From US Squash Boxing out the Ladder of Inference

By Kevin Klipstein

The word ladder invokes images from every walk of life. Step ladders, rope ladders, the corporate ladder, even the fire department’s ladder truck. Whatever image you conjure up, it most certainly involves enabling one to climb and ascend to heights previously unreachable.  As US Squash continues its ascension, both in growing the sport and in the benefits we offer our membership, the ladder serves an increasingly important role.

You may have heard of the “Ladder of Inference.” Simply put, this concept, developed initially by Chris Argyris, a Professor Emeritus at Harvard Business School, is a model that describes an individual’s mental process of:

  • Observing situations and collecting data
  • Choosing selected data based on personal judgments, beliefs and assumptions
  • Drawing conclusions and then taking action

Our beliefs influence which data we select and reinforce the beliefs we have. This concept applies to just about everything, including what people think about US Squash. I get plenty of constructive criticism and suggestions on how we can improve the Association and the sport. Some even express a concern that we appear so focused on growth that we are looking past serving those who are currently in the game. When I hear this, I often try to encourage the person not to jump up the “ladder of inference” before they have the current data. Growth is not an objective in and of itself for US Squash, but a result of our work to make the game more rewarding, attractive and accessible to people.

…any promoter may now run a US Squash Box Ladder. Using our software, it’s simple to set up and easy for individuals to report results online that count towards the players’ rating and ranking.

Evidence of programs we offer to engage current players appears wherever you look, from city leagues to sanctioned tournaments. And now, we’re offering our own ladder concept. In the last issue, Jay Prince’s Publisher’s Note could not have offered us a better lead-in to the US Squash Box Ladder program. Jay longed for “friendlies,” or matches set up independent of a team league or tournament, to count in the ratings and rankings. We are excited to take a major step in this direction by offering US Squash Box Ladders.

Most of you have likely seen a box ladder at your club or school, where players of similar skill are grouped in “boxes” and play each other in their box once, recording the match score in the grid. Once everyone has played, the top finishers move up a “box,” the ones at the bottom of each box move down.

District Squash Associations (formerly “local SRAs”), squash pros, coaches, or any promoter, may now run a US Squash Box Ladder. Using our software, it’s simple to set up and easy for individuals to report results online that count towards the players’ rating and ranking. Encourage your squash professional to start up a US Squash Box Ladder at your club, or if you’re in a smaller city, contact your District Association leaders to set one up, or just call the national office directly.  It’s free to set up, and current members pay a discounted $5 per quarter, while non-members pay only $10.

So before you climb the ladder of inference about the value US Squash provides the everyday player, answer this question: Have you played in a US Squash Box Ladder?