(updated 24-nov-09 22:54 )  

Read the original article here

The followup to SquashTalk's opinion piece yesterday was suprising in its breadth

The web is in many ways a passive media, and so when emails and blog posts, and in this case even phone calls , come in then we know that an article has hit a nerve in the squash community.

SquashTalk has received a lot of communication on the opinion piece posted yesterday, and the reader reaction was uniformly in support of the views presented.

We publish here a few of the comments, without posting the names of the emailers:

READER 1: " Dear Editor, That's a great, very constructive article.  It's likely to be well received by all but a few of those who read it.  Unfortunately that few is likely to encompass the entire BOD of US Squash... Best of luck in your very important efforts on behalf of squash." 

READER 2: " This is great. "

READER 3: "Brilliantly stated."

READER 4: " Let me begin to say that Squash as a sport is declining in Quebec

"The club I play in [ name removed ] has dropped all courts (squash,raquetball,hanball) because of declining number of players.

"The one I play at is one of two I believe left. In Canada, the only city that has a somwhat viable Squash culture is Toronto.

"The reason for declining number of players is that there is no thought out program or even interest in the Provincial Squash Associations in bringing in new players to the game. Also the lack of  money.

"No effort was is to attract youngsters with free lessons at clubs. The Exercise clubs are not interested
The loss of players due to injury and other reasons are not replaced.

"Squash has always been a niche sport, picked up at University and as you point out, once out of University, few continue to play. Squash, amongst other racquet sports, is not on the radar of young people. It is not taught in High School. The term Squash is not known to the public who equate the word with a vegetable.

"Now to the U.S.
John Nimick, to whom I weote about the reason for Squash not being accepted in the Olympics,agreed with me that the Olympics are interested in attracting Advertisers to pay for commercials during the Games.
Squash has no recognition in the U.S. public. The vast majority of U.S. citizens do not know the sport exists, do not know the rules, have never seen it played,nor even played it. So there are no advertisers for it!

"I had suggested that the U.S. Squash Federation set up a Web Site which would explain the Game by explaining the game with examples. Show and explain the Court area and it's divisions, Explain the rules ( hit to front wall, one bounce, the way the racquet is swung,etc, show the start of the game- the Serve(s) with an action example and continue with receipt of serve and a rally. Explain the scoring. Educate and get the American public to know that there is a game called Squash!

"This web site can be refered to in all advertising or efforts to recruit players.

"Have players perform in a mobile courts at Community cenres, High Schools, Universities,etc.

"Encourage the State Health agendies to list and promote and teach Squash at the school level as the best Racquet sport with it's ability to promote cardio active results to enable people to combat Obesity,  improve general Health through the exercise it provides.

"Advertise Squash in Sport magazines, on the Sport TV channels as the Greatest Racquet sport in the world. for fun and exercise.  Show some terrific rallys with exceptional shots of players lunging, falling to retrive shots with exciting gets and different shots.

"Offer free lessons to anyone wanting to learn the game.
Advertise the web site and show exciting matches (with commentary) to illustrate the game.

"Target to Black American, Hispanic teen-agers who can't make it in Basketball, Football, Baseball.
Explain the Pro Tour (enumerate the many countries in which Squash is played), and advertise your "looking for American Squash  players to represent the States in the Professional Squash tours.

"Get the World Squash Federation off it's ass to understand the necessity of getting a foothold in the U.S. I don't know if this is possible, as I could not even sensitise and interest them in the necessity of collecting and storing archival visual material for the future generations of Squash players to be able see the great players of the past in action. They don't give a crap even as each year more material is lost in the garbage.

"Unless the above and any other efforts you may suggest are tried. you will never get the critical mass of squash players needed to get advertisers for TV coverage.

"For University players to continue, have the Squash clubs give them a free year membership. If they have children, get the children involved. The Squash clubs may benefit with new members continuing to play and stay.

"I fear for the future of Squash."