Thursday, March 28, 2024

Growing the game

That’s the pro game sorted – now what about squash’s grassroots?

The news that the co-owner of Chelsea FC and the LA Dodgers is to plunge 'significant investment' into top-level squash is a huge tonic...

Lichfield’s resurgence offers hope to ailing grassroots squash clubs

Lichfield Squash Club in Staffordshire, based at King Edward VI High School's two glass back courts, is celebrating a remarkable resurgence following the challenges...

‘How can squash survive? Courts need to be new and shiny, not old and cold’

“All the time I come across a number of people who have discovered squash late in life and they all say they wish they...

County Scene: Delving deep inside the future of squash

We all know there remains a growing uncertainty on the future of squash. While the elite game forges a seemingly upward trajectory, grass roots...

Forward-thinking club safeguards future after £1 purchase

It is perhaps the most astute bit of business ever done by a squash club. For just £1, Scotland’s Lockerbie Squash Club secured its...

Zimbabwean teen hope takes up Egypt squash tutelage

A rising Zimbabwean teen has been training in Alexandria, Egypt ahead of the World Junior Squash Championships later this summer. Ryan Gwidzima, 17, has been...

New international tour gives Masters squash a major boost

A newly-expanded international Masters circuit starts in May and is set to give age-group squash a much-needed shot in the arm after the pandemic. International...

Outdoor squash given fresh momentum

The concept of outdoor squash has received heavyweight support thanks to two significant recent developments in the industry.  Outdoor squash courts such as those at...

5 things with Mathieu Castagnet: We have to bring squash to schools

Squash Mad asks recently-retired Mathieu Castagnet his influences and his current views on the sport Playing for the French national team was a very important...

‘It really makes an impression when you see all these women on court’

In these straightened times, it is not often that Squash Mad gets to report on a boom story for our sport but that is...

Nicol David Organisation receives boost for squash and tutoring project

The Nicol David Organisation (NDO) has welcomed a big Malaysian sponsorship boost to the tune of RM1 million (£185,000), as the squash great’s non-profit...

Welsh squash club fights back after closure threats

A Welsh club says it has “risen from the ashes” following a successful squashathon after nearly being forced to fold. Cardigan Squash Club on the...

‘Squash has taken Singapore to a world standard – We need new courts’

Squash Mad speaks to former Singapore No.1 on players of yesteryear and the future of the sport on the sovereign island Zainal Abidin, a multiple...

How unique twists help Stockholm Squash Club sustain success

Gärdets Squashhall, the home of Stockholm Squash Club, is a three-court facility in a basement accessed straight off the pavement. Across the world, many...

‘We need answers’: Sydney squash club feels council squeeze

Former Australian world champion Michelle Martin has long since battled to save squash courts from meddling councils and developers with little interest in the...

Mike Harris: ‘My quest to save squash left me scarred and miserable’

The immensely popular Mike Harris - AKA ‘Mr Squash’ - has opened up to Squash Mad about the toll last year took on his...

“Don’t listen to the doom-mongers – US squash is in rude health”

Robert Gibralter – pioneer of the famous steel squash court in New York and recently appointed Director of Growth at the Squash and Education...

James Willstrop helps Mark Fuller to continue surge in squash at University of Nottingham

By ALAN THATCHER (Squash Mad Editor) Former world No.1 James Willstrop has joined Mark Fuller to beef up the coaching team at the award-winning University...

Mohamed ElShorbagy caps his first appearance for England with a Nations Cup win alongside Sarah-Jane Perry

‘The new scoring system is edgy and we didn’t know what to expect – but I loved it,’ says Kiwi Joelle King By ALAN THATCHER...

Hurricane halts World Squash Day in El Salvador but the rest of the globe kicks up a storm of energy

Outdoor venues and clubs with interactive courts join forces for a fun day to promote the game By ALAN THATCHER (Squash Mad Editor and Founder...

Nick Matthew leads a day full of fun as Crowborough celebrates the launch of interactiveSQUASH

By ALAN THATCHER (Squash Mad Editor) Nick Matthew is travelling from Yorkshire down to Sussex today to spearhead the launch of interactiveSQUASH at Crowborough Tennis...

Squash makes a big splash in Singapore with some creative marketing

By ALAN THATCHER (Squash Mad Editor) We saw plenty of graffiti around the glass court in Nantes last week for the Open de France inside...

Nouran Gohar the top earner as PSA World Tour prize money hits record heights

By ALAN THATCHER (Squash Mad Editor) The PSA World Tour is hoping that the new season will result in an increase in the record prize...

World Squash Day teams up with interactiveSQUASH to attract new players and support Ukraine

By ALAN THATCHER (Squash Mad Editor and World Squash Day Founder) World Squash Day has announced an exciting partnership with interactiveSQUASH as today (Friday August...

Feeding off the energy and passion in Birmingham, World Squash Day teams up with SquashLab to grow the game

‘Teaming up with World Squash Day is a natural extension of our whole ethos, which is about helping squash communities to grow across the...

Millie Tomlinson beats Grace Gear as Canterbury Women’s Open attracts 41 players to the UK’s first all-female graded event

By ALAN THATCHER (Squash Mad Editor) World No.60 Millie Tomlinson of England battled past compatriot Grace Gear (World 59) to take the inaugural Canterbury Women’s...

Squash Australia aims to revive the sport with four-year plan to develop ‘a strong and sustainable’ future

Focus on four pillars: participation, performance, profile and facilities By ALAN THATCHER (Squash Mad Editor) Squash Australia, in partnership with its State and Territory Members, has...

Snorkelling, cliff jumping and a party on a pirate ship: Adam Murrills on making squash grow in the beautiful British Virgin Islands

‘Staging the Carey Olson Tortola Classic was a dream come true after rebuilding the club following the wreckage of Hurricane Irma’ By ALAN THATCHER (Squash...

Squash Levels partnership with WSF aims to unite players across the globe

By JANE BALL (Squash Mad Reporter) The World Squash Federation (WSF) and SquashLevels have agreed an exciting new partnership to deliver the official World Squash...

Behind the scenes with Omar El Sherbini, a man with a passion and vision for squash

Founder of InSocial says: “We are building ideas to market squash on a worldwide basis” INTERVIEW by ALAN THATCHER (Squash Mad Editor) Everyone in squash knows...

Lee Witham, Part 9: My final point is to stress that technology is the key to building squash’s future

‘We need a fresh approach in a post-Covid world and that begins with understanding costs and how to make squash more visible’  By LEE WITHAM...

Lee Witham, Part 8: How clubs can improve their business performance, and make their venues more attractive to young adults

‘Technology is the way forward to create a new generation of squash players’ By LEE WITHAM (Squash Mad Special Correspondent) I cringe when I hear volunteers...

Lee Witham, Part 7 on Recreational Squash: Why do so many clubs ignore 95% of their members?

‘Do they care about the recreational player? Of course not. Do they care about the fact that most players are using the wrong ball?...

Tomorrow marks 100 days to go when the sport unites for World Squash Day 2022

‘Covid challenged people to create ways of playing outdoors and we look forward to seeing lots of fun events in streets, playgrounds and parks,’...

Lee Witham Part 6: Stars like Ali Farag, Amanda Sobhy and Gina Kennedy shatter the myth that college squash might damage your career

For all the successes, we also need to adopt a more caring attitude to help players avoid burnout  By LEE WITHAM (Squash Mad Special Correspondent) Today...

Lee Witham Part 5: How to grow squash playing numbers and provide genuine community benefits

‘We need to use funds more astutely to attract more juniors’ By LEE WITHAM (Squash Mad Special Correspondent) Squash can be a sport that’s all-inclusive and...

Lee Witham Part 4: The world is a better place with role models like James Willstrop, Nicol David and Roger Federer

‘Win-at-all costs mentality breeds a toxic, abusive culture within all sports’ By LEE WITHAM (Squash Mad Special Correspondent) I love to see talented players performing high...

Lee Witham Part 3: The challenges of encouraging younger players and retaining seniors

‘Let’s raise the tin to 36 inches to make court games more fun for players of all ages’ By LEE WITHAM (Squash Mad Special Correspondent) How...

Lee Witham Part 2: Squash is a brilliant sport with so much to offer, especially the agility that will help your body stay stronger...

‘Squash movements offer so much more than static routines in gyms, but nobody is out there selling the game effectively’   By LEE WITHAM (Squash Mad...

Lee Witham Part 1: Covered outdoor courts are just the starting point for reviving squash

‘Pandemic helped me to focus on new ideas to help this great game of squash to bounce back’ By LEE WITHAM (Squash Mad Correspondent) Yesterday we...