by Ted Gross
A simple comparison of the number of entries in last month's British Nationals and this weekend's US Nationals should alarm everyone associated with promoting the sport in the United States.
Women's Open:
British: 16 draw with 16 qualifier
US: 8
A total of 8 women enter the national championships!
Men's Open:
British: 32 draw with a 44-man qualifier
US: 16
16 players in your national championship and you are trying to go to the Olympics?
Men's 35's:
British: 20
US: 4
You can't even set up a draw in the national championship - you are reduced to a round robin!
Women's 35's
British: 8
US: 0
8 in the British Nationals 35's is dismal as well, but ZERO?
absolutely right, it a sad state of affairs in the US. its all about getting into college which shouldn't be the total goal, thus too many college grads then stop play especially on the women's side. enter the game for the right reasons for christ sake!
ReplyDeleteToo expensive to play. 50 bucks no shirt, please!!
ReplyDeleteIt's still a country club sport here, really. Many of those juniors and college players would continue to play if they could find a club or a court that didn't require three references and a massive initiation fee.
ReplyDeleteUS Squash could be talking to Park and Recreation Departments, or really supporting the conversion of racquetball courts ($1000/crt is clearly not an incentive), or at least protecting the public courts that do exist instead of watching them get closed down.