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Squash has a great product to sell, but who is doing the advertising? By EDUARDO ALVAREZ – Squash Mad Correspondent Who is advertising squash these days? We all know the conversations in the pub related to growing the sport: “We need to get into the Olympics and then the sport will explode” “We need to [...]

Myyr Squash: Finns foil falling figures by breaking down barriers to welcome new players By LUUKAS RAATIKAINEN – Squash Mad Correspondent Squash needs to be affordable, visible and welcoming, break down any perceived or real barriers to entry, and reach out into local communities to attract new players, according a Squash Club Development Day held [...]

The NYC Squash Renaissance: Reasons for optimism By CLEVE MILLER – Squash Mad Correspondent I have read with interest the ​article by Eduardo Alvarez​ in Squash Mad and ​the response by Guy Cipriano​ published yesterday in the Daily Squash Report. I’d like to comment on Mr. Cipriano’s post. (Shame he didn’t post here. Ed). Mr [...]

Due to Covid, the survival of squash in Rome is increasingly uncertain By MONICA DRUSIAN – Squash Mad Correspondent Squash in Rome is experiencing a period of deep crisis. With a population of around four million people, the capital of Italy has got a total number of 10 courts (three of which are not open [...]

To grow squash, we need to be public, visible and affordable says Toronto club owner Eduardo Alvarez By EDUARDO ALVAREZ – Squash Mad Correspondent COVID-19 has given many of us an opportunity to pause and reflect on many things in our lives including squash. For those of us involved directly in the sport as volunteers, [...]

The pro game is underscored by fitness, but is that frightening off new players at club level? Let’s discuss. By PHILLIP MARLOWE – Squash Mad Correspondent A recent Twitter conversation has me wondering whether squash has focused on fitness too much and is actually losing players because of it. I also wonder what professional squash [...]

PSA ‘cautiously outline a roadmap for the return of the Tour’ By ALAN THATCHER – Squash Mad Editor The PSA are exploring all options in a bid to relaunch the World Tour as soon as possible, although it could be several more months until tournaments are back on the calendar. PSA staff, working from home [...]

Keeping clubs clean and safe: We can’t afford to get it wrong By MIKE HEGARTY and ALAN THATCHER  As squash clubs and federations make plans to reopen facilities – and some already have – I am publishing this article to make readers aware of the huge risks involved at every stage of such operations. The [...]

Laura leads my lockdown recovery as the squash world waits to reopen By ALAN THATCHER – Squash Mad Editor What day is it? Where am I? If you are losing track of time during the coronavirus lockdown, join the club. Right now, under lockdown, my domestic priorities are mowing the lawn every week, nurturing my [...]

Partnership brings global bodies into closer alignment By ALAN THATCHER – Squash Mad Editor The World Squash Federation (WSF) has appointed the Professional Squash Association (PSA) to oversee its communications efforts following a restructuring of the organisation’s PR, media and marketing activities which will come into effect from May 1. Since signing a Memorandum of [...]

How we can approach a ‘new normal’ in squash: with masks and gloves compulsory to start with By RICHARD MILLMAN – Squash Mad Correspondent While we are hunkered down, staying home to allow our amazing front line workers in the hospitals, ambulances, police, armed forces etc to do their brave and essential work in combatting [...]

Olympics sets the standard for the rest of the sporting world By ALAN THATCHER – Squash Mad Editor A leading UK scientist has claimed the postponed Tokyo Olympic Games cannot go ahead next year unless a vaccine has been produced to destroy the coronavirus which has forced the world to go into lockdown. By extension, [...]

As many nations order courts to close, some UK clubs carry on with hygiene advice for members Squash Mad Reporting Team: ALAN THATCHER, JAMES ROBERTS, ALEX WAN Squash clubs across the globe are taking a mixed approach in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Some are closing their doors completely, while others are staying open and [...]

Skills and sportsmanship make it a special occasion in final men’s battle before PSA Tour shuts down By ALAN THATCHER – Squash Mad Editor The quality of the squash was simply breathtaking; brilliant shot-making matched by some unbelievable retrieving. But one of the main talking points surrounding Friday’s final of the St. James’s Place Canary [...]

At the top level, performance takes priority over safety issues By ALAN THATCHER – Squash Mad Editor The subject of eye protection in squash hit the headlines again after England captain Daryl Selby suffered a freak eye injury in his National Championships match against Ollie Pett. With their first round match just a few minutes [...]