Massachusetts Squash Junior Committee

A Preview of the 2007-08 Season

The leaves are beginning to turn, early this year with the lack of rain, and signal an early beginning of squash season. Summer camps have given way to fall clinics, and the junior tournament schedule with more events this year than last will swing into full action in October. October also marks the beginning of many activities which have helped to build the Massachusetts Squash Junior Program to its current prominent standing in the US Squash junior ranks. Some of the details are below, but be sure to check this area of the Massachusetts Squash site for activities, updates, results and entry forms. Entry forms for junior tournaments will also be on the US Squash web site (www.us-squash.org).

Tournaments

This year’s schedule is posted on both web sites. Locally sanctioned and other national or regional tournaments are scheduled on virtually every week-end from late September to early April. Included are the four local events below from which players will be chosen for year-end Improvement and Sportsmanship awards. The sanctioned events count towards national rankings where our juniors have been well represented. The Junior Committee this season will run four major tournaments: the Dana Hall/Cross Courts Open in late November, the Massachusetts Junior Open and the Frank Millet Championships (a US Squash selection event) in January and the Massachusetts State Championships in early March. A new addition this season is the University Club Silver (for players ranked nationally below #32) in December which now accompanies the established Harvard Club Silver tournament in February.

Rankings

Massachusetts Squash rankings for the past six seasons are posted on the web site. The 2006-07 rankings are derived from the national rankings where four sanctioned events plus passage of the referees test are required. More information on rankings is available on the US Squash web site. Virtually everyone who meets the requirements has a chance to be ranked, hence a national/local ranking is always within reach. We are very pleased that so many local juniors are nationally ranked. All tournament players are reminded that they must have passed the US Squash’s Level D Club Referee examination to be eligible.

Junior League

The Junior League@Murr, sponsored by the Junior Committee, holds six sessions of round robin squash for beginner to intermediate players. These sessions are held at Harvard University’s Murr Center, on Sundays from 2:00PM to 3:30PM and from 3:30PM to 5:00PM depending on the player’s level. This part of the League is a fun, but competitive afternoon of squash, preparing players for competition in US Squash sanctioned tournaments and school matches. All juniors are welcome and will be placed on teams by Azi Djazani, the League Co-ordinator.

The Junior League@Dana Hall is a new program starting this season, geared toward older, more advanced players. These sessions will be held at the Dana Hall school in Wellesley on Saturdays from 5:00PM to 7:00PM. Match results will be available on the US Squash Ladder section, without affecting the players’ official ranking.

More information is available on (www.msrajuniors.org).

Exhibitions and Clinics

Throughout the season the Junior Committee schedules exhibitions, usually when a world class professional is in town. These exhibitions usually include a clinic with attendees. Referee and coaching clinics are also scheduled during the season.

Web Site

The Juniors' link on the Massachusetts Squash web site will be the latest source of information on junior activities. The site will also feature pictures and results from events as well as articles. The Junior Committee can be contacted at juniors@ma-squash.org for further information.

Newsletter

The Junior Committee will publish articles, results, pictures, etc. to some extent in the Massachusetts Squash newsletter but will not have a separate newsletter. The web site is a more efficient and time saving method of communication.

We look forward to an exciting and rewarding season for junior squash this year and welcome all suggestions and comments.

Massachusetts Squash Junior Committee
Sharon Bradey
Mike Loucks
Libby McClintock
Gary Rubin
Azi Djazani
Chris Spahr
Jim Sullivan
Lenny Bernheimer
Suzy Schwartz
Bill Nimmo
Rich Schaefer
Tom Poor, Chair