Squash Social is a New York-based event series that combines squash, beginner-friendly coaching and organized play with music, socializing and community. Designed to welcome players of all levels, and especially those who may be completely new to the sport, it offers a fun, familiar social setting in which to get on court and give squash a try.
With busy schedules pulling us in every direction, the concept ticks a lot of boxes: a workout, a night out, a chance to meet people and, of course, time on court.
Founder Lauren Mariano saw a gap between being curious about squash and knowing how to get involved, particularly for adults coming to the sport for the first time. Squash Social creates that bridge, offering a new pathway into the game while building the kind of community that keeps people coming back.
We caught up with Lauren to find out how Squash Social came about, what she’s learned from the women joining her events, and where she hopes to take the concept next.
Tell us a little about you and your relationship with squash. How did you first find the sport, and what keeps you connected to it today?
Squash is what makes me feel the most alive. If I go more than 48 hours without playing, I honestly don’t feel like myself.
I first picked up squash in high school, when a few friends on the team talked me into trying it. By college, it had become my way of connecting with people. I taught nearly everyone I knew to play, usually in some basement gym with Avicii blasting. That led me to the US Squash Leadership Development internship at Portland Community Squash, and after moving to NYC, I found my way into the women’s squash community at Open Squash.
Through every one of those chapters, squash has given me community and purpose. I’ve met lifelong friends and mentors through this game. And the sport itself has taught me so much. Squash builds confidence, self-trust and assertiveness in a way nothing else has for me, and those are lessons I carry with me well beyond the court. That’s what keeps me coming back.
Tell us about Squash Social. Where did the idea come from, and what did you feel was missing from the squash landscape?
Squash Social really started at work. Every month, I’d bring a group of coworkers to the court, people from all different teams and functions, most of whom had never played before. What I noticed was that our time on court carried back into the office. People who barely interacted day to day were suddenly laughing together, cheering each other on and working better together because of it.
That got me thinking about what was missing in squash more broadly. There weren’t many fun, low-pressure entry points for adult beginners. The sport has a reputation for being intense and intimidating, and if you didn’t grow up playing, it’s hard to know where to start.
So I built the experience I’d want to show up to myself. Something my peers in NYC, or any major city, would genuinely want on their calendar. A night where you get to play, meet new people and leave feeling great, whether or not you’ve ever picked up a racquet.
What does Squash Social look and feel like in practice? What can someone expect when they walk through the door?
The first thing you’ll notice is the energy. It’s warm, welcoming and low pressure. There’s music going, people chatting, and nobody cares whether you’ve played before.
All you need to bring is a pair of non-marking shoes. We have racquets and goggles ready for you. From there, you jump into round robin play with people around your level, and if you’re brand new, coaches are on court to walk you through the basics and help you feel comfortable.
After playing, everyone hangs out for the social part of the night, which is honestly half the fun. We partner with brands we love for activations and giveaways, so there’s always something new to look forward to. No two events are the same, but you’ll always leave having met someone new and wanting to come back.
Who are you reaching through Squash Social that squash perhaps hasn’t traditionally reached very well?
A lot of the people who come to Squash Social are squash curious young urban professionals, but don’t know where to start. Maybe they’ve heard a coworker rave about it, tried it once years ago or have just always been intrigued. Many are also looking for a way to be social that isn’t just another night at a bar.
The biggest barrier I see is the skills gap. Squash isn’t a sport you can pick up and enjoy right away. It takes time to keep a rally going, and two beginners playing each other can spend more time chasing the ball than actually playing. At the same time, a lot of what’s out there, like leagues and ladders, assumes you already have some experience.
So people get stuck in between. They’re interested, but there’s no easy bridge from “I want to try this” to “I can actually play.”
That’s the gap Squash Social fills. We provide the gear, coaching and a room full of people at every level, so beginners get real time on court and actually have fun while they’re learning.
We’re particularly interested in what this model can offer women. What are
you seeing?
One thing I hear a lot from women is that they feel like they need to be “good enough” before they’re allowed to show up. They worry about slowing a partner down, being the only beginner or looking silly on a court where everyone can see them. That pressure keeps a lot of women on the sidelines before they ever pick up a racquet.
A social format changes the whole feeling of it. It’s not a test, it’s a fun night out. You can bring a friend, there are coaches to help, and you’re playing with people around your level, so you get real rallies instead of feeling outmatched. And once you’re off court, it’s just a room full of people hanging out.
We also create moments specifically for women. For Women’s Squash Week, we hosted an exhibition with two world-class female pros, Alina Bushma and Menna Nassar. eeing women play at that level, in a room where beginners are welcome, sends a powerful message that this sport belongs to you too.
For me, squash has built so much confidence and assertiveness. I want other women to get to experience that, and it all starts with feeling comfortable enough to step on court the first time.
What have the women coming to your events taught you about what makes someone want to come back?
They’ve taught me that the environment matters just as much as the game itself. When the focus is on effort and consistency instead of perfection, people relax. They stop worrying about every missed shot and start actually enjoying themselves, and that’s when they improve.
What makes someone come back a second time is almost always the people. I’ve watched women cheer each other on after a great rally, laugh off a miss together and give each other tips between games. That kind of support makes the court feel like a place you belong, not a place where you’re being judged.
And seeing yourself as a squash player doesn’t happen because you suddenly got good. It happens because you kept showing up, and a community showed up for you. That’s what I want every Squash Social to feel like.
Squash Social is also reaching people who may not already be looking for squash. How are they finding you?
Most people find us through Instagram, Partiful invites that get shared between friends and good old word of mouth. Someone comes once, has a great time and brings a friend the next month. Our partners help a lot too. When we collaborate with local brands and small businesses, we get in front of their communities, many of whom have never thought about squash before.
The biggest thing I’ve learned is to sell the experience, not the sport. If you lead with rules or technique, you lose people. But if you show them the energy, the music and people laughing together on court, they get curious.
Our tagline is “your new favorite way to move,” and that framing really resonates. People aren’t necessarily looking for squash, but they are looking for something fun to do, a new way to stay active and a way to meet people.
I take a lot of inspiration from run clubs and wellness events that have made fitness social. Nobody joins a run club just to run. They go for the community and how it makes them feel. Squash can be that too.
What does success look like for Squash Social, and where would you ultimately like to take it?
For me, success is Squash Social being the reason someone picks up squash and never puts it down. That looks like people coming back month after month, moving on to lessons or leagues and building real friendships that started on court.
Next up, I’m excited to bring Squash Social to other cities very soon. I’ve always pictured it as something my peers anywhere would want on their calendar. At the same time, I want to keep growing here in NYC by partnering with more clubs, bringing in brands we love and creating more programming for women.
The bigger dream is to change the story around squash. Instead of people thinking of it as intense or intimidating, I want them to think of it as one of the most fun things they do all month.
Want to experience it for yourself?
Squash Social is partnering with Squash Dudes and Maspeth Squash for Steel Rally on Saturday, October 10 at the outdoor Maspeth Steel Squash Court in Queens.
The World Squash Day celebration will bring together squash, music and community, with beginner play, the NY vs NY One Point Rally, DJs, food and drinks, a headline exhibition under the lights and the Steel Social to finish the night.
CHECK OUT STEEL RALLY + GET TICKETS
And for anyone who likes the idea of trying squash but isn’t quite sure they’re ready, we’ll leave the last word to Lauren:
“Everyone who plays today was a beginner once. You don’t need to be experienced or in perfect shape to show up. You just need to be a little curious.”
Follow @squash.social on Instagram for upcoming events.