The Anatomy of a Squash Player: - Squash BC

What Steps Does a Club Have to Do to Keep Members?As you can see from the survey at the back of this book, squash is played mainly by men,around 40 years of age, and probably a professional. This is sort of the “good news/badnews” thing. The good news is that most squash players are very good, loyal customers ifthey get what they want out of the club at a fair price. Of course they can make your lifevery uncomfortable if they feel they are not getting value for their money.Squash is an individual sport. Individual sports are different in that the individual has tousually organize their own matches. The only time their matches are organized for them iswhen they play in a league or a tournament. Keeping this in mind, how do your membersmeet new people to play? How do they get comfortable enough with these people to phonethem up for a game?Squash BC and Quick Draws:Squash BC has worked in conjunction with Quick Draws to develop an online softwareprogram that will take a lot of man hours out of running programs in your club. QuickDraws has the ability to be your booking system for all aspects of your club. Members canbook online or by telephone, a function that is unique to Quick Draws. The program willalso help organize box leagues and ladders. Members playing in these will have theirmatches added to the club ranking list as well as Squash BC’s provincial rankings if theyare Squash BC members. As Squash BC members they will also be covered under our oncourt accident policy while playing a box or ladder match. Quick Draws also has a very easyto use tournament software program. Contact Owen Smith at owen@quick-draws.com forprices.Squash Promoter/Professional:All successful clubs have someone promoting, teaching, organizing and selling squash tothe members. This person we will call your “Pro.” The Pro may be a volunteer or paid staff.Most paid Pro’s should be, at a minimum certified Level 2 coach and working on theirLevel 3. A Pro will give lessons, organize box and inter-city leagues, run tournaments andmost important, keep your players active. Volunteer Pro’s will do these same things, butwill do them on their own time frame and own agenda. Ask yourself, if you had a furniturestore, would you have volunteer salesmen selling your products?Your average member may spend 80% of their time in your club without the need of a pro.The other 20% of the time is what will keep your club interesting, dynamic, and a goodplace to be for your members.Club Night/ Challenge Court:These two things are very important for any club. They give new members a chance to meetother members in your club. Club nights are usually one night a week events that isfrequently an all comers type night. The club will book off a number of courts and peoplewill show up and play each other 0ne game or maybe best two out of three, then they mayplay somebody else. After their matches, they will probably have a few healthy beverages inyour members lounge.A Challenge court is a little different in that 0ne court is usually not able to be booked bymembers so people can just arrive and get a challenge match with whoever is around.