Western Mass Squash » US Squash

Northampton, MA — As we start 2009, WesternMass-Squash.com has changed its look.Â For our first article in the new format, here are notable squash links from the end of 2008.

Tim Baconâ€™s Science of Squash Coaching:

Baltimore Examiner:

For city kids, the game of squash brings hope

Alex Beamâ€™s Squash the Blog:

The Squash Revolution Will Not Be Televised – Interesting perspective on why squash will not earn an Olympic bid for 2016.
Hangin’ At the Simon – Alex Beam visits Williams College.
Talking to Mr. Big – William Simon, Jr.Â started playing at Williams.

College Squash Association/SquashTalk:

NY1:

StreetSquash Facility Opens In Harlem – Western Mass native and Vassar alumna Katie Siegel is in the video.

Professional Squash Association:

Richard Graham Departs PSA – Graham leaves after only seven months.

Squash Canada:

WSF Sets Up Olympic Task Force

Squash Republic:

A squash player’s Christmas list

Squash Rochester:

â€˜Tis the season to be â€¦on court!

SquashSite:

Telegraph:

Richard Graham quits Professional Squash Association

US Squash:

11 Reasons for PAR 11
U.S. SQUASH to Adopt PAR 11 Scoring System – The only surprise in this announcement is that PAR 11 is effective immediately.

Williams College:

Successful Week of Training, Coaching, and Playing for the Ephmen in California

Women’s International Squash Players Association:

30 Months Notched Up for Nicol David

Squash Links for December 2008

Western Mass Squash — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:07:55 +0000

Northampton, MA -Â Here are links to get you caught up on last monthâ€™s squash reading:

Tim Baconâ€™s Science of Squash Coaching:

Skype Coaching for Squash!

Alex Beamâ€™s Squash the Blog:

College Squash Association:

Lancaster Online:

F&M serves squash to city students: Sports program aims to open college gates

Market Watch:

SL Green StreetSquash Center to Open in Harlem

Mount Holyoke

Allen Fitzsimmons Named Interim Squash Coach

New York Times:

Stretching: The Truth

Skype:

Smith College Squash Blog:

Smith College Squash Preview

SquashPlayer:

Squash Rochester:

High expectations from the Yellowjackets

SquashSite:

Squash Thearter

SquashTalk:

Squash presents stronger-than-ever case to IOC

US Squash:

Welcome to Our New Home!

World Squash:

2008 Purple Cow Open – Gold Junior Squash Championship

Western Mass Squash — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:55:26 +0000

Williamstown, MA – On December 13th and 14th, Williams College will host the 2008 Purple Cow Open – Gold Junior Squash Championship.

The tournament will have draws for boys and girls in the following divisions: under 19, under 17, under 15, under 13, and under 11.

Participants must complete the Purple Cow Open’s registration form and submit payment for $75 by December 8th.

Please visit the tournament’s website, SquashAndBeyond.com, for additional information about the event.

US Squash Launches New Site

Western Mass Squash — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 02:51:59 +0000

New York, NY — US Squash has officially launched its new website.Â Although still building content, USSquash.com will serve as the portal for the national governing body of the sport.Â According to the official announcement, the site will be growing over the next few months:

Like any new home, we have a long â€œpunch-listâ€ of changes and improvements still to work through to finish the site, so please be patient. Be sure to check back as weâ€™re adding new content to the site literally on a daily basis.

If you have bookmarked the old US Squash site, US-Squash.org, the site has been disabled. However, that address will redirect you to the new website.

2008 Amherst Fall Classic (Photos)

Western Mass Squash — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:58:42 +0000

Amherst, MA –The Amherst Fall Classic, a US Squash-sanctioned Gold Open Junior Squash Tournament, got underway this morning.Â This year, over 20 players are competing in the boys and girls under 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19 divisions.

For more information about the event, please visit the Amherst Fall Classic website.

Below are thumbnail photos from the under 19 match between Anthony Zou and Rishi Jalan and the under 13 match between Haley Connor and Amanda Whelan.Â Click on the thumbnails to view a larger version of each photo.

2008 Amherst Fall Classic – Gold Open Junior Squash Tournament

Western Mass Squash — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 03:39:59 +0000

Amherst, MAÂ — On October 17th through 19th, Amherst College will host the second annual Amherst Fall Classic.Â The tournament is a US Squash sanctioned Gold Open Junior Squash Tournament.Â There are draws for boys and girls under the ages ofÂ 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19.

Traditionally, Gold tournaments are open to all junior players. US Junior squash also has Silver and Bronze Tournaments.Â Silver tournaments are open to juniors ranked below 32nd in their age group, while Bronze tournaments are open to players ranked below 64th in their age group.

The tournament will be played at Amherst’s ten court Davenport Squash facility.

For more information about the event, please visit the Amherst Fall Classic website.

Squash Links for October 2008

Western Mass Squash — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:58:01 +0000

Northampton, MA – As the crisp autumn air enters Western Mass, many people return to thinking about squash on a daily basis.Â Below are October 2008′s links of the month to help begin the new squash season.

Tim Bacon’s Science of Squash Coaching:

Alex Beam’s Squash the Blog:

CNN:

Egyptian Squash Mania (Video) – Video about Egyptian squash and world number one Amr Shabanam

Squash360:

Squash Site:

Changing the Scoring

SquashTalk:

US Squash:

James Zug’s The Direct:

Pick a Scoring Method

Western Mass Squash — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:17:10 +0000

Northampton, MA — Squash has three different scoring methods: Hand-in-hand-out, Point-A-Rally, and Professional Scoring. How many sports have three scoring methods? It is confusing for players and fans. Let us review the specifics of each scoring method.

Hand-in-hand-out (International) Scoring: The server, on winning a rally, scores a point; the receiver, on winning a rally, becomes the server. Games are usually played to nine points; however, if the game is tied at 8-8, the receiver may decide to play the game to 9 or 10.

Point-A-Rally (American) Scoring: The winner of each rally earns a point. Games are usually played to fifteen; however, there are complex tie breaker methods. According to the North American Singles rules, at 13-13, the first player to reach 13 chooses one of the following options:

Set to 5 points (18 points for the winner)
Set to 3 points (16 points for the winner)
No set (15 points for the winner)

At 14-14, presuming the game never reached 13-13, the first player to earn 14 points chooses one of the following options:

Set to 3 (17 points for the winner)
No set (15 points for the winner)

Professional Scoring: In 2004, the Professional Squash Association adopted point-a-rally scoring. Games are usually played to 11; however, at 10-10, a player must win by two points. Until June 2008, the score of tie-breakers was reported in a questionable manner. If the tie-breaker game ended 15-13, the score was reported as 11-10 (5-3). Now, the score is reported as 15-13. Women’s International Squash Players’ Association (WISPA) will begin using Pro Scoring in July 2008.

Are we confused yet?

Most recreational and tournament players use the hand-in-hand-out scoring method. This scoring method allows for long games in which players are content to trade serves without feeling immediate pressure.

PAR scoring is played with a sense of urgency. Games and matches may end extremely quickly. More tournaments are being played with Pro scoring. The quicker games allow for easier match scheduling. In addition, many players believe the shorter games in a tournament are easier on their bodies. According to the May 2008 edition of Squash Magazine, the World Squash Federation is conducting a feasibility study for developing a single scoring system. The magazine states that matches are around 30 percent shorter using Pro Scoring.

Squash needs to pick a scoring method. The same scoring method is needed for the PSA, WISPA, colleges, prep schools, and recreational squash. James Poole’s recent piece (“What’s the Score?“) discusses the Olympic implications of a consistent scoring method and consistent tin height. From a common sense point of view, a single scoring method would only have positive implications. If recreational players cannot explain or understand the scoring method used in professional or international play to a novice, how can squash be taken seriously?

Poole’s theory about consistent tin heights between the PSA and the WISPA has merits, but squash is not the first sport to have different size equipment. For example, men’s and women’s basketball have different size balls and rims. Yet, all basketball is scored by the same method. In addition, the inconsistency between the size of basketballs in the men’s and women’s game may be attributed to the average size of men’s and women’s hands. In squash, a consistent tin height should be established, but a consistent scoring method should be the top priority.

Will squash choose a single scoring method anytime soon? It is doubtful. The different national associations (US Squash, Squash Canada, etc.) must all decide to adopt a single method. Only then will squash become easier to understand for the casual fan. The Olympics may be out of reach without a unified scoring method.

MSRA Grand Open — Regional Skill Event Results

Western Mass Squash — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 01:40:19 +0000

New York, NY — Over the weekend, Leisure League member and Belchertown resident Steve O’Brien visited New York City to play the MSRA Grand Open – Regional Skill Event. The tournament was a tune-up for the US Skill Level Championship (Nationals). The winner of the Regional Skill event received free entry into Nationals. O’Brien cruised through the first few rounds of the 4.0 draw. In the finals, he lost 9-7, 9-4, 9-3 to finish second in the tournament. Great job Steve! (Link to tournament draw)

Squash Covered in Northampton Newspaper

Western Mass Squash — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 22:14:54 +0000

Northampton, MA — In the July 31st edition of Northampton’s Daily Hampshire Gazette, squash is discussed in the health section. This was a national story that was originally published in the Los Angeles Times. In the article, Smith Alumna and US Squash President Jeanne Blasberg is quoted in the article.

Local MSRA Tournament Results

Western Mass Squash — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 17:03:56 +0000

Boston, MA — Leisure League members Steve O’Brien (Belchertown) and Jonathan Spencer (Longmeadow) competed in the annual state tournament.

O’Brien followed up his strong performance in the US Squash Skill Level Championship by playing the 3.5 Division of the MSRA State Singles Tournament. He defeated Theodore Lee, Jim Ogletree and William Mackey to reach the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals, O’Brien defeated Reed Sussman, the number two seed in five-games. Unfortunately, in the semifinals, the third seed, Robert Lunkoto, narrowly defeated O’Brien by a score of 3-2. (Link to the tournament draw)

Spencer competed in the 4.0 Division of the tournament. He had 3-0 victories in the first four rounds of the tournament as he defeated Blake Godbout, Josh Howland, Pankaj Tandon, and John Theberge. In the semifinals, Spencer defeated Michael Arends by a score of 3-1. Facing top seeded Jordan Berns in the finals, Spencer won in four games. (Link to tournament draw)

Congratulations to both O’Brien and Spencer.

Local Player in US Squash Skill Level Championships

Western Mass Squash — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 01:08:41 +0000

New York, NY — Last weekend, Leisure League member and Belchertown resident Steve O’Brien travelled to New York City to compete in the 3.5 division of the US Squash Skill Level Championships. O’Brien cruised through the first five rounds before ultimately losing to Rob James (Warren, NJ) in the finals by a score of 0-3. Congratulations Steve! (Link to tournament draw)

Wesleyan Open Squash Tournament

Western Mass Squash — Tue, 02 May 2006 01:24:39 +0000

Wesleyan, CT — Wesleyan College, just south of Western Mass in Wesleyan, CT, will host an USSRA sanctioned tournament on the weekend of May 6th and 7th.

Wesleyan has eight glass-backed international squash courts. Matches will be played between 10 AM and 7 PM each day to allow for local travel.

Entry fees will be $15 for students and $30 for “adults.” Please contact Shona Kerr to sign up.

Additional Information: