The global pandemic had a serious impact on grassroots Squash; in terms of accessibility to Squash provision in higher Tier labelled areas – but post-lockdown, we ask how can we revamp the sport to appeal to young people.
Each January kicks off the start of competitive junior Squash season with the prestigious British Junior Open in Birmingham; a key event that helps raises the profile of junior Squash athletes from across the world.
However, because of overseas travelling restrictions and the new Covid variant cropping up, and Birmingham going into Tier 4 lockdown, could have a negative impact on squash provision, as some children will lose interest in the sport.
So, what needs to revamp interest in the sport amongst young people? Well, the following solutions are workable and cost-effective:
Get schools more involved
In the past, we have stressed the importance of Squash within secondary schools, in areas with a strong BAME community background. Our suggestion is post lockdown, the PE curriculum needs to factor in Squash, as it is a sport that has proven to have substantial health benefits.
Funding will not be an issue as the local authority sports development can help, especially if the programme has key benefits for children playing Squash.
Let us not forget there are the School Squash championships, so having Squash on the PE syllabus could drive encourage school children to take their lessons to the next level by competing in tournaments against their peers and also potential bragging rights for Principals too.
Forge stronger relationships with local media
The local media is a great platform for local sport, (if the newspaper is FREE), with news stories on Squash at a local venue – whether it is a fundraising tournament for the local NHS or local health charity.
If a local Squash team is taking part in a regional tournament, whatever the result could generate more interest with parents/guardians’ influence in getting their children to play Squash with a local academy.
Get local (blue chip) business to back programs
Like any blue-chip brand, they will look to raise their profile in a local community of one of their key towns, so backing a local Squash initiative would be the ideal solution further Squash has proven health benefits too and the mantra in the new normal is healthy.
It would be ideal for financial services sponsoring local grassroots Squash, – a FinTech brand, as it’s one of the fastest growing enterprises in the money sector.
Why? Well, let us not back in the day most city professionals would play Squash after work or use the sport as a deal maker.
Establish a stronger development committee
To a quote on teamwork by a philosopher:
“There is strength in numbers, and if we all work together as a team, we can be unstoppable”
Anon
Having once been a part of a Squash development board, focusing on local Squash provision, this quote applies to having all Squash venues large or small come together to safeguard provision in the local community.
If we put into the context of a large venue and small venue, how the two can work together is hosting a local tournament for players of all abilities to compete for the title of local Squash champion in various individual categories, alongside the team categories; perhaps a local league.
This would help save local venues and raise more interest in the sport in the local community.
For instance, in Bromley – a South London borderline Kent town there are five venues with excellent Squash provision – two of which are commercial but tournaments amongst the Squash players young or old (like a levels team tournament) could generate more interest in the sport.
Build outdoor Squash courts in key areas
Outdoor Squash Court (Image credit: ASB Squash Courts)
In the last few years, we have seen the rise of outdoor Squash venues across the world, especially among our US cousins, more recently in South America, there has been an initiative to develop the first outdoor Squash courts in El Salvador, which will make accessible to the public.
Given the COVID-19, outdoor Squash is rapidly becoming a solution to helping the sport in the lockdowns with venues forced to shut down to prevent infection.
The UK needs to establish outdoor Squash courts soon to keep the interest alive during the pandemic, as people who love the sport will become rusty in playing.
Final Thoughts
We are now in the new normal, something that is a wording that becoming popular in society.
In terms of Squash, the sport needs to build upon the technological innovations that take place indoors with other initiatives to maintain the interest in the sport.
From a grassroots perspective, the solutions mentioned can be implemented to help foster a new generation of squash players in the post-COVID-19 world.
Let’s hope that come 2021 Squash can be at the forefront of people’s minds as a sport that can help health and much more.
