Some good points from a discusssion on another board http://www.network54.com/Forum/405153/message/1144837590/Lots could be done

QUOTE:

" As to what the State associations could do better, well I live in NSW, but not in Sydney, and NSW Squash doesn't seem to do anything fullstop to develop the game here at any level other than elite juniors who they hold training camps for occasionally. I see the way many sports promote and develop juniors through my work and the AFL probably does this the best through their Auskick program, although other sports such as League and Union are also very active in this area. I know these sports have a lot more money at their disposal but there are many elements that squash could take from their approach. The first would be to move from our obsession with catering to only the elite players and instead shifting our focus to increasing participation at the "grass roots level" as you say. At present there is very little networking done. NSW squash may not be able to afford development officers but by networking with court owners and schools across the state I'm sure they could find others like me prepared to do some work in schools and at centres to encourage growth in junior numbers. A very simple thing for them to do would be to negotiate with a racket company to produce a starter kit (similar to the kits provided by AFL or League except for squash obviously) to be made available to kids attending coaching clinics etc. When I first started organising my coaching clinics I asked if NSW Squash had anything like this in place and was surprised to discover that they didn't. As a result I have organised, through a racket company and the owners of the squash centre to make a racket & eyewear available for these kids at cost price as part of the clinics that I run. The idea is that if these kids have their own rackets they are more likely to come back and play after the clinics.

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Thanks Ray, I really like your approach.

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hi folks

sorry if i have not been following this post with the interest it deserves. been very busy. some points to indicate where i stand...

• when trying to change things there is always a choice between revolution or evolution. i choose evolutin in this case because with revolution we will end up with nothing.
• the reason i sponsor squash australia isn't because i am a nice bloke (i'm not!) but because
1. i hope to make some money out of my relationship wth them (especially wth my sports business system) and
2. because i think they are trying to do a reasonable job albeit with one hand tied behind ther back and
3. i think there ougt to be a national approach to our problems (if we pull together natioanlly there is a better chance of all the things that come with success)
• to viper... my system involves both operational and computer systems. without going into it too deeply, it is an organised way of managing day to day operations/promotions etc which gives the venue/club the greatest chance of success, using the latest technology available
  
• a big problem is that most managers in australia don't think they need it - they are locked in the sixties!!!
• the infighting in a couple of states in australia at present is an absolute disgrace. they keep travelling in ever decreasing circles and we all know where that leads!
• as for open and frank discussions, just read the annual reports of most state organisations over the past ten years. the way they carry on you would think that they have been tremendously successful - very few of them will face up to their own problems!
• When i worked for squash australia i was universally unpoular with them because I had the gaul to ask the hard questions and to try to provide solutions and tried to introduce the idea of statistics - most of them did not want to know.
• i personally think all state organisations are focussing on the wrong things - it is not up to them to run schools programs - it is up to them to promote and support centres/clubs/coaches that do they cannot possibly do it on their own, they do not have the resources!
• 7 years ago i offered a state director the opportunity to contract out develoment services to my company. all it was going to cost them was the development  funds they recieved from the state government - i was going to pump another 3 times as much in because my sums indicated that the returns would be there - and it was all performance based! they were not interested

don't get me started about change. that's why i do my own thing and am not beholden to anyone.

and another thing - i don't take anything personal and you can argue these things till the cows come home (or the roosters come home to roost whatever he case may be), just stick to the issues as you have all done so far!!

pps just in case you didn't realise, without squash courts we are all stuffed - that is why my focus is and always will be on squash centres/clubs - take a look at the services we are just starting to offer those very people. - there are more to come too.

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 Quote by oldsquashplayer :

"I really think people have to be a lot 'madder' before they unite over this.

I dont know you raystrach so its not personal, and I do have involvement in state level squash, but the usual in fighting etc makes it hard to even have the discussion this website offers. So please dont apologise to international people for what you called 'navel gazing', it's good to have the problem discussed here and other forums."

 

Exactly my point, as I have said a number of times squash seems to need a real bomb under its pants, and as you say take some risks be prepared to get things wrong but whatever they do - try something completely new.

Other sports in a similar position have done just that, as I have said before Golf is a prime example, all involved in the sport stood up and said enough is enough we have to shake the tree, and that they did.

The CEO went on radio and invited everybody to come on and have their say on the direction of the sport, he then convened all the stake holders and got them around a table and out of that has come plenty of new fresh ideas for the game.

The point I am making is that OPEN FRANK DISCUSSION is the first and most important step to facilitate change, until those in charge of the game step forward and instigate all the stake holders of squash to air their views the status quo will continue.

I applaud this web site for offering a platform for that discussion to begin.

Thanks and well done Ray and Rita.

 

Something to add.......

 

I heard someone talking about the lack of medals Canada won this time at the Comm games, very few given their past performances.

The response from Canada was.......

Canada had decided there was much more to gain if they redirected the bulk of their sports funding to grass roots development rather than the elite so they can greatly broaden the participation rate across the country, and this is what they did.............

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 To raystrach

Saying that someone doesnt know squash in Australia, like you did in your response, is simply describing many people in positions of influence in squash in the country right now. The experts....who have watched the sport decline and continued to do things the same way they did in the eighties. Here in NSW we had the same state coach/development officer for over fifteen years and how many kids do you see coming through to be champs now? How many school programs are being run by the state organisation at the moment? And no its not a personal attack, its a fact.

If they knew squash, we would be trying different ways of growing the sport, hell maybe even get it a bit wrong, but maybe a lot right.   

See no matter how bad it is, squash court owners havent yet seen the need to do grass roots development with 'kids' because they are affected by community trends, and their income is now coming from several sources eg gyms, climbing walls etc, nor have the state and national bodies had to because we still have a few top performers, which some of those involved use as evidence of doing a good job.  

I really think people have to be a lot 'madder' before they unite over this.

I dont know you raystrach so its not personal, and I do have involvement in state level squash, but the usual in fighting etc makes it hard to even have the discussion this website offers. So please dont apologise to international people for what you called 'navel gazing', it's good to have the problem discussed here and other forums. Maybe one day they will actually have a positive effect on squash court owners and state and national organisations.

Thanks for sponsoring Squash Australia.

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Am I right in saying your model places the weight mostly on the individual squash centers, ie it is up to them to go out to the schools and to the public at large and build their membership of juniors through their own efforts ? Once the kids are interested they then put in place training, coaching, comps to retain them backed up by a good business model.

I can understand that approach and that seems pretty simple and one would assume center managers would understand this and already have it in place. I get the feeling that is not the case from what you are saying ?

So we have one side covered, ie the squash centers themselves, next :

Given the squash centers/players pay fees ( twice, given tax payer funding) to the State and National bodies what role do you see them taking ?

1. State ?

2. National ?

 

Thanks

Viper

 

Here is the statement in SA strategic plan that cover participation/development :

KRA 4 – DEVELOPMENT AND PARTICIPATION 

 2.1 Coaches Review the Coach accreditation and registration Achieved System

2.1 Coaches Conduct a national workshop for State coaching Achieved directors

2.1 Coaches Conduct a Level 2 and Level 3 course Achieved

2.1 Coaches Conduct a Level 2 Assessors course Deferred to 05

2.1 Coaches Increase coach registrations to 450 Achieved

3.1 Referees Increase accredited referees to 185 Achieved

3.1 Referees Achieve two international referees and 17 National level referees 3.2 Referees Developrules/ refereeing material for HP athletes Achieved

3.3 Referees Develop Doubles referee training programs Achieved

Should there not be reference to developing and retaining participation by specifically targetting beginner/junior programs ? Is that not how a growth pyramid model is built ?

Or is that role hand balled to the State Associations ?

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viper

i think everyone is concerned about the issues raised. i am not disagreeing with the key points, but it does get to me when people pick the wrong targets (as i see it)

i am NOT defending the job that the squash hierarchy are doing. the reason this web sit exists came out of a disagreement with the very same people. rita and i decided we were going to do our own thing when we though the coaching system started to veer off from the required path (as we saw it)

the probem is that everyone thinks they are right. I know what i have done is right because i have the statistics to prove it! that is not to say i have had failures - failure is part of success.

squash has had a number of marketing experts in to provide advice and direction over the past ten years, but no one ever wants to listen to them. I was involved in what was supposed to be a national image for squash - none of the state organisations supported it - they all knew better. no one wants to work together.

i have developed a successful model but few people want to listen - what would i know!!

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Informative post Ray.

 

That’s not to say the original posters did not make some valid points.

 

I remember when I was a kid the squash center was very active in the school sports program, just like the poster said we were taken down to the courts for free lessons and that is how I ended up playing the sport, is the connection as strong these days ?

 

To build the numbers again it has to be through the kids, if the system is not fed from below then surely we will see what we are seeing as we speak (and the posters pointed out) a withering at the elite level.

 

There is little to be gained feeding the fruit if the roots of the squash tree is dying, in the end the whole plant will be dead.

 

I pay fees and I too see fewer and fewer juniors coming though, I see kids at schools that have never heard of a sport called squash, I see juniors having to play in men’s comps.

 

To say "it is down to the individual centers to do the work" seems to be only half the story, the center, its comp players and us the tax payer fund the peak bodies, the peak bodies are charged in their charters to "promote grass roots sport" so I think it is not unfair to look at where the money is going given the sport is dying from the bottom up.

 

Support the elite by all means, but given the chronic ageing of the sport it must be high time to change the balance and focus intently on the kids.

 

I mean we have a number of world champs which is great, but it is having no real impact on increasing participation, so what are we gaining ?

 

And clearly as numbers and quality of world class juniors (as the poster pointed out) is falling sharply it is only a matter of time ( a couple of years as this current crop retires) before both the fruit and the roots will be dead.

 

Direct question :

 

In return for the support over the years, do our current champions have specific obligations to fulfil to the development of the grass roots ? Do they have to do so many school visits ? Do they run clinics ? Do they visit local squash centers and run demo sessions.

 

They may but I certainly not seen any of the above.

 

Yes many are out of the country a lot, does not mean it is impossible, does not mean it can not be done when they are Australian champs, State Champs, after they retire, etc, etc

 

Yes only the very top few make serious money and the rest struggle, but part of the elite funding can go towards facilitating such grass roots input, maybe it does but as I said I have not encountered it.

 

Given we have just had 3months of intense world class comps in Australia which has meant all of our champs are in the country for quite a long time, has much of the above taken place ?

 

Not for second saying this is all easy, but vigorous and open discussion is a vital precursor to change.

 

 

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hi viper and all

sorry to bore our international members with this national navel gazing...

looks like we are on this topic again. the person who is quoted simply does not know how the sport works in australia. (for those who don't already know, I am a sponsor of Squash Australia) ...

• Squash Australia (SA) ( and the state associations for that matter) only have so  much control on how they spend their money.
• The bodies supplying funding eg governments (state, federal), Australian Olympic Committee(AOC), Commonealth Games Assoc (CGA) dictate to a very large extent  where the money is spent
• do we knock back that money  - would you prefer that we were not in the AIS?
• if you want sport to spend mony on the grass roots, contact your local member o parliament and tell them that too much is spent on the elite! that is where the action is!
• The state associations determine what squash australia does. if they don't like what SA are doing they vote the directors out and vote in ones that do what the states want.
• I was Squash Australia's only ever development manager (i quit the post 7 years ago)  the states stood in the way of nearly every initiative we tried to get going -  they will not be told what to do - they know better and most of them do not want to engage the industry because it is too hard
  
• Squash australia concentrates on the elite because that is what the states want. - and that is were the real funding is available  -it is the same in all sports
• it is only sports like afl etc which has huge corporate funding that can afford to employ development officers that can really make a difference centrally
• i was a development officer in central queensland for eighteen months ( we got nothing fronm the state organisation - all money wa raised locally) and we developed our own funding streams including engaging the industry and getting them to support our initiatives
• in australia the squash industry is mainly in private hands you just can't tell them what to do - they do what ever they like
• you can't tell schools what to do - yo just cant walk in and tell them that you are taking a bus load of kids to the local squash centre.
• I should know - i have run schools programs as a private operator - it takes a lot of work to convince schools to do squash and it is not very profitable
  

i am not saying what has been said is not desirable, but just realise that Squash Australia has three full time employees - how far will that go when trying to promote and run programs in centres/clubs across australia.

I have said this before but it is the industry who should be promoting itself. if the gym industry can do it, why can't the squash industry. (old squashplayer make some good points) te industry has the most to gain. My sports management system can be viewed here.

another recent post in this forum one group of players have decided they don't need to support the national structure. all states associations are struggling for survival they are wanting to reduce their funding of the national body.

I am not a fan of the national structure but making it fail will ensure we are left with nothing but a few centres/clubs who have a couple of courts. we need to be active in making sure the administrators do what they should be doing. if not get active and get rid of them.

there are actually players coming through although I agree they are thinning out. getting rid of the elite programs is certainly not going to make ot better.


by the way, do any of the people criticising the sytem actually belong to the system. in other words do you pay some form of state registration or affiliation fees??

most squash players don't.

ps. hagesy, did neil corkery ever rely on someone else to promote his business? please tell us how effective he was in recruiting and retaining players!!  he is an example of how squash centres should be run!

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Its easy to say SqOz should do more, but as you say the resources of the national level organisation just don't stretch to 'fixing the problem' of participation.

There was an interesting article written by someone on a UK squash website a while ago talking about the attempts to gain corporate sponsorship for high level tournaments overseas They said the difference between squash and other 'popular' sports such as soccer, was that the popular sports have a strong base of support in either community level sport or in straight supporters who dont even play the game, just watch it and buy the clothes and paraphenalia.

Squash has always relied upon grass roots support, though whether it can gain a following where there are products and marketing that support it who knows, but thats what the corporate sponsors are looking for in terms of value in return for their investments. They arent charities.  

The first steps though are gaining grass roots inolvement again. Anyone who plays already knows the benefits of the sport. The question is, how to pursuade newcomers of its virtues.

State sports organisations have a much greater responsibility here. But what have they been doing over the past fifteen years except bathing in their own past glory and watching the sport decline. Its sad  that many of the people (not all) in key jobs have simply concentrated on what they like best (yes elite players) and watched the decline and still come forward with the same old stuff asking the players to trust them with the government funds.   

The other thing is that the sport is run by private business owners so that the influence of sports organisations is different. But they could learn from indoor cricket and ten pin bowls both of which have been changing to improve their support. I note that they are much more commercial in approach. 

There are modern ideas out there for rejuvenating the sport but it will take courage that I dont think the 'oldies' have got. Stuff like new competitions that suit todays lifestyle, special treatment for regulars and package deals that cater to a total workout. And getting kids back into the courts to try it. Schools mightn't be able to bring busloads of kids along anymore but then there needs to be new ways of attracting kids along. Agree that the obesity crisis and the need for parents to have safe healthy activities for their kids is an ideal opportunity. Once they try it, we know they will like it and a percentage will stay with it.

sorry to rave on...

 

 

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So true.  It is the harsh reality.

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