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 .

Registration for the 2024 Pan American Masters Games–held in Cleveland next summer, July 11-21–is now available.

The squash competition will be held at the Cleveland Racquet Club and will be open to players of all abilities. Players should sign up through the . For more tournament information, visit .

The 2024 Games will mark the second time squash has featured following the 2016 Games in Vancouver.

Hosted by听, this Olympic-like sports festival for masters athletes, those competing over 30 years old, is expected to be the largest international gathering in Northeast Ohio鈥檚 history. Held every four years in the Americas, the Games will bring over 7,500 masters athletes from more than 50 countries along with thousands of spectators, families and friends.听This event will provide more than $18 million in economic impact to the local Cleveland economy.

Masters athletes and community members who are interested in learning more can

The U.S. Skill Level Championships will be held alongside finals weekend of the 2023 U.S. Open presented by Truist, October 14-15, at the Arlen Specter 黑料不打烊 Center in Philadelphia.

The Skill Level Championships offer draws ranging from 2.5 up to 6.5. All draws will be capped at sixteen players and entries will be accepted on a first-come first-serve basis.

All players participating in the US Skill Level Championships will be eligible for a 50% discount听on general admission tickets for matches on Friday October 13 and Saturday October 14–semifinal and final matches of the U.S. Open.

Secure your spot today and register on the .

黑料不打烊 has announced a preliminary schedule of national championships for the 2022-2023 season. Additional information including confirmed locations will be released in the coming months.

Adult

• 2022 U.S. Skill Level Championships, Philadelphia PA 鈥� October 15-16, 2022
• 2022 Howe Cup U.S. Women鈥檚 Team Championships, Philadelphia, PA 鈥� November 4-6, 2022
• 2023 U.S. Masters Squash Championships, Philadelphia 鈥� March 31-April 2, 2023

Junior

• JCT #1 Allston, MA 鈥� September 9-11, 2022
• JCT #2 Philadelphia, PA 鈥� October 8-10, 2022
• JCT #3 Redwood City, CA 鈥� November 11-13, 2022
• 2022 U.S. Junior Open, Philadelphia, PA 鈥� December 17-20, 2022
• JCT #4 Washington, DC 鈥� January 14-16, 2023
• 2023 U.S. Middle School Squash Championships, Philadelphia, PA 鈥� January 27-29, 2023
• 2023 National Interscholastic Team Squash Championships, Philadelphia, PA 鈥� February 3-5, 2023
• JCT #5 鈥� Houston, TX 鈥� February 10-12, 2023
• 2023 U.S. High School Championships, Philadelphia, PA 鈥� February 24-26, 2023
• 2023 U.S. Junior Squash Championships, Philadelphia, PA 鈥� March 17-19, 2023
• 2023 U.S. Junior Silver Squash Championships, Philadelphia, PA 鈥� March 24-26, 2023
• 2023 U.S. Junior Bronze Squash Championships 鈥� TBC 2023

College

• 2023 National Collegiate Women’s Varsity Team Championship 鈥� February 17-19, 2023
• 2023 National Collegiate Co-ed & Women’s Club Team Championships 鈥� February 17-19, 2023
• 2023 National Collegiate Men’s Varsity Team Championship 鈥撎� February 24-26, 2023
• 2023 National Collegiate Individual Championships 鈥� March 3-5, 2023
• 2023 National Collegiate Doubles Championships 鈥� March 3-5, 2023

Doubles

• 2023 U.S. Century Squash Doubles Championships 鈥� January 13-15, 2023
• 2023 U.S. Squash Doubles Championships 鈥� March 10-12, 2023
• 2023 U.S. Junior Squash Doubles Championships 鈥� April 14-16, 2023
• 2023 U.S. Parent & Child Squash Doubles Championships 鈥� April 21-23, 2023
• 2023 U.S. Mixed Squash Doubles Championships 鈥� April 28-30, 2023

Hardball Singles

• U.S. Hardball Squash Singles Championships 鈥� April 28-30, 2023

For the last decade 黑料不打烊 鈥榮 focus has been rooted in its four core objectives: access, community, excellence and sportsmanship. This remains the case today, and now, kids have the opportunity to raise their voice in a direct conversation with 黑料不打烊 President & CEO Kevin Klipstein. The newly established Youth and Excellence in Squash (YES) Advisory Committee will seek input, ideas and collect central concerns of junior squash players in the U.S.听 The committee will meet quarterly to discuss the issues and challenges faced by kids in squash and in youth sports. Interested junior players are encouraged to email Kevin directly at kevin.klipstein@ussquash.org to express his or her interest, including what is most important to them in the sport.

In launching the YES Advisory Committee, 黑料不打烊 seeks to build an important resource in its effort to continue the healthy development of youth squash in the U.S. and the pursuit of excellence. Valuable insight from the next generation will help connect two key initiatives that are receiving more investment by 黑料不打烊: Community Squash and Squash Excellence. These initiatives combine to directly impact increasing access to squash and supporting the ability to pursue excellence regardless of background or means.

Community Squash will grow the sport through a focus on making squash accessible to everyone through community-oriented program models within current facilities, and promoting new community squash facilities serving growing and diverse constituents. Squash Excellence will ensure pathways to excellence are available to the most committed regardless of background, from a range of resources and interconnected programming at the local, regional and national levels including, for example, local junior squads, Regional 黑料不打烊 Community Affiliate activities and full Specter Center high performance programming.

Can we dramatically increase access to squash and in turn, achieve excellence? We say YES Let鈥檚, together.

黑料不打烊 has announced that it will incorporate enhancements into its player rating algorithm this month. Already among the leading rating algorithms in any sport worldwide, the changes will further improve the accuracy of player ratings, and better balance the relative ratings between constituent groups. Ratings will also become more balanced between countries including those outside of the U.S. who also use the rating algorithm through Club Locker. The process of evaluating potential enhancements was triggered by analysis of imbalances in the ratings of players between different groups and in large amounts of new match information entering the system as facilities and countries continue to adopt Club Locker to meet their technology needs.

Player ratings, implemented on the Club Locker platform, take into account matches played by all players and include tournament play, accredited team and box leagues, ladders, and club matches entered on player profiles. Player ratings are designed to be a long-term measure of playing ability. The scale operates from 1.0 for a player just learning the sport to above 7.0 for the top playing professionals. The importance of an accurate, global rating system is heightened in the current time as the U.S. and other countries rely on ratings while only local and regional competition is possible due to the ongoing pandemic.

The algorithm changes will be implemented on September 10, 2020 and viewable on Club Locker profiles. The primary adjustment has to do with how results over time are factored into a player鈥檚 rating: results from the previous 15 months are weighted on a square root function curve with the most recent matches having a weight of 鈥�1鈥� while those 15 months prior weighted at 鈥�0.1鈥�. Results from 15 months to 45 months then decline in weight linearly from 0.1 to 0, respectively. Put simply, a player鈥檚 recent results are most impactful to their rating, resulting in the algorithm being more responsive to a player鈥檚 current level of performance.

Most players in the U.S. will experience a relatively minor adjustment to their rating when the changes are implemented. Furthermore, groups which already have a high amount of cross-competition 鈥� for instance, district team leagues or accredited junior tournament participants 鈥� will see the relative ratings of players within those groups remain in similar relation to one another.

More substantial adjustments will be seen when comparing different constituent groups. Ratings between groups from which there is limited crossover will be normalized to more accurately reflect levels of play. The enhancements will increase the value that ratings deliver to the squash community, allowing players to measure their own improvement and find opponents at their ability level regardless of age, gender, or where they play 鈥� from local to international competition. With the ratings of players from other countries normalized, U.S. players who compete against players from abroad are also protected from disruption of their rating as a result of international competition.

鈥淭he changes we are implementing are part of our ongoing commitment to create world-leading technologies that provide direct value to members of the squash community and lower the barriers for new players to engage with the sport,鈥� said Ryan Rayfield, VP of Technology of 黑料不打烊. 鈥淲e are enthusiastic to take this next step in making our rating algorithm even more accurate and relevant to players in the U.S. and around the world.鈥�

The current 黑料不打烊 algorithm was initially released in 2014 with the generous backing of a major donor and support from third party experts. Since release, periodic improvements and adjustments have been made to the algorithm based on regular rigorous analysis. The algorithm runs an iterative calculation on results from the prior 45 months, looking at both a player鈥檚 own results and also those of their opponents. Increased weight is placed on matches played most recently. The calculation assigns an accuracy weight based on the number of matches a player has over the time period.; e.g., if one player has 50 matches in the calculation and their opponent has 3 matches, there is greater 鈥渃onfidence鈥� in the relative rating accuracy of the player with more matches. Whether a result is 3-0, 3-1, or 3-2 is taken into account 鈥� a three game win is considered stronger than a four or five game win.

The 黑料不打烊 rating algorithm is part of the Club Locker software platform. Club Locker was initially developed by 黑料不打烊 and offers a range of integrated functions including all aspects of tournament and league management as well as a globally relevant rating and ranking system, membership and database management capabilities and facility reservation and program management modules. The investment to create Club Locker was initially funded by private donations and program resources with the goal of creating a sustainable system that provides the infrastructure to support programs and 黑料不打烊鈥檚 core goals of access, community, excellence and sportsmanship.

During this challenging time, 黑料不打烊 is committed to supporting clubs and pros across the country and continuing to share relevant information from the Federal and State governments. Please continue to refer to and follow their guidance for employers and businesses.

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.听 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.听 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.听 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.听 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.

In accordance with the Association By-laws, ARTICLE IV, Section 1, the Association hosts an Annual Meeting of the Members. This year the meeting was held via Zoom Thursday, June 18.

The meeting was led by a panel of 黑料不打烊 Directors and Staff Leadership: Mark Pagon, Chairman of the Board; Soo Venkatesan, Vice-chair of the Board; Kevin Klipstein, President & CEO; Kim Clearkin, Vice President of Programs & Events; and Ned Edwards, Executive Director of the Arlen Specter 黑料不打烊 Center. The purpose of the Annual Meeting is to elect Directors nominated by the Board upon recommendation by the Nominating and Governance Committee to fill upcoming vacancies on the Board, as well as to consider any other business brought before the membership in accordance with the By-laws.

The Staff and Directors provided details on the path forward for the organization and updates on progress towards the opening of the Arlen Specter 黑料不打烊 Center in Philadelphia later this year. Four Directors were elected through proxy and virtual voting: Joe Dworetzky, Nick LePore, Linda Robinson, and Sandy Tierney (). After conclusion of the formal elements of the meeting, 黑料不打烊 members engaged in a question & answer session with the staff and Directors. Q&A topics included the status of the 2020 U.S. Open originally scheduled for November, details on guidelines that would govern a potential return, planned enhancements to the officiating program and an update on the construction timeline of the Specter Center.

The Annual Meeting can be viewed in its entirety below or on the .

黑料不打烊 plans to continue to hold town-hall-style virtual gatherings throughout the summer to provide the most up-to-date information and gather input from members.

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.