In Support of Squash – Five Ways You Can Help

So, I donated £10.00 to the PSA Foundation in support of squash. I know it’s just a drop in the bucket. But, the way I see it, every bit counts.

It’s like the starfish story. You can’t save all the beached starfish. But, you can save one by throwing it back into the ocean.

It’s been nearly a year since I picked up a squash racquet. It’s not for lack of wanting to play. The once hard-to-get club courts remain closed. The squash court in my apartment building is also shut in compliance with city regulations.

So, I played outdoor tennis in the summer. I subscribed to Peloton.

With COVID restrictions, it felt like one step forward, two steps back. Squash courts continue to remain under lockdown.

My plans to watch the Oracle NetSuite Open in San Francisco and the Tournament of Champions in New York fell through. Both the high-profile tournaments, cancelled.

If I played squash for a living or depended on its ecosystem — coaching, pro-shop, and the like — I would be in trouble.

Unlike tennis, squash players’ earnings are modest at best. The pandemic hasn’t helped.

It’s difficult to attract fresh talent when they can’t train or find a clear path to a successful career. Squash, as a pro sport and club sport, needs all the support it can get.

It will come down to the fans and sponsors who support squash.

There is power in numbers. The short-squeeze drama initiated by Redditors on the subreddit r/wallstreetbets has demonstrated that. There are over ten thousand members on r/squash. That’s a sizeable group.

If fans can find ways to pull together to support squash, that would help.

Heart and hope alone won’t do it.  

If you are wondering how you can support squash, here are five possible ways that you can.

Support squash tournaments

Why not attend squash tournaments in your area? Top-tier squash tournaments are in a class of their own. From PSA’s major tournaments to the Challenger and Satellite series, you may find a tournament near you that you can catch.

Lower-tier tournament organizers often look to billet players. You may be able to assist by accommodating a player for a day or two in your house.

Join the PSA Foundation or Contribute

Money talks. The annual membership to the PSA Foundation sits at £25 and comes with some benefits. More importantly, the money goes to sustain the sport and its players. If membership is not for you, you can choose to contribute an amount that you can afford, which is what I did.

Leverage technology to stay connected

The one good thing that has come out of COVID-19 is the online creativity of ordinary people. From YouTube videos to podcasts to blogs, there is no shortage of free squash-related material online. However, if you are serious about your squash, you may want to check out sites like SquashSkills that take training to the next level.

After watching a series of Serena Williams videos on MasterClass, I realized that no squash player had been featured in it. Apps such as MasterClass and TopCourt enjoy a fair amount of popularity. While it is unclear the criteria used by these platforms to pick “coaches,” it would be nice to see players such as Ramy Ashour, Nicol David, and others get a shot at it.

Help find sponsors for local squash tournaments

Due to the nature of the sport and the relatively smaller number of fans it draws, squash is seldom on corporate marketing teams’ minds. However, many squash players work in Insurance, IT, Finance, and Retail, where marketing teams hold budgets for community-focused promotions. Even a small sponsorship, such as an advertisement on the tin or prizes for winners, can make a difference to lower-tier satellite tournaments.

Follow safety practices

Squash and social distancing do not mix well. Following established safety protocols in your community is essential to ensure that clubs can open and let players back in for regular play. One or two spreader incidents can quickly change that. Let’s make sure that does not happen.

So, go ahead, support squash any way you can. Spread the word.