Harrow and CSA Sign 3 Year Partnership Agreement
@ CSA, July 10, 2007; (updated on 31-Jul-2007 )

Supplier Agreement to Support Growth of College Squash

Harrow Sports, the diversified sports-equipment supplier based in Denver, Colorado, has signed a three-year agreement with the College Squash Association (CSA) as the official equipment supplier for College Squash.

The agreement creates a partnership between two rapidly growing organizations serving the sport of squash in the USA.  Both organizations have a strong focus on scholar-athlete aspects of the sport, and the combination is a natural one, according to David Rosen, Senior Director of Racquet Sports for Harrow. 

“Harrow sees a great potential for the growth of squash in the USA.  The CSA is one of the organizations that is a catalyst for that growth, and we are pleased to be able to have a relationship with them.”

The partnership is a broad agreement, covering both the regular intercollegiate season and the national championships.  Harrow and the CSA expect to work together both to support the established 95 intercollegiate teams and also to incubate newly emerging teams.  Harrow is providing equipment subsidies to all of the CSA teams as well as financial support to the organization.  In return, Harrow will receive substantial visibility on the CSA website, in all CSA communications and publications, and at the three National Championship events.

This agreement, which names Harrow as the CSA’s “Official Equipment Supplier,” covers squash racquets, bags, shoes, strings, eyeguards, grips, apparel and other accessories.  Rosen comments, “Our unique ability to produce custom products—including racquets, bags and uniforms—will provide all CSA schools with a unique one-stop shop for all of their equipment needs.  We will also be creating Virtual Team Stores for all CSA institutions to make this transition a smooth one.”
 
With this new agreement, Harrow will provide opportunities for each of the CSA member schools—63 men’s teams and 32 women’s teams—to obtain equipment at specially discounted levels.  “This support is especially important to the teams beyond the top-ten teams,” says the CSA Women’s president, Stuart LeGassick of Brown University. “Some teams don’t have the athletic-department funding to provide high-quality equipment, such as racquets and shoes, to their players. Through this agreement, each player on each team will have the opportunity the use the best equipment and maximize their individual and team performance.”

Harrow, known since its inception for eye-catching graphics and trendy colors, will also be providing official tournament shirts for the three CSA national championship events each year.  With Harrow’s focus on squash fashion and bold colors, this aspect of the program will add a dynamic element to the Men’s team, Women’s team and individual national championship events, which boast more than 800 scholar-athlete participants each year.

CSA and Harrow will also be jointly focused on the group of new teams called emerging teams.  These newly formed college programs often are struggling to grow and fighting for funding.  Harrow is committed to helping those programs. “We are especially excited to work with the emerging schools of the CSA as their fledgling programs gather momentum and gain varsity-status,” says Rosen.  “The fact that the CSA is becoming a nationwide association is a wonderful indication of the growth of squash and something we are ecstatic to be a part of.  We would like to work closely with emerging teams in schools across the country such as Tulane, Georgetown, NC State and USC, which all have club programs just starting out.”

“With the dynamic growth of college squash over the past several seasons, we are excited to have Harrow on board to support and be part of the college squash movement,” says John Power, CSA Men’s president.  “As the CSA keeps adding new teams each year and increasing in international visibility, the CSA went out searching for the right equipment partner who would both provide the right level of support to a growing organization but also would have the commitment and energy to work with us as intercollegiate squash grows.  We are excited to have reached an agreement with Harrow, who shares our vision and enthusiasm for college squash.”

The College Squash Association (CSA) is the governing body for intercollegiate squash in the USA. The CSA administers intercollegiate team competition between approximately 63 varsity and club men’s teams and 32 varsity and club women’s teams.  All intercollegiate varsity and club programs in the USA and Canada, from accredited colleges and universities of any size, are welcome to join the CSA.   Three national championships are run annually, which include the Men’s Team Nationals, being held February 15-17, 2008 at Harvard University; the Women’s Team Nationals (The Howe Cup), being held February 22-24, 2008 at Princeton University; and the National College Individual Championships, being held February 29 - March 2 at the US Naval Academy.

Harrow Sports, Inc., based in Denver, Colorado, is a sports-equipment manufacturer focusing on squash, lacrosse, hockey, field hockey, racquetball and tennis.   Harrow serves the international squash market with a complete line of products, including racquets, bags, grips, sweatbands, strings, shoes and apparel.  Harrow distributes to the squash market predominantly through pro shops and specialty retailers and serves the international community through a network of international distributors.  For more information, contact Dave Rosen at 410-472-2834 or dave@harrowsports.com.