Special offer: 10% off for Squash Mad readers in USA and Canada
By ALAN THATCHER – Squash Mad Editor
Trapped at home during the lockdown, squash fanatic Mark Anderson dug out an old card game he had created for his family some 15 years ago. A Eureka moment followed when he decided that a card game based on squash would help to get through the endless days without being able to play.
His friend Joe Russell, who is coach at the Cleveland Racquet Club, was called in to brainstorm some ideas and a new game called Boast and Drive was the outcome.
Mark explained: “Joe and I are both active in the squash community here in Cleveland, Ohio. We’ve been working on squash projects together over the last couple of years, mostly related to the pro tournaments in town. He runs the Cleveland Classic PSA women’s Bronze tournament and I’ve been involved with the Cleveland Skating Club PSA men’s Challenger Tour event.
“The germ of the card game idea came to me during the first days of the Coronavirus lockdown. Fifteen years ago, my wife and I made a card game – unrelated to squash – as a present for our friends and family (distribution of 10).
“Being trapped inside, I dug it out of the closet and I’d been enjoying playing it with my children. I’d been missing squash and thought, “A squash card game could be fun!”
“The version we’re selling is nothing like the idea I floated to Joe. We spent most of April play-testing it and redesigning the rules and the images. We’re really pleased with the result. It’s a 2-6 player game for ages 8-plus. The goal is to complete rounds of squash rallies worth varying points until someone gets to 11.
“A portion of the proceeds of every sale goes to a member program of the Squash and Education Alliance. We currently have for sale a special launch edition which includes a pack of squash player trading cards including one signed by a current PSA pro.”
Mark and Joe are currently shipping only to the US and Canada. Hopefully a distribution system including the UK and other countries will soon be arranged. For readers in America and Canada, you can take advantage of a special offer (see below).
Special offer: 10% off for Squash Mad readers
We’d love to offer Squash Mad readers a discount. Offer code SQUASHMAD at checkout will save 10% off the purchase. Go to www.boastanddrive.com
Pictures courtesy of Mark Anderson