US Squash Mission
To promote, develop and increase participation in squash throughout the United States.
US Squash Vision
Affordable access to squash for anyone in the United States.
Introduction to the United States Squash Racquets Association
(US Squash or US Squash)
US Squash is the official national governing body for squash and is a member if the US Olympic Committee. US Squash governs the affairs of a broad based national individual membership and a club network where squash is played in over 1,000 facilities across the country.
US Squash operations focus in seven main areas:
- Individual and Club Membership: US Squash serves a broad based national individual membership, coordinated with a federation of 35 District associations and hundreds of member club facilities.
- Tournaments, Leagues and Rankings: US Squash sanctions hundreds of tournaments, facilitates the Districts' intra-city leagues, and maintains the official real-time national player ratings and rankings.
- Team USA and Elite Athlete Development: US Squash selects, supports and develops the teams that represent the US in international competition including the World Team Championships, the quadrennial Pan American Games and the annual Pan American Squash Federation Games. US Squash also conducts National Elite Training Squads and international tournament tours for our Junior Elite Squads. US Squash works closely with and receive funding from the U.S. Olympic Committee to develop programs directed to support elite players and our national teams.
- Grassroots Development: US Squash fosters the development of programs to promote squash at all levels, from urban youth enrichment and junior development programs to adult beginner programs. US Squash oversees and conducts Coaching and Referee Certification programs.
- Events and Licensing: US Squash organizes or licenses the fifteen US Championships held annually including the US Open (Men's and Women's) and the North American Open (Singles and Doubles). US Squash also cooperates internationally to run team events including the Lapham-Grant Cup (US vs. Canada) and the Copa Wadsworth (US vs. Mexico).
- Governance and Standards: US Squash governs the affairs of the sport in the US which includes coordination with the World Squash Federation, as a member organization, on the rules of the game. US Squash collaborates on refereeing standards, certification programs, equipment reviews, the setting of standards on the official ball for the sport and has the responsibility to uphold the Code of Conduct. US Squash consults regularly on new court construction bids and projects to encourage expansion of the sport and ensure the highest quality.
- Marketing and Communications: US Squash markets and promotes the sport through www.us-squash.org and the Official Publication, the monthly Squash Magazine.
Interesting Trends in the US
- Youth Programs Adding Diversity - There are currently six urban youth enrichment programs which combine tutoring, mentoring, squash instruction and competition. This is up from one program eight years ago. Several programs will start this fall, including ones in Chicago and Washington DC. For one such program in New York City, there will be a new 10 court facility built in Harlem on 115th Street exclusively for the program. Another program in Philadelphia is building an eight court facility in partnership with the Police Athletic League.
- Increasing Participation - US Squash held the largest three Nationals ever this 2004-2005 season. For the US Championships, over 500 players, the Junior Open, over 450 players from 15 countries and over 300 participants for the US Doubles Championships. All historical record attendance marks.
- High School Program Growth - The second National High School Team Championship held in February saw participation grow nearly three-fold from the previous year (43 seven-player teams, 24 boys' and 19 girls', up from 16 total last year). This competition is additive to the very active prep school interscholastic league in the Northeast.
- College Ranks Expanding - There are currently are 52 men's teams and 32 women's teams registered with the College Squash Association. Seven new club teams joined the College Squash Association men's division in the 2004-2005 season alone. They are USC, University of Washington, Purdue, Notre Dame, Bryant University, Kenyon College, and Illinois indicating rapid expansion west.
- Professional Tour Explosion - Both the Men's (PSA) and Women's (WISPA) Professional Tours pay out nearly the majority of their prize money in the US. This is a recent trend as the Tour expands to cities in all regions of the country from California to Texas, New York and Chicago. Both of these tours are managed in England.
Brief Background on the Sport
- Invented in England in the 1850's, squash arrived in the US in the early 1900's and took root in the elite schools of the Northeast
- Now a global sport, played in over 150 countries by 15 million people worldwide, an estimated 500,000 in the US
- Forbes Magazine recently pronounced squash the best sport for getting and staying fit