Changes Mark 2008-2009 Junior Season
With the popularity of off-season tournaments, both domestically and internationally, squash has become a year-round sport for juniors in the United States. Junior squash players have the opportunity to sharpen their games and keep their competitive edge while preparing for the exciting U.S. Junior Championship season ahead. Participation has never been higher, and with new events being added to the calendar every year, there is no end in sight to the growth of junior squash.
To keep up with the rapid expansion and popularity, there have been several major changes to the Junior Guide this year. While the majority of these changes relate to exposure, ranking and U.S. Championship eligibility requirements, there is also information on ratings and ranking publication schedules, defaults, withdraws and other U.S. SQUASH junior tournament policies. Whether you are a junior player or a parent, to ensure the most enjoyable experience this season, it is important that you familiarize yourself with the 2008-2009 Junior Guide. The entire Junior Guide can be found online at: ussquash.com/juniors
U.S. SQUASH Launches Junior Championship Tour
This season, U.S. SQUASH has introduced the Junior Championship Tour (JCT). The geographic diversity of the JCT will encourage play throughout the United States, allowing players to experience top competition at some of the finest squash venues in the country. These marquee tournaments will be hosted at Yale University (Nov. 21-23), Harvard University (Jan. 17-19), Stanford University (Jan. 30-Feb. 1), and the University of Pennsylvania (Feb. 20-22), and will help determine the team for the 2009 World junior Women’s Squash Championships as well as the U.S. SQUASH squads and the Ontario-American challenge.
The early high-light of the junior season comes in December, when Trinity College in Hartford, CT, once again plays host to the U.S Junior Open Squash Championships presented by Travelers. Last year over 400 competitors from 22 countries descended on this collegiate squash mecca and this year promises more of the same.
2009 will see the U.S. Middle School Championships back at Yale University, Jan. 30-Feb. 1, followed the next weekend by the U. S High School Team Squash Championships. Last year the High School team championships drew a record 750 players, representing 94 teams, making it the largest squash tournament in the world for 2008. With more high school programs being fostered with the help of grants by U.S. SQUASH, this event continues to grow at a staggering rate.
Spring will be in the air when the U.S. Junior Squash Championships (closed) goes back to the Meadow Mill Athletic Club in Baltimore, MD, Mar. 6-8. The U.S. Junior Silver Championships will be hosted by the Fairmount Athletic Club in King of Prussia, PA, the first weekend of (Apr. 3-5), while the Bronze Championship finishes out the season at the nearby Berwyn Squash Club, April 24-26. We wish all of our junior players the best of luck as we look forward to the season ahead.
2008-2009 Junior Championship Schedule
Nov. 21-23
JCT Yale Junior Squash Championships
New Haven, CT
Jan. 17-19
JCT Frank Millet Squash Championships
Boston, MA
Jan. 30-Feb. 1
JCT Stanford Junior Squash Championships
Palo Alto, CA
Feb. 20-22
JCT Univ. of Penn. Squash Championships
Philadelphia, PA
Dec. 20-23
U.S. Junior Open Squash Championships
Presented by travelers
Hartford, CT
Jan. 30-Feb. 1
U.S. Middle School Team Championships
New Haven, CT
Feb. 6-8
U.S. High School Team Championships
New Haven, CT
Mar. 6-8
U.S. Junior Squash Championships
Baltimore, MC
Apr. 3-5
U.S. Junior Silver Championships
King of Prussia, PA
Apr. 24-26
U.S. Junior Bronze Championships
Berwyn, PA
