THE STATE OF MICHIGAN SQUASH

Unbeknownst to probably most of you, the Michigan Squash Racquets Association (MSRA) has been a ‘rogue’ entity for the past 7 years at least. They have been unrecognized in the eyes of US Squash. Why this has been so hard to rectify is as inexplicable as it is illogical to me.

The reason behind the separation lies in the fact that the MSRA refused to abide by one of the US Squash rules of membership payment. Simply put, no state association is allowed to offer state only memberships. They must provide full membership to US Squash which in turn includes the state membership. For some reason, the MSRA decided 7 years ago to allow players to sign up as Michigan squash members only and if you wanted to join US Squash as well, you had to register separately with them. The dollar difference? $50. Per year. MSRA annual fee is $25, US Squash annual fee (which includes MSRA) is $75. Not exactly budget breaking.

One of the misgivings holding the unification back is that asking MSRA members to suddenly pay that $50 per year more, that most of them will bail which will in turn leave them with too few members to survive. Firstly, it shouldn’t even be an option, and secondly (at the time I am writing this) there are already 100 people who are MSRA and US Squash members. (22 of which are juniors.) And that’s currently with the option. I agree that some MSRA members will stop paying, but I doubt there will be the mass exodus that some naysayers are predicting. The number of members is already at a survivable level. Recent discussions have brought this issue to a head. While progress was being made within the MSRA board to re-align themselves with US Squash, it has now been thrust upon them with a do-or-die ultimatum.

I won’t go into the details of what that ultimatum was, but suffice to say that the MSRA was looking down the barrel at a very perilous situation. Cooler heads are prevailing and now the ball is rolling in the correct direction.

Soon, the MSRA once again will back into the ranks of the US Squash world. Exactly where it should be.

I am sure many of you are asking, “why is this necessary?” To what benefit is there for the MSRA to align themselves with US Squash? For an extra $50, not including the US Squash magazine every member receives monthly, who cares? All US Squash members receive access to their website and all its member features. They receive a national ranking and rating, can contact other US Squash members around the country, and enter US Squash sanctioned events. Unless you travel to play sanctioned events, on the surface it doesn’t sound like much, but you would be supporting the sport which is extremely important – and in turn that supports Michigan squash too.

US Squash in return already support squash in this state. They provide grants in excess of $20,000 to NUSEA – the national urban squash program who pass on some of that money to help support the Racquet Up Detroit program headed by our own member Derek Aguirre. They also donated $500 directly to the Racquet Up Detroit program through the recent Fundraiser that was held at the DAC on May 14. The pro event ‘Motor City Open’ run at the BAC every year will be part of the US Open Series and will receive national promotion and sponsorship dollars. This is nothing to be sneezed at. And we should be supporting them in return.

However, before we all bow to our knees, reach for the sky and pronounce that we are ‘saved’, much work needs to be done. It’s no secret that Michigan is not the squash Mecca of the US. We do not have hundreds of players playing countless tournaments, nor do we have hundreds of players participating in travel leagues. In fact, the participation level is rather abysmal. Travel league consisted of 2 levels this past season only and a total of 15 teams. Of those 15 teams, only 1 was from the DAC and 1 from the BAC – the two biggest squash clubs in the state. Convincing our members to play in the travel league has proven to be more difficult than convincing the MSRA board to abide by US Squash regulations.

Aligning the association is a big step forward. With all parties pushing down the same path, focus can now be turned to increasing participation. Many things need to be addressed and fixed. Travel League for one, which also now faces another major predicament with the new strict club rules imposed on all Life Time Fitness (LTF) facilities. Many of the teams in the current travel league stem from the LTF clubs around metro Detroit. Without these teams, the league would simply die. However, LTF management (US wide, I presume) have implemented a stringent guest policy (including guest fees), insurance policy, court scheduling policy with team rosters submitted in advance just to name a few hurdles the MSRA have to navigate over. They are basically giving the impression to the MSRA that the travel league is not welcome in their clubs. Suggestions to move the travel league format from the once a week (during the week) schedule to a weekend and then only using the major clubs (DAC, BAC, Windsor and Franklin) have been made and will be discussed over the next few months.

Other topics for improvement include the website; how to increase participation in MSRA run events such as the skill and aged level singles and doubles tournaments; better and more efficient communication amongst all squash players in Detroit and Michigan; how to utilize the tools US Squash offers for all associations with their on-line ladders, leagues, rankings and ratings; increase membership; better scheduling.

I encourage each and every one of you to join US Squash which includes your MSRA membership too. Go to their website listed below. If any of you are in our box ladders which we run through the US Squash website then you are already in their system. Supporting the national body also supports our local one. If you are a squash player, then this is one of the best ways to ensure this sport will thrive in this state. At that only means better competition for you. In the end, everybody wins.

US Squash: https://www.ussquash.com/
MSRA: http://www.michigansquash.org/
Racquet Up Detroit: http://www.racquetup.org/

PUT YOUR GENEROSITY BOOTS ON

By now, most (if not all) of you have heard about the ‘Racquet Up Detroit’ program run by our very own DAC member Derek Aguirre. If you haven’t, then I suggest you click into his website: http://www.racquetup.org/ and read an interview I did with him on this blog: http://thesquashjoint.blogspot.com/2010/11/meet-member-2.html .

It is truly inspirational what Derek is doing and achieving with this program. Many of our DAC members donate their time and help out on a regular basis with either the on-court squash instruction, or in the classroom teaching these underprivileged children from the poorest areas of our city. It is giving all of these kids a chance to succeed in life. A chance they would surely never have a hope of receiving otherwise. But running such a program costs money, and that money must come from somewhere. To run Racquet Up Detroit successfully, Derek relies on the kindness and generosity from companies and individuals that are willing to donate dollars, services, products and time. For example, I know that DAC member Ken Stann, who represents the SVS Vision Company, donated his time and services and gave all the kids in the program eye-exams and then provided glasses to the many that needed them. It is just one of the many ways you could help out too.

On Saturday, May 14 at the DAC, headed by the MSRA, we are hosting the third annual Junior Fundraising Benefit. Starting at 12pm, the schedule is as follows:

• 12pm – Junior exhibition games. These games will include juniors from the Racquet Up Detroit program as well as top juniors from the Detroit area.
• 1:15pm – Derek will speak about his program and how you can help out.
• 1.30pm – Pro Exhibition. I will be attempting to relive the good ‘ol days and pretend to practice what I preach. Who I will be playing is unclear right now. It may be BAC pro Julian Wellings, however I hear the poor lad is having his wisdom teeth removed 2 days prior to the event, which I think would rule him out. It may be Mark Porter from Windsor otherwise.
• 2.30pm – MSRA awards.

So come to the DAC and support these kids, help shape their future. Every single type of donation will be greatly appreciated and needed. The fee to attend is $25 if you register early or $30 the day of. Net proceeds go towards Racquet Up Detroit. Pop and a keg will be provided along with snacks. Your account can be charged for the fee and I will then pass along a check to the MSRA. Or you can pay MSRA directly on the day.

Make a difference in these kids’ lives.

FOR THE KIDS

Do you love this sport? Do you wish you started playing when you were a lot younger? Well, with your help you can give that opportunity to hopefully many future juniors by supporting the 2nd MSRA Annual Benefit Challenge Match and Fund Drive.

On Saturday, May 15 the Birmingham Athletic Club (BAC) will be the gracious hosts this year with tickets/donations priced at $24 (juniors under 16 are free). The squash starts at 12pm and will feature some competition between some of Michigan’s up and coming juniors before the pro exhibition scheduled at around 1pm. I will be fishing my white shorts out from the dark and dusty corners of my dresser and tackling the BAC pro Julian Wellings on his home turf.

All money raised will go towards building the junior squash program in Detroit and south-east Michigan. The future of squash is the juniors. They need your help in order to receive that golden opportunity to take up the best sport in the world.

Click on the promotion above for all the details of the event. For more information on the junior development program in Michigan and how you can help make a difference, you can contact MSRA president Hugh Stalker at hughstalker@comcast.net

SUPPORT YOUR SPORT

It no secret that squash in Michigan is struggling. The travel leagues are hanging on by a thread for its survival, membership is suffering, tournaments are far and few between. When I first arrived 5 years ago, I was aghast at the state of the Michigan Squash Racquets Association (MSRA). There was a complete lack of cohesion, lack of communication, lack of motivation, lack of basically everything needed to successfully promote and manage the sport and my support of the MSRA was, honestly, negligible to say the least.

But, as the ol’ cliché goes, “there is light at the end of the tunnel”. The MSRA’s new president, Hugh Stalker, has injected some much needed energy into the fray. Many new initiatives have been started which include: signing sponsors; establishing a junior program; holding benefit events; providing favorable pricing on equipment; establishing electronic pay; and a much needed revamping of the website.

Of course, at all means diddly-squat without the support of the actual squash players within Michigan. I appeal to each and every one of you to visit the new and improved website at: http://www.michigansquash.org and register yourselves, and sign-up as an MSRA member. Currently, the cost is only $25 per year, but the MSRA needs every penny to grow, promote, and market the sport – your sport - as much as possible. Your support will contribute to everyone’s success.

Clearly, there is a long way to go. The ball has started rolling and your help is required to keep it moving. Presently, the MSRA is not a recognized association in the eyes of the US Squash Association, (for reasons I will not divulge here) which is, I believe, a great pity. However, Hugh Stalker and the MSRA definitely see the importance and advantage of being a recognized association and doing just that is unquestionably one of the goals. It will, though, take a little time, and patience is required before the things in the MSRA are functioning suitably, properly, and efficiently.

While preaching the importance of support, let’s not forget about US Squash itself. You can visit the US Squash website at http://www.ussquash.com/ (also recently overhauled) for all the squash information nationwide. Signing-up as a US Squash member actually includes membership to the MSRA, and of course comes with added benefits which are too numerous to list here. It is certainly worth the money, and your much appreciated membership fees travel even further and help out not only Michigan Squash, but American Squash. We would all be better off.

City A + B Doubles Tournament

December 7-13 @ Franklin Athletic Club—

Test your Doubles skills against the best in Michigan. The City Doubles Tournament has an A and B draw only and all matches must be played at the Franklin Athletic Club.

Registration deadline is Monday, November 30. You can contact me to register or you can contact the organizer, Andy Kollin, directly at andrew.kollin@mckesson.com. You must be a MSRA member to participate.

REPRESENT THE DAC!

Want a great experience and an excellent way to improve your squash, see other clubs, meet other squash players around the city, and enjoy the social aspect of the sport?

Then join the 2009-2010 Michigan Squash Racquets Association (MSRA) Travel League and represent your club!

This is the perfect opportunity to match your skills against players from other clubs around Detroit. Matches are scheduled once a week and half of the matches will be played at the DAC and the other half at the opposing clubs. Each level is scheduled for a different day of the week, but I do know exactly which day that is until all the teams from all the clubs have been submitted.

Teams must consist of 4 regulars per week, and each team will need at least 6 players registered. We need players at the 3.0; 3.5; 4.0; 4.5; 5.0 levels. We can even register more than 1 team per level. Also, we need a motivated and dedicated individual to captain each team, to organize the weekly line-up and make sure communicate with the other teams on the roster. (It sounds like more work than what it actually is).

The season is scheduled to start in October, and goes through to March.
Please e-mail me if you are interested in playing. I need all registrations in by September 28.