At the U.S. High School Team
Championships last month, there were 21 public schools out of the 151
schools in the competition. This small number is not surprising. But
given the fact that there were no public schools in the first couple of
years of the tournament which started in 2005, this number represents a
promising step. Perhaps there’s a chance for more public schools to get
on board and be part of this squash experience of a lifetime. If 21
schools can do it, so can more.
Of course, it’s not easy and many
factors come into play. As one who started a public school squash
program, I know the challenges well. Granted our school district
is in New York’s Westchester County, a hot pocket of squash clubs,
players and yes, a fair amount of affluence. Not every region is
as fortunate. But all public schools face the same issues:
they need access to courts and coaching, transportation and matches and
a leader to coordinate it all. The parents are the most important
piece of the pie, since they must be willing to cover program costs
since the schools won’t have the budget for it, transport their kids
and help out. Grants through the scholastic program from U.S. Squash
can help defray some of the costs.
Yet the biggest hurdle is working
with school districts which are confined to state rules on what can and
can’t be done. It’s hard for public school athletic departments to go
outside the box since state athletic organizations focus on mainstream
sports and set the course of interscholastic competition. The
best way to introduce squash is to ask the school’s permission to form
a club team and partner with a squash facility, if one is fortunate
enough to have one in the vicinity. Be aware that anyone in
contact with students must first undergo a thorough background check,
including fingerprinting.
The designated leader must reach out
to private schools to request matches against those more skilled
players who already have a heavy schedule. Those coaches who are
passionate about growing the game and feel obliged to be neighborly
will make that happen. Often, the private school coaches will schedule
the matches with players on the bottom of the roster, giving them some
needed opportunities for competition. In our case, there were enough
public schools teams in the area to also start our own league and
championship.
I found that parents really wanted
squash for their kids and were willing to step up to the plate.
Clubs were willing to find time slots that didn’t impact their
clientele and were able to charge a reasonable price for participation.
In the long run, the clubs gained new players interested in lessons and
memberships.
Transitioning from a club sport to
varsity is a whole other matter involving the board of education and
many meetings, but in our case squash won and became a varsity program
because of the tremendous increase in participation and enthusiasm over
a five year period, plus a campaign by players and parents to convince
the school district of the sport’s many great benefits.
It’s tons of work but very rewarding
especially when athletic kids, who didn’t make the basketball team,
learn squash and become hooked on the game. Even the seasoned players
become more enthused about playing when they are on a team with their
friends representing their school. A good number of public schools
players in our area are now on college teams. In the future, all of
them can take their racquet wherever they go.
Georgetta Morque is
a public relations consultant and freelance writer. Born and raised in
New York City, she acquired the passion for squash through the legacy
of her late father, Joseph J. Lordi, a national squash tennis champion
and two-term president of the New York Athletic Club where the squash
courts are dedicated to his memory. Georgetta is the founder of
the squash program at the Rye school district in New York’s Westchester
County and was instrumental in creating the Fairwest league for public
schools. She is the mother of three athletes, including a son who plays
on the squash team at Franklin & Marshall College.
What's On My Mind is a column by rotating authors. Contact DailySquashReport@gmail.com
