash in Southern California, and we are excited to begin the process of engagement with PlayLA though the training sessions that will occur this weekend,鈥� said Sakora Miller, 黑料不打烊 Senior Manager of Community Programs. 鈥淧iloting outdoor clinics will allow the next generation of players to learn the sport directly within their communities, and will lay the foundation for future creation of school teams and expansion of community squash centers in the region.鈥�

The programming in Los Angeles builds on the momentum of squash in southern California, where Access Youth Academy, a member of the 黑料不打烊 Community Affiliate Network, recently opened a major new community squash center in San Diego that will offer the sport to thousands of new players annually.

For more information, contact community@ussquash.org. For on site information contact Kim Clearkin, 408-679-5019.

黑料不打烊 has announced Portland Community Squash (PCS) as the second facility to be accredited as an official 黑料不打烊 Community Affiliate. The begins the process of developing more formal relationships with key regional facility partners that are closely aligned with 黑料不打烊鈥檚 mission of promoting 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.

Community Affiliates conduct 黑料不打烊 programs and activities to build the sport, inclusive of junior scholastic squash team programs, junior squash grassroots development and high-performance programs, squash and education programs, adult squash development, and accredited leagues, ladders, and tournaments. Community Affiliates receive programmatic assistance including 黑料不打烊 software and support services, regional and national promotion, and coordination on pilot programs focused on creating and testing best practices for growing the sport.

As a Community Affiliate, PCS joins 鈥� first announced in November of 2019 鈥� and will be followed by the , slated to open in December of 2020 in Philadelphia as the permanent home of 黑料不打烊.

鈥淧ortland Community Squash provided the original model that has developed into the Community Affiliate program,鈥� said Kevin Klipstein, President & CEO of 黑料不打烊. 鈥淭he approach they鈥檝e developed will greatly expand the way the sport is accessed 鈥� look no further than PCS to see the future of the game in the U.S. We are grateful for their innovation and leadership, and we look forward to integrating this type of programming at the Specter Center.鈥�

PCS is the culmination of years of grassroots organizing. Greg Born, a co-founder of PCS, began organizing play at the Portland YMCA in 2008, and by 2012 the Y had converted two racquetball courts. Barrett Takesian, the current PCS President and Senior Executive Director, joined the community playing at the Y when he moved to Portland in 2012, and launched Portland Squash in 2013. Rebranded as Portland Community Squash, the organization expanded local participation at the Y supported by league and reservation software from Club Locker. By 2015, the amount of play at the Y reached a saturation point, and PCS turned its focus to pursuing a facility that would house and integrate adult members, junior programs, and an urban after-school program.

PCS pursued multiple development opportunities hoping to lease a building, eventually landing on Congregation Shaarey Tphiloh, Maine鈥檚 oldest continuously operating synagogue. Shaarey Tphiloh had a 1950s-era building on Noyes Street in Portland鈥檚 Woodford鈥檚 Corner neighborhood. It was on the market for $1.2 million. PCS raised $1.5 million, including a $10,000 contribution from 黑料不打烊, and the building was purchased in September 2016. By January 2017, PCS opened its doors for the first time and within months was filling its four courts to nearly 100% daily utilization within months.

In a first-of-its-kind partnership, Takesian and 黑料不打烊 have now come together to provide professional expertise to accelerate the launch of more affiliates. Community Squash programs are now in the exploratory phase in nearly 20 cities across the country. In the role of Senior Advisor for Community Programs, Takesian will focus on improving access, equity and integration within the sport, supporting emerging community squash programs and reviewing community squash applications. Advisory fees for professional services will be partially covered by 黑料不打烊.

鈥淎ll of us at Portland Community Squash are excited to be recognized as a 黑料不打烊 Community Affiliate,鈥� said Takesian. 鈥淪ince opening almost four years ago, we鈥檝e proven that building inclusive, access-focused programs can lower barriers for entry to the sport while forming a sustainable model for future growth. 黑料不打烊 has been an important partner for PCS throughout our development, and we are inspired to see the expansion of the Community Squash model nationwide.鈥�

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 is helping the squash community navigate the current shutdown by keeping players active and engaged, assisting clubs and programs with strategies for a return to play, and planning for the future of the sport.

The aggregates the most current information and guidelines. These resources include the latest news, a squash opening status by state interactive map, community FAQ鈥檚, resources for players, clubs & coaches, and guidelines for resumption of play.

Any resumption of play, competition or other squash activity should be in line with local, state and federal guidance, as well as regulations specific to individual facilities.

Visit the resources page regularly for the most up-to-date information. 黑料不打烊 will continue to work closely with the squash community to aggregate best practices and navigate a safe and responsible return to play. Your feedback is welcome and can be emailed to office@ussquash.com.

Almost three months ago the coronavirus pandemic required both the suspension of squash programming and the temporary closure of facilities across the United States. It has certainly been a difficult time for many in the squash community, however, 黑料不打烊 is facing this challenge and planning for a return to the squash courts. The organization is actively positioning itself to best serve our members who we know are eager to resume play.

During this time, 黑料不打烊 has refocused efforts from event management to the 黑料不打烊 website redesign. The website will feature new resources for users; Club Locker is being enhanced to better support online reservations, league and organized play from club to regional level; and 黑料不打烊 programs are being adapted to cater to an expected shift from national to more local and regional competition. Most importantly, 黑料不打烊 has been working closely with clubs and squash professionals across the country to support them with best practices and reopening guidelines which form the basis of a roadmap for a safe and responsible return to squash.

Return to Play

In order to help players get back on court and begin playing squash again, 黑料不打烊 recommends that clubs follow a phased process for carefully restarting their squash programming – beginning with solo sessions on court, and slowly progressing to intraclub match play, interclub match play, regional competition, and finally national competition. Throughout the reopening process, facilities and players must follow local, state, and federal regulations.

The current set of 黑料不打烊 guidelines for a return to play are available on our , including reopening guidelines, and player and facility resources.

In formulating these recommendations, 黑料不打烊 has been working with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), other national governing bodies, and a multi-disciplinary group of 黑料不打烊 committees spanning Medical, Junior Squash, and Teaching Professionals to determine the best path forward.

The road ahead is long and likely complicated, and 黑料不打烊鈥檚 main concern is resuming play across the country as quickly as possible in a safe and responsible manner.

The Junior Tournament Calendar and Rankings

In order to most effectively restart the junior national competition system, 黑料不打烊 is announcing the cancellation of the remaining junior tournaments through Labor Day Weekend. While clearly an unfortunate decision to have to make, the organization believes this to be a prudent response to a difficult situation, for reasons including but not limited to:

• Regions of the country are currently, and will likely remain for the foreseeable future, in different stages of the reopening process, creating varying levels of player ability to practice and prepare for competition;
• Concerns about travel requirements for many competitors;
• Safety issues surrounding large gatherings and indoor sports competition;
• The need for facilities and tournament directors to work with local and state health authorities, their partners, and 黑料不打烊 to develop safe practices for players and spectators during competition.

In the near term, 黑料不打烊 is prioritizing options for regionally focused events which will limit the need for travel and will promote a safer competition for players and their families. More details on regional competitive options and their possible integration with junior rankings will be communicated over the coming months. A national junior calendar will then be created as conditions warrant and will be developed in concert with community input and our committees. To this end, we ask that all junior squash community families take the time to complete a survey to collect input on the resumption of competition.

National competition will resume only once all regions are playing and juniors have had time to prepare and regain fitness. Junior national rankings will remain frozen until national competition has restarted as the rankings are inextricably tied to participation in tournaments. How rankings will be restarted will be evaluated with 黑料不打烊 committees and the broader community to ensure the process is as inclusive and fair as possible for all competitors.

There are many questions to be answered, and the uncertainty provided by this shutdown places the squash community in a difficult position. While all the answers are not available at the moment, 黑料不打烊 is committed to a smooth restart and we will respond swiftly to new information and communicate details as they become known.

National Championships

The 2020 National Championships remain postponed and options for rescheduling are being explored. Championships would be rescheduled in the fall at the earliest 鈥� competitors will be given adequate time for preparation should this occur.

Looking towards 2021, 黑料不打烊 has set preliminary dates for several junior championships in the hope that national level competition will be able to resume. Those dates are listed below. Should the situation improve enough to be able to proceed with these championships, it is likely that the qualification criteria for these championships will vary from previous years, however, with the opening of the Arlen Specter 黑料不打烊 Center the organization is hopeful that we will be able to host these competitions in a safe and responsible way by this time:

• National Inter-Scholastic Championships: January 29, 2021
• U.S. Middle School Championships: February 5, 2021
• U.S. High School Championships: February 19, 2021
• U.S. Junior Squash Championships: March 12, 2021

Recently, there have been positive signs as squash communities begin to open. Play has resumed in some capacity in many states and all players should ensure to adhere to the conditions outlined by their local authorities and clubs.

黑料不打烊 will continue to do everything in its power to move forward and resume play and competition safely, responsibly, and quickly.

Club Locker鈥檚 digital club management tools are helping to prepare facilities for a return to play in squash and other sports as they consider plans for phased reopening over the coming months.

Club Locker contains a range of integrated functions serving individuals, clubs, organizations and federations. As courts begin to reopen, facilities are evaluating the best methods to maximize player and staff safety and limit person-to-person contact. Club Locker鈥檚 mobile-first platform assists these efforts in multiple ways, including through digital reservations, flexible control over booking policies, mobile payment processing, and robust reporting capabilities about player activity. For players who aren鈥檛 able to play as wide a group of individuals compared to their normal activity, Club Locker鈥檚 accurate universal ratings helps to find a well-matched playing partner.

The industry-leading reservation software provides the necessary capabilities for facilities to seamlessly implement and enforce new booking policies. The system works for reservations across multiple sports and activities, and staff can customize booking times and blackout windows to cycle users through activities with differing entry/exit timelines to aid in social distancing, and to provide appropriate allowances for sanitation. Reservations can also be set for specific numbers of players, including allowing for only solo practice if required by club policy. To aid in the potential need for contact tracing, administrators can easily access reports tracking individuals鈥� usage information and overlap.

鈥淐lub Locker gives us the flexibility we need as we move towards opening the club,鈥� said Rob Whitehouse, Director of Athletics at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia. 鈥淥ur members can maintain their engagement while clearly understanding our updated policies, and we can easily make adjustments as the situation changes over time.鈥�

Facilities can learn more at , or can schedule a walk through and information session by emailing info@clublocker.com.

The original roll-out of Club Locker technology occurred in 2014 and since then, Club Locker has expanded to contain a range of integrated functions serving individuals, clubs, organizations and federations. More than 300 clubs utilize the reservation, league, and club management capabilities nationwide. The software encompasses all aspects of tournament and league management, a flexible rating and ranking system, membership and database management capabilities, facility reservation and program management modules, and dynamic on-site scoreboards and venue displays through Club Locker Venue. Individuals can interact with the app and profiles to follow live scores and their favorite players, find matches, book courts and register for competitions, clinics or lessons.

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.

SquashCares, founded by Sydney Soloway in 2014 and now operating under the auspices of 黑料不打烊, continues to collect squash balls to be recycled and repurposed. Specialized used-ball collection boxes are now available and can be requested by clubs who are interested in participating in the program.

Soloway was inspired to found SquashCares after reading an article about a ball-blanket program in Finland. Having seen firsthand the benefit of weighted ball blankets for individuals with autism and ADHD through her own developmentally disabled first cousins who struggle with hyperactivity, Soloway decided she wanted to make her own ball blankets to help people with disabilities while keeping dead squash balls out of landfills.

Since SquashCares started in September 2014, it has collected over 18,000 dead squash balls. More than 500 volunteers at sewing events have sewn the balls into over 80 ball blankets. The blankets have been donated to autistic individuals and 12 organizations servicing hundreds of people with disabilities.

Clubs that are interested in participating in the SquashCares program can request collection boxes, pictured above, by emailing info@squashcares.org. Balls and other equipment can still be mailed directly to:

SquashCares
c/o 黑料不打烊
55 Eight Avenue, Suite 1102
New York, NY 10018
(212) 268-4090

For more information, visit or email info@squashcares.org

黑料不打烊 has announced Atlanta Community Squash (ACS) as the first facility to be accredited as an official 黑料不打烊 Community Affiliate. The Community Affiliate initiative begins the process of developing more formal relationships with key regional facility partners that are closely aligned with 黑料不打烊鈥檚 mission of promoting 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.

Community Affiliates conduct 黑料不打烊 programs and activities to build the sport, inclusive of junior Scholastic Squash Team programs, junior squash grassroots development and high-performance programs, squash and education programs, adult squash development, and accredited leagues, ladders, and tournaments. Community Affiliates receive programmatic assistance including 黑料不打烊 software and support services, regional and national promotion, and coordination on pilot programs focused on creating and testing best practices for growing the sport.

鈥淭here is a direct line between Atlanta Community Squash and the creation of the 黑料不打烊 Community Affiliate program,鈥� said Kevin Klipstein, President & CEO of 黑料不打烊. 鈥淎 handful of squash and community leaders in Atlanta approached us with an idea, having harnessed their decades-long passion to make squash more accessible. The ACS facility will serve as a model for other cities by offering the full spectrum of opportunities to play squash that integrates junior, adult, scholastic, and squash and education approaches to increase access to squash in an innovative, sustainable way. Over time we expect it will seamlessly integrate with the programming we will run at a national level at the Specter Center.鈥�

ACS is Atlanta鈥檚 newest squash facility, comprising five singles courts, one international doubles court and one hardball doubles court. ACS is also the home of A+ Squash,聽an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization that transforms the lives of young people through the sport of squash and ongoing educational support. ACS seeks to create a connected community through the love of squash driven by its mission to support and empower Atlanta鈥檚 diverse community and to grow the sport of squash. ACS follows the successful model established by Portland Community Squash (PCS) which opened its Maine facility in 2017.

“Atlanta Community Squash is thrilled to be part of the 黑料不打烊 Community Affiliate Program,鈥� said Andrew Bailey, Executive Director of A+ Squash. 鈥満诹喜淮蜢� has advanced the sport in so many ways, and we could not hope for a more exciting partnership opportunity. We are grateful聽to Portland Community Squash for paving the way for us and creating a community-centered model with long-term stability.鈥�

黑料不打烊 plans to announce additional Community Affiliate facilities in the coming months.