The Unfair Playing Field
by Nick-At-Will

August 7, 2017 - Of the 767 boy's high-school squash-players nationally ranked by U.S. Squash, only 37 of them are from the western region, a differential of 730 players compared with the east! If you don't, or can't afford to go to an east-coast private (or public) school, forget about earning a ranking and/or a decent seeding in/for Gold and/or JCT junior squash tournaments. "Seeding" in tournaments is (basically) determined by the average number of ranking points a player has. In fact, because there's usually a 32-player maximum draw, many (most) of the west coast players don't/can't even make the cut! We ask, is this a fair playing field? We think not! Most of these eastern region high-school boys compete in school league programs where they have the advantage and opportunity to earn ranking points and also receive a high "rating." Should ranking points be used to seed players in U.S. Squash accredited (open) junior tournaments? Again...we think not! So...what's the answer!? Perhaps a different "system" needs to be devised to level "the unfair playing field."