As I grow older, slowly - some would say very slowly, I am learning to
make more informed decisions for the good of the community rather than
just myself.
It's taken a while but I have finally realized that by doing this it is usually of greater benefit to me also in the long run.
Like my decision making, our sport is also evolving. People are forever
thinking about the way forward: better rules, better organization, more
efficient movement, better stroke production, better equipment,
better TV coverage etcetera.
Squash is, in my opinion, still very young as a sport with a long way
to go. Almost none of the ideas in the sport have been held to any kind
of empirical testing. Most of what we hear is opinion, albeit
based on experience, but with little proof of either logic or
rationale as would be expected of ideas in an academic setting.
Naturally when hearing this opinion there will be a great deal of
puffing up of the chest and defensive protestation. But also very
little attempt to change the situation and almost no interest in
actually holding traditional ideas up to the candle of real logic.
Part of the reason that opinion and surmise continues to survive is a
lack of funding. In other spheres where there is plenty of finance,
there is less room for charismatic personalities to force their
opinions through because those communities hold ideas to a higher
standard of proof.
The PSA and WSA are merging and I for one am happy about this
particular piece of evolution. I think the women joining the men is the
best chance for Men's Squash and Women's Squash to move forward as I
think the women will bring common sense to the table and perhaps more
consideration of policy and leadership.
Like it or not, the Squash playing world takes its lead from the PSA
and WSA. This is a big responsibility, especially when one considers
that these are associations for young athletes run in the main by
slightly older though still quite young former athletes.
So how seriously do these associations take their responsibilities? And
how well qualified are they to judge what constitutes responsible
behavior.
In the USA in all sport including Squash, some estimates suggest the
annual cost of eye injuries is between $175million and $200 million.
In Canada, before eye protection became mandatory, Squash was the
number one culprit for sports eye injuries. After Squash Canada made
eye protection mandatory, Squash completely disappeared from the
ranking list of sports responsible for eye injuries.
In scientific studies it has been discovered that recreational players
have a 25% chance of having a Squash related eye injury in their life
time.
Loss of vision in an eye can completely destroy an individual's quality
of life. One Israeli pilot lost his job, his pilot's license, his
livelihood and his quality of life - through one Squash eye injury.
I know that many responsible authorities such as US Squash want to
tread carefully in persuading the WSF and the PSA and WSA to come to
the realization that their behavior influences the behavior of the
Squash playing world.
I respect that view. However here is the fact: 1 in 4 Squash players
without eye wear will receive an eye injury of some sort in their
Squash careers. AND THIS IS TOTALLY PREVENTABLE. If the PSA and WSA and
WSF make the wearing of protective eyewear a rule of the game of Squash
- for everyone everywhere, no-one need lose their sight through a
Squash injury again - ever.
I have heard it said that this is a personal choice. If people were not
wearing eyewear in the privacy of their own homes I might sort of
understand that, but if you are a public figure, vying for public
competitions, viewed by the public, and respected by the public then it
is not a personal choice. You have a responsibility to behave as a
leader and to promote safety and behavior that is in the best interests
of the community.
Freedom is only free if your freedom of choice does no damage to those
around you. When the PSA and the WSF promote the playing of Squash
without protective eyewear they are contributing - whether they
wish to or not - to the loss of sight of Squash players who take their
lead from the sport's great players and the World's governing body and
who play without eyewear.
Remember, if players wear protective eyewear in the correct manner, these injuries are totally preventable.
The SDA - a wonderful professional tour, has all its members wear eye
protection. As a consequence almost no-one in the USA or Canada plays
doubles without eye protection.
Ignorance is the primary reason for players not wearing eye protection.
You are at least as likely to be struck by the racquet or the ball on a
singles court as you are on a doubles court. People don't know the
statistics - and so every once in a while a player who ' has never had
an eye injury in all the years they have been playing' has an eye badly
damaged.
Perhaps if you are Pro Squash player or an official from a ruling body
who is allowing people to gamble with their sight and you really
focus your mind, you can persuade yourself that things are Ok the way
they are. And the next time you hear about someone who has received an
eye injury - make sure you look at yourself in the mirror the next day
and think about how things might have been if you had stood up for them.
But like I said at the beginning:
As I grow older, slowly - some would say very slowly, I am learning to
make more informed decisions for the good of the community rather than
just myself.
It's taken a while but I have finally realized that by doing this it is usually of greater benefit to me also in the long run.
Richard Millmanis
an international lifelong squash professional - and husband, dad,
grampa, writer, coach, player, referee, innovator, maverick, mentor,
team player, thinker, listener, promoter, developer, retailer - who
lives squash.
What's On My Mindis a column by rotating authors. Contact: DailySquashReport@gmail.com