By Kevin Klipstein
One of the main motivations for my taking this job was to be part of an effort to make squash more broadly accessible to play, watch and become more known to the world outside of squash. Having squash available only to those few who could afford to join clubs, and tournaments seen only by members of those clubs, had always left a bad taste in my mouth. It seemed like I knew everyone involved with squash, and while in some ways that is part of the sport’s charm, I also saw it as a sign of stunted growth.
People such as the visionary social entrepreneur Greg Zaff started to change all of this nearly 15 years ago when he established SquashBusters in Boston. George Polsky followed with StreetSquash in Harlem, and soon a movement was born. Equal to the incredible influence these programs have on the hundreds of scholar athletes these programs impact each year, has been the impact these programs have had on the squash community, and naturally on U.S. SQUASH as a reflection of that community.
No longer does the squash community exclusively focus inward. Instead hundreds of squash players volunteer at urban squash programs across the country. They tutor and coach the students. They form deep relationships that last years and pass on their love for squash, often rediscovering it themselves in the process. U.S. SQUASH’s own vision and mission recently transformed from one that was rules oriented and competition focused to one broader than the sport. U.S. SQUASH’s vision is for all people to have the opportunity to enhance their health and well being through the sport of squash.
Consistent with this vision, U.S. SQUASH fully took on the management of the U.S. Open for the first time this year. You’ll read in this issue about the 2011 Delaware Investments U.S. Open Squash Championships which:
•Hosted 84 athletes representing 23 countries, featuring 22 of the top 25 men and the top 8 women in the world.
•These athletes competed for the largest ever U.S. Open purse of $175,000 in prize money, in the largest spectator venue for any squash event ever in the US, with tickets available for as little as $5.
•The second U.S. SQUASH Assembly coincided with the U.S. Open and attracted more than 40 leaders from across the country, with nine District Presidents attending and nearly half of all Districts represented.
•Four new U.S. SQUASH Hall of Fame inductees were announced and current members honored. Crowds were entertained in the Expo by manufacturer displays, free giveaways and Squash Zone activities including, Top Speed, Shot Maker and Wii Squash.
•This Open was one of only two combined Men’s and Women’s World Series events worldwide and was supported through the generosity of 17 official sponsors and 10 official partners.
•A total of 17 distribution partners globally helped the event reach a potential of nearly 300 million homes during the broadcast of the semifinals and finals.
The scale and success of this event was made possible through the generosity of the sponsors and patrons, and the deep support Drexel University provided at every level. The Philadelphia squash community took notice with three clubs hosting Qualifier draws. SquashSmarts, the local urban program, hosted a day open to all Philadelphia Public School students and parents.
Why this is consistent with our vision and why I am so excited about this year’s U.S. Open has to do with the fact that by promoting the sport at the highest level, we celebrate the best in the world, while at the same time we accomplish the goals of increasing the availability and awareness of squash, and lay the foundation for providing the resources needed to do all of it on a bigger and better scale each year. The event is both an end in itself, and a means to an end. It was a promising beginning of a new era for squash. How do I know? I saw the line for player autographs form after the finals. The line was literally more than a hundred deep with people of all shapes, sizes, ages and colors, none of whom I had ever met before.
