New York Metropolitan Squash Racquets Association

New York Squash (formerly the Metropolitan Racquets Association, or MSRA) is a volunteer organization which organizes squash events in the New York metropolitan area.

History

New York Squash was founded in 1924 and incorporated in 1932 as the Metropolitan Squash Racquets Association (MSRA). The organization’s membership base covers players in the five boroughs of New York City, Long Island, Westchester County, southern New York State, and Fairfield County in Connecticut. NY Squash supports the many variants of squash racquets but the majority of its efforts are focused on the game of individual squash singles and hardball doubles. NY Squash is one of 36 district squash associations under US Squash, the United States governing body for the sport. NY Squash’s mission is to further the development, progress, and establishment of the game of squash in the New York metropolitan area. To do this, the association organizes tournaments, leagues, and other squash events, and provides information of interest to New York-area squash players. The organization was re-named New York Squash in 2011.

Organization & Membership

New York Squash is run by a volunteer Board of Directors and is aided by a paid Executive Director. The board meets regularly throughout the year to plan and organize events. At approximately 5,000 current and lapsed members, it is the largest district squash association in the country and the only one with a paid employee. NY Squash's board works in tandem with the squash teaching professionals at clubs within its membership area to run events, and aids the pros in promoting or running their own events.^[1] NY Squash's membership is approximately 75% male and 25% female.^[jargon]

New York Squash Tournaments

During the course of the typical squash season (September through May) the organization holds squash tournaments, team and individual leagues, instructive and training clinics, exhibitions and social events.

The Season Opener - The Season Opener is a one-day squash tournament held in September/October and is designed to start the Winter Squash Season. The format is based on round-robin play (as opposed to an elimination bracket format) in order and uses a best of 3 rather than a best of 5 game system used for more formal squash tournaments.

The Grand Open – The Grand Open tournament began in 1994 and is an amateur tournament generally held in January with matches at a variety of Manhattan area squash clubs. The tournament is held over three days (Friday to Sunday) and involves several men’s and women’s skill level divisions using a double elimination bracket format. The Grand Open is held the same weekend as the Tournament of Champions, a weeklong professional squash tournament that features some of the world’s top professional players. Players entering the Grand Open’s amateur draws receive free admission to attend some of the Tournament of Champion’s match sessions in Manhattan’s Grand Central Terminal.^[2][jargon]In recent years, the Grand Open has attracted 220+ players, making it the largest amateur adult singles squash tournament in the world.

The Hyder Trophy Tournament – Founded in 1969 at the New York Athletic Club by Dr. Quentin Hyder, the Hyder Trophy is longest continually-running softball squash tournament in North America. It is held in May of every year and caps the end of the competitive squash season. Similar to the Grand Open, the Hyder is held over three days and involves co-ed and women’s divisions playing in double elimination. The Hyder incorporates co-ed draws for both men and women and also a men’s professional draw that offers a total purse of $7,500 (jn 2010). Like the Grand Open, it is hosted a number of Manhattan squash clubs, including the Sports Club/LA, the Harvard Club of New York, the Princeton Club of New York and the Yale Club of New York. The 2008 edition attracted a record number of players and had a men’s pro draw highlighted by a win by then world #5 player, David Palmer.^[3][jargon]

Team Leagues

NY Squash's Team Leagues are the largest in the country, with over 700 players competing on 80 teams across 8 divisions for men and women. Teams are hosted by squash clubs, with weekly matches at clubs across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. While there is currently no universally accepted method for judging amateur individual squash skill level, commonly accepted practices recognizes a range from beginner players (2.0) to professional (6.5).^[4] Teams form in October, with matches beginning the first week of November, and continuing through April culminating in a season-ending playoff and championship. Winning team are eligible to compete in the US Squash National League Finals.

Doubles Leagues

NY Squash organizes a Doubles League with 25 teams competing across two skill levels, A and B. The season runs from January-April, and clubs across Manhattan, Queens, Westchester and Southern Connecticut field teams.

References

1. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/nyregion/thecity/11fyi.html MSRA referenced in NY York Times, Jan 9, 2009
2. ^ http://www.squashfan.com/TOC_2009/index.php Photo slideshow of the 2009 Tournament of Champions
3. ^ http://www.squashtalk.com/html2/news09/may/news09-5-286.htm David Palmer wins 41st annual Hyder Trophy.
4. ^ http://www.ussquash.com/uploadedFiles/USQ/Audiences/Players/Adults/Rankings/Rating-skill%20Scale.pdf Description of squash skill levels

External links

• New York Squash website