So over the past decade, the LTA - charged with developing tennis players in the UK - have had around a quarter of a billion pounds (couldn't decide on italic or bold for that - no HTML attribute quite does it justice) to spend. And have produced ... ?
So it was great to read this week Malcolm Willstrop's thoughts on exactly this subject. He rightly sees the class issue as central to Britain's pathetic record in producing top tennis talent (the one issue that the not-very-great and not-very-good running tennis in this country were most reluctant to give credence to - or discuss seriously - whenever I heard or saw them interviewed over the past few weeks).
Most fascinating was reading of Mr Willstrop's unsuccessful efforts to partner with the LTA to bring tennis facilities to Pontefract.
Given the relatively minuscule budgets that have been used (and continue to develop) develop world class squash players in the UK, it seems that those running tennis might do well to stop looking at other countries' systems for producing players and recognise that there might be something to learn from another sport closer to home.
Pleasingly, I hadn't sighted that old phrase 'the Wimbledon of squash' floating around the squash press over the past couple of weeks: that is until I received promo emails advertising that the British Open will this year be held again in Manchester.
The email mentions that "despite the difficult economic landscape over the past twelve months which has affected many major sports" the BO is going ahead. Which is of course great news (given the event's troubles not too long ago).
But the National Squash Centre again? A great venue in a number of respects - but a braver choice might just pull in more than the regulars.
When Peter Nicol asked me what I thought about the "interactive exhibition" I had just seen, I garbled something incoherent about "crowds getting involved" and "innovation".
Five seconds later our promoter, VIP and resident Squash Legend was delivering a flawless live link-up for a regional news broadcast. I removed my fist from my mouth and pondered some more.
Behind the court the sun set before the final of this year's Canary Wharf Classic. High above a last ray of light refracted through the huge glass arch of the East Wintergarden before receding into the dusk.
Had I just glimpsed squash's future ? ...
I had jumped off the tube just in time to catch the technologically-enhanced warm-up for the sixth final of this tournament. I'm glad I did. Squash and technology
In the last tournament I wrote up I bemoaned the lack of crowd-pleasing interval entertainment. I've also written here before about the sport not taking enough risks with the technology that might be available to enhance it as a spectator sport.
Tonight we had South African pro Stephen Coppinger and England's Peter Barker playing a short game wearing head mics, commenting on their game as they played. This was not the first time I had seen this done - see this great footage of cricketers Adam Gilchrist and Andrew Symonds commentating on a match during play.
We can't expect squash players to comment on their games during competitive matches - but what other possibilities are there?
They were also wired up to heart monitors which gave readouts on the large screen above the court and smaller ones facing sections of the crowd. Again, it probably wouldn't be wise to have this kind of information displayed at every match - but what other possibilities are there?
The speed of each ball hit was displayed it in the front wall via a radar gun positioned somewhere around the court. The speed of squash is one if its main draws, and this kind of thing could (like in tennis) become a fixture. But what other possibilities are there?
This technofest was accompanied by music played over the PA system throughout, with compere Alan Thatcher and official Linda Davie interacting with the players during play.
They had lots of fun and so did the crowd. This 'interactive exhibition' was an experiment set up by the organisers, and it worked. But it suggested lots more than that. It showed how with a bit of innovation squash can broaden its appeal and reach new audiences.
Each of these toys were portable; ideal for a game that has never marketed itself enough on one of its prime assets - its inherent portability. What will purists make of such bells and whistles (purists please comment below!)?
To some extent the the argument in favour of modernising the sport by altering its format has been partly won. The change to PAR scoring in pro tournaments appears to have been vindicated (the men appear to have welcomed it, though too early to tell with WISPA events), even if the transition was handled in an all-too-familiar-to-squash administrative fog. The exhibition tonight suggested that modernisation of format could be (relatively cheaply) augmented with props designed to enhance spectators' experience. Though it was only an exhibition we were watching, possibilities for competitive play abounded.
Let's hope we see some more of these experiments with technology at other venues soon - ideally with an IOC offical in the front row.
"Inspirational but humbling"
So what might have been kept back for keeping people in their seats after an interval trip to the bar was put before the packed crowd from the off. During the twenty minutes or so before the final I had a scout round, taking in for the first time the great facilities and view from the VIP bar (see top photo).
Down below Alan Thatcher bigged-up the 2016 vote, and the WSF will be pleased to note that the 2016 T-shirts seemed to be doing a decent trade at the stall.
Those sitting the interval out courtside were watching the 2016 promo video on the big screens. I wasn't sure about this after seeing it online, but it worked well in the hall tonight with the soundtrack banging out combined with the atmosphere this venue seems to generate. A huge step up from previous efforts put together by governing bodies; if I were to point out one area for criticism it would be the graphics overlaying the footage, which appear something of an afterthought.
So to the final. Sitting back down I overheard a couple of newbies describe the Barker v Coppinger exhibition as "inspirational but humbling". It's a shame I didn't ask their opinion an hour later, after another final of the highest quality, albeit not a five-gamer as in each of the previous years.
I've written here before about the strength of competition at the top of the men's game. The sport itself may still be lurking in the shadow of it 1980s heyday, but the past decade may be looked back on fondly in years to come as something of a golden age. After years of dominance by a handful of players, literally anyone on world top ten ladder was in with a decent shout at tour events.
At the end of this match David Palmer would talk about deferring retirement for as long as his body would stand up to it. If he could be given a bye straight to the final of a PSA tounrnament, he'd still be the odds-on favourite when he's 50.
Few are more feared once a trophy is waiting on the baize than Palmer. Whatever the players might feel about their own form during a tournament, or however many five game matches either finalist has played, few are so demonstrably up for it than Palmer when the silverware's in reach.
Like when a terrified Frank Bruno crumbled after making the mistake of eyeballing Iron Mike, Palmer's opponents in all those finals were half-beaten during the knock-up. Though the temper that sprung out earlier in his career is now tamed with the natural self-assurance that comes with being in your early thirties, that extra steel is never far from hand. Few can enjoy playing him.
That is why 2 World crowns and 4 British Opens (count 'em) are locked in the cabinet. To coin Shane Warne's phrase, he 'backs himself'. And then some.
It would be interesting to look up the percentage of times he has won when in a final. When he gets there, the outcome is rarely in doubt. If I were to pick a defining moment to illustrate this it would be the 2002 World Open final against John White in Antwerp.
Match point down in the fourth, Palmer was moments away from losing the first World championship to be held for three years (there was no World Open for the men in 2000 and 2001 due to lack of sponsorship).
White had match ball at 14-13, which Palmer saved. At 14 all White called 'set one', but tinned to allow his opponent back in and take the game. Palmer took the first of his World titles 13-15, 12-15, 15-6, 15-14, 15-11.
But there is some truth in it. White will always have more fans, but Palmer has the trophies.
So seeing Palmer clearly deep in the 'zone', stretching in the foyer 15 minutes prior to coming on court tonight indicated that James Willstrop was not going to catch the Aussie on an off day.
Right: A compilation of first round action from the tournament.
Willstrop had come in to the final after two hard fought five-game matches, including a recovery from two games down to the rapidly improving Spaniard Borja Golan in the quarters. Coupled with the illness and injury that had troubled him this year it was testament to his competitive instincts and commitment to this tournament (he had won it three times previous) that he managed to question Palmer's nerve after coming back from 2-0 down to take the third.
The Australian dominated the first two games, throwing textbook shapes with his metallic orange 'bling racket' (as described on the BBC 606 website) down the backhand wall, to dictate rallies through an imperious length.
The 11/9, 12/10 scoreline half way through the match on paper doesn't do justice to Palmer's command of the court, with Willstrop rarely picking up points by design. A number of balls were hit out of court, while a few more appeared to die prematurely in the front-right court - both players appeared to be miffed slightly by the behaviour of the ball on the court tonight.
At 6-1 down in the third, Palmer had more than one hand on his opponent's title. As he had done all week, Willstrop dug in for a final heave. The crucial moment was at 3-6, when Willstrop hit a loose ball off the wall into mid court. Palmer double-pumped his bling-laden right hand to kill the soft ball, only to fire it straight back at Willstrop on his shoulder.
After finding himself out of position all night, and with split-second instinct, Willstrop stuck his hand out and intercepted. The ball was dead at the backwall before Palmer had time to turn round.
Now the crowd really got behind 'Jimbo' who, given his efforts this week, would have been mortified if he were to have not taken a game here. Willstrop started to take more risks and his deceptive game started to reap some reward. As Palmer appeared to be wilting, Willstrop seized the initiative to take the game 10-8.
Both men were clearly exhausted by the fourth. A near mid court kill took Willstrop 2-1 up, but his renewed intention quickly waned as Palmer snuffed out his attacks with the superior efficiency of movement that he had exhibited all evening.
At 6-6 Willstrop served out, clearly almost spent. Palmer took hold of the ball and the Canary Wharf title 11/9, 12/10, 8/11, 11/7.
When asked about his performance after the game, Willstrop said that he was "pretty unhappy with it", which his body language suggested was a massive understatement. He gets great support here as he does in Manchester, and his success in this event over the years demonstrates that the venue brings out the best in his game. Those who were lucky enough to appreciate all of his efforts throughout the week would surely not agree with his self-criticism.
This was evidently a big win for Palmer - "right up there with (his) best victories". He joked that he never gets to play in front of his home crowd, and that he played a mind game with himself where "every time he heard support for James he convinced himself that it was really support for him".
Like Nicol plotting to take Commonwealth gold in 2006, or Power coming back one last time to occupy the world number one spot just before retiring, Palmer seemed bent on proving something to himself. He finished by telling Alan Thatcher that playing over the age of 30 was about "making adjustments with daily training ... trying to keep up".
We’ve often commented on court closures and other negative stories associated with squash at a regional/local level, but recently we’ve been contacted by Paul Main, Chairman of Luton Dunstable Squash Club, which is attempting to swim against the tide and promote participation in squash … Plus: Win the change to play Peter Nicol!
Paul writes:
"A few years ago Dunstable Leisure Centre had four courts and a vibrant club attached to it, but when the council handed the running of the centre over to private leisure centre management company, a decision was taken to close two, turning them into gym style studios – familiar story?
The club took the radical decision to relocate its playing base to a nearby facility run by Riley’s called Club Snooker and Squash in Luton which had a sorely underused seven courts. Once the initial bedding-in period had been completed under the sterling work of long standing Secretary Paul White, the Committee looked at its playing base and saw problems ahead. With what little junior coaching being delivered in admirable fashion by the lone Level 2 coach David Merrell - who was approaching retirement age - and the average age of active players being in excess of 40, it was clear that without action the club would be extinct in the not too distant future.
Two main objectives were identified just over a year ago
1. To increase junior participation 2. To increase adult membership.
The Committee agreed that it needed new coaches, and in December 2008 two members gained their Level 1 coaching qualification and now help David out on junior coaching nights that have seen an increase in the numbers attending as word has slowly spread.
The Committee set about working with the local county sports partnership and has just been given the green light to take Mini-Squash into local schools starting in the autumn term.
As far as increasing adult membership, the Committee sought to become a partner, again with the local sports partnership, in their very popular “Get Back Into” programme - a government funded scheme aimed at getting adults back into sport. Once again, the sport of squash was accepted, with Dunstable Squash Club being asked to deliver a seven-week programme.
The club also recently created a website to establish its first web presence. As part of that decision, the name and narrative for the site deliberately incorporated Luton so that the reality of the club was better reflected and a brand adopted.
Working with England Squash, the club last week achieved Silver Clubmark status - thus acknowledging their efforts - but also increasing funding opportunities for the future.
The final piece in the jigsaw in terms of promotion was the decision to organise a flagship event. That has been achieved with Peter Nicol agreeing to come along and play the winner of an open competition (click here for more details).”
Encouraging to see a club working hard to both promote itself and the sport; we wish them well in their efforts.
In our second year round-up we promised to look more at the efforts of national governing bodies in 2009, so anyone out there who has any good stories about efforts made by individuals clubs and/or their experience in working with regional or national bodies, please send them on.
More fruits of England Squash's decision to invest in marketing its product are beginning to emerge, with the rebranding of the organisation and the unveiling of a new logo ...
ES have commissioned professional help from an agency, Fudge Studios, as part of the process. With squash historically pretty dire at marketing itself, this seems like a worthwhile investment.
The decision to market squash together with racketball is explained by ES in their unveiling to the press:
"Our vision is to increase the popularity and profile of both sports, continue to raise levels of success at international level and to run the sports according to the highest standards of governance, management and ethics. In order to achieve this we felt that the organisation needed a new identity, one that truly represented our aspirations to be modern, vibrant, and professional."
ES also explain the thinking behind the design of their badge (and forthcoming website):
"Both the logo and website have been designed to convey the sports of squash and racketball as vibrant, dynamic, modern and professional, and to persuade more people to get on court to try our great sports."
Interesting to see that a governing body has taken the step of removing a recognisable squash ball from their branding (though now that racketball comes as part of the package this may have been a deciding factor). The squash ball naturally lends itself to becoming a logo for the sport, and most websites (we hold our hands up!) incorporate it. It seems a small point, but moving away from this is a step in the right direction.
We can't help see a certain well-known web browser in those reddy-brown swirls, but I doubt that will be the first thought of many. It certainly carries the hallmark of being thought about in detail - rather than some we could mention.
It is somewhat unfair to judge logos decontextualised - we'll have to wait to see England Squash & Racketball (do we now have to write that every time .. seems a bit of a mouthful)'s new website and other marketing materials to see how it beds down into the wider campaign. Signs and their meaning change over time, don't cha know?
The real success behind the rebrand, of course, will be a greater interest in squash and racketball in England. I want to see ES (or ES&R) on the walls of my leisure centre. So let's leave the final words to them as they describe how they'll do this:
"Over the coming months and years we will be working closely with clubs, leisure centres, universities and workplaces to help introduce thousands of new players, coaches, and volunteers to the sports, and key to this is creating a vibrant club scene.
Squash will continue to be at the heart of our activity but we feel strongly that racketball will help bring new people to squash courts. Squash facilities that have embraced both sports are going from strength to strength, with busy courts and increased membership numbers. Our aim is to help all clubs achieve this success."
In a welcome demonstration of openness, the PSA board have agreed to answer questions put to them via the Squash Site forum.
With the recent departure of Richard Graham, Ziad Al-Turki's election to the board, new tournaments announced and the Olympic vote due later this year, the PSA is in a high-activity transition period.
Got questions about the new PSA set-up? Ask them here.
The coming season marks a crucial period for squash, as it races to get its house in order and put on its best frock before next year's vote on Olympic inclusion.
With that in mind, the three main governing bodies are all working behind the scenes on, variously, restructuring their leadership, increasing their media presence, and strengthening their brand ...
A news article dated 22/09/08 states that a "re-structuring" of the organisation is taking place, with Leighton being "a casualty of the new setup" ...
Why the re-structuring necessitated the departure of the Chief Exec is not explained, but the next paragraph of the article does its best to talk-up his contribution:
"Christian has made a significant contribution since joining the Federation in January 2005, particularly in squash's bid to join the Olympic programme," added (Jahangir) Khan. "We wish him well in his future pursuits."
What the re-structuring might entail when complete is not expanded on, though during the process of its implementation the administration the Federation will be overseen by its Management Committee, led by Khan and featuring Vice Presidents Heather Deayton (Hong Kong), Gerard DeCourcy (New Zealand) and Frank van Loon (Netherlands).
As previously commented on this site and others, the departure of senior management during a crucial year for squash's Olympic hopes does not bode well.
Sources tell me that a promo video is hastily being compiled in order to showcase the sport at its best; here's hoping that a professional media production company who are experienced in putting together such pitches have been commissioned.
The WSF is due to meet IOC President Jacques Rogge on 13 November.
Re-launch or re-brand?
Leighton's departure coincides with what appears to be an unnanounced re-launch (and re-branding?) of the WSF website (and the organisation itself?). At first I took the new logo for one of those 'rabbit or duck?'-style optical illusions, where you are not quite sure what you are seeing, before realising that it is actually a racket-hitting-a-ball-through-an-acronym ...
In keeping with those optical illusions where the trick only works first time, when I now look at the logo I can't help but see only the racket and ball, which is a success of some kind.
It was also brought to my attention that the International Rugby Board's website (one of the WSF main rivals in the race to become an Olympic sport) looks very similar ...
I've asked the WSF to clarify whether the website is a relaunch/rebrand/redevelopment but as yet have had no reply.
WISPA issues directive to players
As noted recently on Squash360.com, WISPA is leading the way in promoting the virtues of the sport and the professionalism of its players in support of the Olympic campaign.
A recent WISPA Bulletin from Chief Executive Andrew Shelley issued a call to arms:
BEIJING BEHIND US, THE FINAL PUSH AHEAD
"When the Olympics began a few weeks ago all WISPA members were reminded that this was the time that they may be asked about why squash wasn’t included and whether we can get into them in the future. The notes are worth repeating now as the focus must remain strong as squash continues to press its claim for inclusion.
We missed out on selection for the 2012 Games in London, but next year (October 2009) at the next IOC meeting which will be held in Copenhagen there will be decisions made about the venue selected for 2016 and the sports played.
As a result of baseball & softball being voted out of London but not being replaced there are 26 sports to be played there, and thus places for two more in 2016 (the Olympic Charter stipulates a maximum of 28).
So, we are in a fight with baseball and softball who want to get back in, along with the other shortlisted sports of karate, golf, rugby sevens & roller sports.
Remember:
- We are a truly worldwide sport, and compete in every other Major Games, including the Commonwealth, Pan American, Asian and All African Games.
- Squash is different to all other sports in the Games, and rates as one of the most gruelling and skilled sports.
- Our top players are serious professionals.
- All our players are serious sports people.
- The Olympics would be our greatest event by far and the ultimate goal for our players would be to win a gold medal. (This is important to stress as this differentiates us from golf, tennis, soccer and some other sports where there are other great, highly coveted 'major’ championships such as Wimbledon, The Masters or the World Cup.)
- We have become a really good spectator and TV sport because of the all-glass court. The glass court can be erected in any spectacular location and does not require an expensive stadium to be built, cutting costs for the host city/nation.
- The top players in the world are a diverse group of people that come from many nations that are not the 'super powers' in the Olympics - creating opportunities for different nations to have a lead on winning medals.
The Olympic bid is of paramount importance as we use the year in conjunction with WSF & PSA to promote ourselves in any way that we can. Creating a bigger profile and reaching out to key people and contacts is a main thrust of the strategy."
Great point about the portability of the court as an asset: I don't think I've seen this in any squash-and-the-Olympics articles to date.
England Squash to rebrand
While we're on the subject of changes and interventions being made by governing bodies, I read recently that England Squash is also undergoing a rebranding.
Ben Taylor, Marketing Co-Ordinator at ES, responded to my query about their work in this area:
"We are working with a branding agency, Fudge Studios, to create a new brand that represents the organisation as a forward thinking, modern organisation, but that also shows that squash and racketball are vibrant, exciting, relevant sports that are worthy of more interest, participation, and media coverage."
Sounds promising - I look forward to seeing the result of the collaboration.
Some of my articles below - such as this one - highlighted the progress being made by squash's rivals for Olympic inclusion being made during the Beijing round of the IOC cocktail party circuit.
The World Squash Federation were there too, with President of the organisation Jahangir Khan leading the delegation ...
"Joined in Beijing by WSF Patron HRH Tunku Imran, the President of the Olympic Council of Malaysia and an IOC Member, and WSF Emeritus President Susie Simcock, who recently received the New Zealand Olympic Order award after more than a decade of service with the NZ Olympic Committee, Khan was able to meet and receive feedback and helpful advice from many IOC members present.
In addition to meeting senior officials of the Chinese Squash Federation, the party also met with IOC Sports department representatives to clarify the process leading up to the selection of sports for the 2016 Olympic programme.
The WSF delegates also met members of the international press in Beijing, which provided numerous opportunities to convey the sport's strong credentials for Olympic inclusion.
Furthermore, Jahangir Khan joined representatives of other 2016 short-listed sports on an "Around the Rings News Maker" breakfast panel session, which resulted in significant worldwide publicity for the Squash bid." Read the full WSF press release
The following article of mine appeared recently on Squash360.com in response to articles commenting on rumoured leadership changes at the WSF ...
If these departures at the top of the WSF are true (there is nothing on the WSF website or another leading squash news website to confirm this at the time of writing - which perhaps is indicative of something else ...), then it has come at a very unfortunate moment in the build-up to next October's IOC vote.
At a time when visibility on the world stage is required, squash's rivals are making hay in Beijing. It is tempting to say that it is now too late to put in place a strong team and mount an effective campaign given the lead-in times required for media production etc.
At this critical point I see two options for moving forward:
1. Appoint a 'crash' team under a leader of proven experience and influence to manage the organisation, with the brief to work almost solely on the Olympic campaign and with the budget to do it. The premium would be high, but if measurable targets and corresponding incentives (such as the win bonus suggested by Richard Graham) can be agreed quickly, it gives the right kind of carrot for a candidate to get things organised quickly and work towards specific targets.
If Olympic inclusion is the most important aim of the WSF, it would do better to appoint an interim leader with the experience and influence with this goal in mind, rather than appoint someone with a '5 year mandate' (or something similar) whose broader remit might take his/her eye off the ball. A 'development' appointment can wait until after the vote, and if squash has made it into the Games, then the WSF would have perhaps already found a candidate for a longer-term position.
2. Accept that a world-class campaign to rival that of rugby sevens and golf simply cannot now be organised at this late stage.
If it is anticipated that both of these sports are squash's main rivals due to their higher profile and funding, it might be sensible (thought admittedly high-risk) to side-step the opposition by refusing to play their game - i.e. spend less and approach the bid from a different angle. Here's how it could work:
I have seen many articles from leading commentators on squash that stress that its intrinsic virtues demand that it 'must' or 'deserves' to be included as an Olympic sport. Of course this is true :) But given the widely-reported political shenanigans that led up to London being given the 2012 Games, this maybe comes across as a little naive.
However, it could work in squash's favour to put aside any cynicism about the voting process and place these values/virtues - rather than glossy media presentations and superstar endorsements - at the heart of its bid.
There are parallels here with London's 2012 campaign. Each of the bidding cities did produced the requisite media campaign/visuals for a host city pitch, but a hallmark of London's bid was that it was seen as more humble in its approach. This worked because of its stress on 'legacy' and the supporting emphasis on benefits for young people.
Squash could follow along these lines - not necessarily pushing 'legacy' etc, but in the tone of its bid. A situation could unfold where richer rivals place glossy media presentations at the heart of their bids (featuring soundbites from leading stars, visuals that reflect the comparative wealth of some of those sports, and shots of high-profile titles that are more important to the participants than winning the Olympics).
If the WSF were to follow these pitches with a slick-but-lower-key pitch that emphasises all of the squash's best virtues, while appearing to contrast with its rivals' more ostentatious approach (and thereby indirectly highlighting any cynical motives they may have for gaining Olympic status) - it would ally squash squarely with the 'Olympic spirit', and open up daylight between itself and its richer rivals (assuming that golf and rugby sevens are the principal opposition).
A high-risk strategy, but an option. At present I see no half-way solution between these two options that would make an effective case.
Last point: Why aren't more current players speaking up on how their sport is led? From what I can find only Shabana has really stuck his neck out in the past year to question the 'Olympic campaign' - not that you'll have read much about it in the 'squash press.'
Next October in Copenhagen, the IOC will decide whether any new sports will be included in the 2016 Olympic Games.
Squash is on the shortlist, but has competition for inclusion in the form of rugby sevens, golf, softball, baseball, roller sports and karate.
What will be the key factor that convinces those that matter that squash has what it takes? Vote on the right of the page ... or email me if you've got other ideas ...
Looking forward to the start of the Beijing Olympics this weekend made me remember an initiative I noted a while back that - in the run up to the 2012 Games in London - seeks to pair FTSE-100 companies with different sports as a way of "helping them improve the effectiveness of their business delivery and performance."
There wasn't much information available on the initiative at the time, but some subsequent digging around got me thinking about how squash might follow suit ...
The British Olympic Association (BOA) website now lists a number of the Olympic sports and the British FTSE-100 companies that they are paired with (the first 10 were announced in February 2007, with more partnerships announced as they were agreed):
Corus - triathlon Skandia - biathlon British Gas - hockey Land Securities - volleyball GlaxoSmithKline - boxing British Airways - snowsportGB SAB Miller - fencing Wolseley - gymnastics Home Retail Group - badminton Group 4 Securicor - judo Standard Life Investments - archery Experian - ice skating Marks & Spencer - modern pentathlon Accenture - sailing O2 - taekwondo John Lewis - equestrian Alliance & Leicester - swimming Sainsbury's - table tennis
The website also has downloads of media briefings for each specific partnership.
The website goes on to explain:
"The scope and focus of the individual relationships will vary from sport to sport in order to address their differing needs and the expertise available. The agreements will be between the NGBs and the individual businesses, although the overall programme will be facilitated by a Programme Director within the BOA.
The intention is for the relationships to extend up to, and potentially beyond, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in order to give the partnerships the best opportunity of making a lasting difference in this challenging and exciting period.
This programme is co-ordinated by a Project Director, Bev Salt who is on secondment to the BOA from AstraZeneca."
Most of the media briefings appear a little short on detail still, though Alliance & Leicester's partnership with swimming notes that one of the projects that they will start of with is:
"... to develop British Swimming's customer relationship management skills. To achieve this, Conrad Taggart, Head of Customer Strategy and Information at Alliance & Leicester, is sharing his specialist knowledge in database marketing and analytics."
Presumably this consultancy is being offered for free in return for the positive marketing/promotional benefits of being associated with a healthy sporting activity (and sharing in the successes of any British swimming champions).
It is ironic that a sport that a huge number of City-based FTSE-100 companies employees probably enjoy playing on a regular basis - squash - is excluded from the above list as it is not (yet!) an Olympic sport.
The idea is an innovative one, and not being an Olympic sport does not mean that squash cannot copy the model by forming such a strategic alliance.
Some might say that squash should get its own house in order before reaching out to form such a partnership. But given that squash is patently lacking in a number of the areas the initiative seeks to address, a sharing of expertise could allow the sport to reach its goals more quickly and effectively.
The new head of the PSA has a remit to address a number of the sport's deficiencies, and it was good to see that someone has been appointed who has prior experience of forming strategic partnerships.
Coupling a sport with a large business organisation to help serve its medium-long term interests is a bold initiative, and it will be interesting to watch closely to see how much help is offered in practice to the sports listed above, beyond the fine words of the media briefings. My guess is that some companies will take the initiative more seriously than others.
There are also mutual risks to bare in mind when undertaking such partnerships - a sporting drug scandal can end up tainting a partner organisation by association, or a recession can see a company pull the plug if it needs to make savings.
Who might squash partner with? A bank? A telecoms group? Send in your suggestions ...
The Australian Open 2008 looks like it might be on the road to regaining the status of its vintage years, with David Palmer seeking to add the title he has never won to his glut of British and World Opens.
Palmer's entry should help to quench the Aussie public's thirst for seeing their leading players perform on home soil, where professional tournaments no longer attract the status they once did ...
I commented on the event - also held in the wine region of Clare - last year, lamenting the decline in the quality and number of events held Down Under.
There's just a handful of days left to take part in England Squash's online survey.
Have your say on the future of the game - and win a prize ...
The aim of the survey is "to improve the way (England Squash) deliver services for Squash and Racketball, support our members, and serve players, fans and competitors in the wider Squash and Racketball communities."
Those that enter have the chance to win more than 50 prizes for both individuals and clubs/facilities, including VIP Tickets, coaching sessions from some of the greats in the game, rackets, apparel and balls.
The survey will be closing the survey on June 30, 2008, so click on the link below now!
England Squash is holding an online survey about its future - and there's some great prizes for those who can spare 5-10 minutes to participate ...
The aim of the survey is "to improve the way (England Squash) deliver services for Squash and Racketball, support our members, and serve players, fans and competitors in the wider Squash and Racketball communities."
Those that enter have the chance to win more than 50 prizes for both individuals and clubs/facilities, including VIP Tickets, coaching sessions from some of the greats in the game, rackets, apparel and balls.
The survey will be closing the survey on June 30, 2008, so click on the link below now!
The PSA finally appointed a new Chief Executive yesterday.
And the outlook for men's squash looks immediately bright, with the panel eshewing the appointment of someone within the game and going for - as squashblogger previously suggested - an experienced sports marketeer ...
The new man is Richard Graham, former Chief Operating Officer of the Parallel Media Group plc, who has worked with a number of sports federations, including the Lawn Tennis Association, the Lipton International Players Championships in Miami and British Equestrian Promotions.
Since leaving PMG earlier this year, Graham has worked as an independent sponsorship agent to a variety of rights holders, including Birmingham City FC, Honda F1 Racing, SnowsportGB and the English Open Golf Championship.
It was good to see that the interview panel included people involved in the game but able to give an objective voice, such as Ziad Al-Turki, Vice Chairman of the ATCO Group and former World Champion and promoter Peter Nicol.
There's lots of discussion on squashblog.co.uk about media coverage of squash, and it was also heartening to read that Graham list this as one of his priorities:
"I believe that squash has a strong base from which the Tour, the PSA's commercial partnerships and the sport's media coverage can each be developed. It is in these three areas that I hope to focus my energy from the outset."
This now leaves the governing body of the men's world tour without a Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive, following the departure earlier in the year of Gawain Briars ...
Herrick had been in the post 14 years:
"I must say I never planned nor anticipated staying with the PSA for 14 years, but now the time for retirement feels right."
The outgoing Chairman of the Board's reasons for leaving the position beyond the quotation above are not given. There is obviously a large shake-up happening in the PSA, the politics of which are rather obscure at present, but I'm sure they'll come out in the wash ...
In an unfortunate choice of words, Herrick is quoted in the announcement article on the PSA website on his experience working with recent PSA Chief Executives (including, most recently, Gawain Briars):
"To coin a phrase, each would have jumped in front of a truck to protect the PSA from harm ..."
The appointment is crucial to the future direction of men's squash. Squashblogger's preference (see my previous article) is for someone with proven experience in international business, as the growth regions within the sport (north America, the Middle East, India) require someone who can empathise with the different cultures represented by the global game and negotiate within them at an appropriate level.
Ideally they should have a proper understanding of marketing, and have the foresight to see how using the media is crucial to successfully promoting their "product" to a public who are increasingly discerning when choosing how to spend their leisure time.
The PSA is recruiting, and they're after a new Chief Exec ...
The job is large and demanding, with the position stating that the incumbent must look after management board administration and support; tour marketing; business, brand, media, finance and sponsorship management. Salary is not specified.
Within this remit, a couple of responsibilities that stand out for me are:
- Create and maintain quality control for all events to ensure that they are organised and marketed at a level concurrent with their status.
- Take prime responsibility for the management and development of all media outlets that actively promote the World Tour, with special emphasis on television and the new media.
From the point of view of a squash fan in the UK, these two require particular attention. Respondents to articles on this website have complained that they never knew a squash event was happening, even though it was on their doorstep, and a co-ordinated strategy for getting squash covered on TV and new media is long overdue.
Speculation about who - or at least what kind of candidate - should fill out-going PSA Chief Executive Gawain Briars' shoes seems to be split between those who favour someone from "inside" the game who has good relations with all stakeholding groups (such as a retired player), and those who would like to see someone with a track record in business/sports management apply their experience in the squash field.
Squashblogger's preference is for someone with proven experience in international business, as the growth regions within the sport (north America, the Middle East, India) require someone who can empathise with the different cultures represented by the global game and negotiate within them at an appropriate level (i.e. those "strong communication and people skills").
Ideally they should have a proper understanding of marketing, and have the foresight to see how using the media is crucial to successfully promoting their "product" to a public who are increasingly discerning when choosing how to spend their leisure time.
Briars' departure
I've resisted writing something about the recent departure of PSA Chief Executive Gawain Briars (on the left in the photo) as the only comments on his departure available have been via the press release from the PSA themselves.
The recent unease felt be some quarters with the way the recent PSA board election was conducted suggested to me that it was worth waiting to hear how others greeted the news.
Howard Harding's PSA press release highlights Briar's achievements, including turning a US$1.5 million men's tour into a US$3.2 million venutre, the introduction of PAR scoring and the introduction of web streaming of events.
PSA Chairman Mark Chaloner is equally glowing in his send-off:
"Under Gawain's steady stewardship the Association has reached a point now where its resources and broadcast vision provide us with our best opportunity to harness the appeal of the men’s game as the most exciting spectator sport"
A few days on from the announcement, others in the squash community were having their say ...
Jonathan Power is quoted on Squash360.com as saying "This is a great time for squash. Here is an opportunity for healthy change. I hope for our sport that the right person, with the right motives, becomes CEO."
"To his credit, the PSA World Tour grew tremendously under Gawain's tenure as Chief Executive. Personally, I always found Gawain to be trustworthy and highly professional in our squash dealings. I wish him great success in his next endeavour and, as a promoter, thank him for his steady stewardship of men's professional squash."
As to my potential thoughts about the job, I haven't any at this time. I think the sport is poised to break out of its poorly recognized condition and this is the right time for the right person to make that happen."
I suspect further insight into the Board election and Briars' departure will come out after the new Chief Exec is appointed. Watch this space ...
In the meantime, Ted Wallbutton, former CEO of the World Squash Federation, is acting as interim CEO until a candidate is found.
It's not often you see two fat ladies down on the squash court.
Yet England Squash is to benefit from a new televised bingo show fronted by squeeky-voiced Joe Pasquale.
If you never thought you'd read that last sentence ...
BingoLotto is Sweden's highest-rated TV show ever, and the format has been bought by Virgin 1 to screen in the UK.
The live show must donate at least 20% of BingoLotto's proceeds to good causes, and in Sweden around £100 million has been given to to charity each year.
The first partner charities have been named as the Central Council of Physical Recreation (CCPR) and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations.
The CCPR is concerned with supporting grass-roots sport, and as England Squash is a member, it stands to benefit from any money charitably donated.
The BingoLotto website explains that the FA, the Lawn Tennis Association, The Ramblers' Association and The Royal Life Saving Society are examples of member organisations of the CCPR.
Read the names of the organisations in that last paragraph again, and I think you'll agree that some are perhaps more deserving than others.
Given that the LTA receives around £25m-£30m every year out of profits from Wimbledon and produces almost no British tennis talent (Andy Murray is largely a product of his time as a junior in the Spanish coaching system), I reckon England Squash have a pretty decent claim on whatever BingoLotto throws the CCPR's way.
Natalie Grinham announced today that she was switching her nationality from Australian to Dutch.
Her comments on Squashsite explain that the decision was due to her long-standing residency in the Netherlands, and marriage to Dutch player Tommy Berden.
The younger of the Grinham sisters is quoted on Squashsite as saying:
"I'm looking forward to being able to represent Holland so that I can give back something to the country that has helped me improve so much".
Is this a veiled swipe at Squash Australia? It was in in the build up to the 2006 World Team Championships in Edmonton that both Natalie and her older sister Rachael decided to not participate due to what they saw as a flawed selection policy.
The quarrel was not about the individual support she had received - rather the perceived injustice at the most worthy players not being picked for the team at the time.
Grinham's explanation for relinquishing her Australian eligibility does refer to this episode in particular, but it does lead one to speculate as to whether is was a contributing factor.
Natalie has had success in recent years wearing Australian colours, picking up 3 gold medals in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
The change of nationality is particularly good news for women's squash in the Netherlands, with 9 women now inside the top 100 of the WIPSA rankings.
"We understand Natalie's reasons for choosing to represent the Netherlands, although we are obviously disappointed to lose a player of her standing from the Australian ranks."
The changing of nationality echoes Peter Nicol's move from Scotland to England, and it will be interesting to see if any fallout renders it as controversial.
What could Malcolm Willstrop do for squash with £25 million? Or Neil Harvey? Or any of our top squash coaches?
