I would love Squash to flourish, however have seen the decline from over 7,000 members to less than 500 in Newcastle. I place a lot of the blame on centre managers, especially in regards to junior members. On the NSW Central Coast there is a growing junior base, and so some hope for the game in that area.

I have heard that in some Melbourne competitions that they have reduced teams down to three members, so that you are not finishing so late, thus making the game more attractive to people who start work early.

One popular variant in Newcastle is Masters Squash, with dedicated night, (Monday) timed games, (constant scoring) and handicaps.

The game has some great selling points, which need to be marketed and promoted. Squash is one of the few sports to be under subscribed for the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. This speaks volumes in regards to the health and viability of the game in its current status, (including rules, competition format, game marketing and promotion at all levels). The lack of local support for an event in which we would be regarded as strong competitors does not bode well for the future in this region, nor for any push for Olympic Status.

I do not know what the future holds. I take my kids for a hit on rainy weekends. I enjoy the game, and try not to become dismayed at the lack of concern others show for its chronic state.

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Paul - it is good that you mentioned this point. Ray and I have been involved through the full cycle from explosion to pathetic. My concerns do center in areas of skill development which I have spent heaps of time and effort into persuing, and trialling and implementing programs. In this age of technology, not many youngsters spend their time learning coordination skills through throwing, hitting, catching, etc.and someday in the future leadup games to squash, and other ball sports, will be taught in schools and sports clubs, but that will not happen until fitness levels of children and adults, including health issues. including obesity, becomes an international political concern. Meantime we hope squashgame.info will assist parents,teachers, and coaches in their imagination when channelling children into healthy persuits both in the school yard, and the squash club. It is hard to believe that when we have an all weather sport, indoors, sun-safe, that can be used as a strong marketing tool, they never seem to get a mention; and, besides, in squash even bad shots look like good shots - the ball comes back to you!. There is a lot more to say too, but, anyway - be patient...it is a matter of time.

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Thank you for your very detailed and helpful comments raystrach. I was hoping that my approach would 'be close to someone's heart' and I agree entirely with your optimism about how this great game has a vital future. I will be looking at the game within the context of sociological perspectives and theories, e.g. Foucault, post-modernism, globalisation etc. I would be interested to track the development of your venue operating model as I believe that something like this needs to be presented to major leisure groups who manage public and private squash courts. I am sure you are aware of this, but there is quite a big test case at the moment in the UK involving the 'famous' Lambs squash club. Details can be found at www.save-lambs-squash-club.co.uk.

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dear paul

you raise a number of points very close to my heart, as i have been heavily involved in this area for the past 12 years. i have been involved at every level from local official, regional development officer, national development manager, squash club leasee, coach and service provider, not to mention squash webmaster.

although the situation in australia is different in terms of the facility set up (commercial public facilities, mainly not so many private clubs), from europe and america, what you have described is very familiar.

before i go into why the situation is NOT terminal, let me briefly provide some reasons for the situation.

• the australian population is time poor
  
• sport has become liesure not competition
  
• there is dramatically incresed competition from not only other liesure sports but other liesure activities
  
• venues have become down at heel making them less attractive to younger people
  
• the squash playing population is aging making it less attractive for younger people
  
• the management of squash venues have not kept up with the times and still view squash thru a 60's /70's prism
  
• many venues are in high profile positions which makes the land very valuable - more valuable than the busineses that occupy them
  
• I could go on...

now why i think squash has a a great future

• squash is one of the few sports that everyone, no matter what ability level, can play flat out - at 100%
  
• you can pack a lot of action into 30/45 minutes making it time efficient.
  
• although we do not see it as such, squash is actually an "extreme" game making it attractive to young people if marketed correctly in appropriate venues
  
• squash can be a family pursuit - again good for the time poor
  
• squash is becoming more internationalised - while the traditional squash playing nations are struggling somewhat, the boom is just beginning in asia and south america
  
• technology will allow us to build courts cheaper thus making it a more attractive business proposition
  
• in my experince, the game itself has got a hell of a lot going for it and people of all ages do tend to get hooked if presented in the correct manner.

paul, i have dozens of boxes of documents which go into all of this in detail.

my solution is that we need a venue operating model which is financially viable. as sson as business blieves it can make money out of it, the boom will be on in earnest again.

it will come as no surprise to you that i have been developing such a model which i hope will bring squash venue management into the 21st century. unfortunately there is resistance to such systems.

i have experieced first hand, the thrill of seeing squash numbers explode with the use of appropriate service based strategies and it is just a matter of time that venue managers catch on and start to see some success.

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