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Register now! Facebook Event Last chance to enter! World Squash Day @ VRC The Vancouver Racquets Club and Squash Republic are pleased to present Vancouver’s first  World Squash Day  event and the first ONE DAY ONLY squash tournament on Saturday, October 12, 2019. Deadline to enter is midnight tomorrow! World Squash Day was launched by a group of squash friends following the 9/11 attacks in the USA. Many New York squash players were killed in the World Trade Center and this event was created to memorialize them, celebrate their love of squash and bring new players to the game. At this year’s event, players can play one event for $25 (singles or doubles) and add a second an event for only $5.  All games will be best of 3 and we’re going to get everyone as many matches as possible between 10am and 5pm so be ready to play!  Please note that there are NO RESTRICTIONS allowed and everyone who signs up will receive an official World Squash Day t-shirt (yes, we have men's AND women’s styles) courtesy of Squash Republic.  Group selfie at 5pm on the doubles court!

Lunch & Learns at Sandcastle (Sep 14-Oct 5) Sandcastle Fitness in White Rock South Surrey is kicking off the squash season with a Squash Lunch & Learn. This is a free event for everyone in the Surrey area to come out & play squash Saturday afternoons at Sandcastle. Whether you’re new to squash or a squash veteran, come join the squash crowd at Sandcastle for Lunch & Learn from noon to 2pm every Saturday from Sep 14 – Oct 5. This is open to young & old, male or female. Racquets, balls & instructors will be provided along with refreshments. It’s all free! If you’re a veteran squash player, it’s a good opportunity to get on court with people you haven’t played with before. We believe in the many benefits of playing squash, not least of all, that squash is the best way to get that 45-minute cardio work-out and have fun doing it.

If you have children who are looking for a sport that they can enjoy for the rest of their lives, bring them by for Lunch & Learn at Sandcastle. For more information, contact Tom Bedore at squash@sandcastle.com. Click here to email Tom!

‌ Click here for tournament info Vancouver Island Open Oct 18-20 The VIO is one of the Island premier events to kick off the squash season In accordance with Squash BC policy, player divisions will be based on Squash BC rankings or National rankings if applicable. There will be an Open Men's event. To qualify for this draw, players must have a minimum of 1550 Squash BC points or equivalent National ranking There will be a Women’s Open Event based on the ranking of the Women entered in the Event, To qualify for this draw, players must have a minimum of 1250 Squash BC points or equivalent National ranking Masters Divisions will be offered in this event. We endeavour to ensure no more than 3 matches for the players in the Masters Division LOCAL PLAY ONLY - Thursday, October 16th OUT OF TOWN players must be available by 5:30 pm Friday, Oct 18

Sign up now! Revelstoke Bear's Den Classic (Oct 18-20) Join us for our 13th edition of the Bear's Den Classic! There will be a 3 match guarantee, Friday and Saturday Dinners, Tee Shirt, snacks and of course our famous Mt Begbie Brewing Company on tap all weekend.

Sign up now! BC Junior Open Oct 25-27 The junior competition season gets into full swing with this season's highly anticipated 2019 BC Junior Open Championships being hosted by the  Evergreen Squash Club . The BC Junior Open Championships showcase BC's top athletic talents and provide critical competition opportunities for our emerging elite juniors. Spectators will enjoy high-calibre play from Squash BC's Regional and Provincial squad members. While the competition promises to be intense, the tournament also has a fun, cozy and homespun vibe with its contingent of warm and welcoming volunteers.  Entry fee includes a Friday night meal, Saturday lunch and snacks, plus lots of great draw prizes! Don't miss out!

Howe Cup in Seattle! Nov 15-17 This year, the Howe Cup Women’s Team Championships, the United States’ largest squash event for women, will be in Seattle.   The tournament will be held at the Seattle Athletic club, just one block away from Pike Place market, from November 15-17.   This is a great opportunity for our BC Women players to form a team and go on a fun road trip to compete, have fun and form lasting friendships and memories!

For info & sign up

Tournament Re-Caps

70 players from across BC participated in the Shawnigan Junior Open. It was a great weekend with lots of talented juniors competing for the various events - all based on Squash BC rankings. Division winners were: Boys Open - Jason Herring Girls Open - Alex Brown Boys Gold - Dylan Scott Boys Silver - Stuart Kerr Girls Sportsmanship - Sofia Quon Boys Sportsmanship - Dylan Scott Good Sportsmanship prevails at the Shawnigan Lake Junior Open 2019 written by Lynne Grass, Tournament Organizer We were fortunate to have some very generous sponsors (Taiji Brand Group, The Duncan Office, One Cent Realty, Coastal-Flo Plumbing, Canadian Bavarian Millwork and Lumber) which allowed for great draw prizes. The draw prizes were: an Apple Series 5 watch, 2 x X-Box, Bluetooth Speakers

2019 Early Bird The 2019 Early Bird Doubles/Singles Tournament took place September 23-29 at Vancouver Racquets Club and Vancouver Lawn Tennis Club . Highlights: the Men’s Open Final and the Money-Prizes given out (in the bar) by Andrew Mount, VRC Squash Pro, and Natasha Doucas, Squash BC President.   Congratulations to the Men’s Open winners, Mark Ridgeway and Andrew Smart, who defeated Viktor Berg and Gary Evans in a very close and exciting five-game final. In addition to the display of talent and skills by both Mark and Andrew, fans got to see Viktor’s amazing shots, and Gary’s exceptional cardio.

Mark gets the sportsmanship award for acknowledging that his match-ball winner might have ticked the top of the tin. Check out the play! A big Thank-You to both VRC and VLTBC, and to Andrew Mount and Steve Lawton, tournament chairs, and to the tireless work of committee volunteers, ambassadors, and starter referees. And to all winners who refereed, and especially all losers who acted as line judges. This event could not have been such a success without some key people: Brian Covernton, Julienne Joe, John Grant, Duncan Maxwell, Gerry Takeuchi, and the VRC office. Watch Match Point! Photos & video credits to Squash Republic Squash Republic's Facebook Page

Junior Pathway

Squash BC has partnered with our member club coaches and pros to develop, implement and support a vibrant Junior Pathways Development Program that encourages kids to take up the sport, helps them develop their skills and progressively introduces them to competition.    With financial support from the  2020 Fund , the program is a cornerstone to engaging, growing and maintaining a strong base of junior athletes. Our first Junior Pathway Events of the season are:

Progressive at Cedar Hill Ian Sefton at Cedar Hill Squash Club in Victoria will be running this tournament for juniors new to the tournament squash scene where they will be introduced to proper match play, reffing, and good sportsmanship habits. This event will be running Saturday October 5, 2019 at the Cedar Hill squash courts from 12pm-3pm. Along with getting tournament experience there will be pizza and gatorade. Sign up now!

Developing / Progressive at Vancouver Lawn Join in on the fun! This Junior Pathway event being run by Viktor Berg at the Vancouver Lawn Tennis Club will involve skills acquisition, drills, coach assessment and cooperative play with a focus on skills execution! Juniors will play round robin points for the 1st hour and then juniors will be sorted into groups of similar level playing abilities for a mini fun tournament. 1 to 4 pm Saturday Oct 19. Includes snacks, balls and souvenirs.

Van Lawn is a all white clothing club while playing squash. Please remember to wear 90% white clothing. Parking is available anywhere on the premises. Sign up now!

The 2020 Fund was established in 2000 by Squash BC to help protect the future of squash in British Columbia. As funding from government and other sources becomes less predictable, it is important to find alternative ways to ensure a sound financial future for the sport of squash. The income accumulated through the 2020 Fund is used to promote the growth of the game through the development of junior squash. By establishing a vibrant and well-financed junior program, Squash BC will take a major step toward a successful future for the sport in this province.  To donate to the 2020 Fund, click here .

Juniors

2019/20 Junior Squads in full Swing Squash BC is pleased to announce the members of its the Regional and Provincial Training Squads for the 2019/20 Season. Squash BC invites certain high-performing juniors to participate on one of three training squads: the Regional Interior, the Regional Coast or the Provincial training squad.  The goals of the Junior Development Program relative to its targeted athletes are To make BC squash players the strongest in the country To move these athletes on to the next level To provide these athletes with a sport for life The Regional Interior Squad members are: Christopher Adriaanse Simon Albrechtson Sophie Dorrius Aiden McCabe William Rutter Ryan Vest The Regional Coast Squad Members are: Sarah Aki Juliana Angel Roman Bicknell Jens Bolder Kathryn Herring Morven Liu Ocean Ma Spring Ma Lialah Mavani Lucas Quon Sofia Quon Weihan Wang The Provincial Squad members are: Lucia Bicknell Alexandra Brown Sarah Cao Jason Herring Grace Huang Jordan King Jacob Lin Maria Min James Toth Joseph Toth Christian Yuen Gabriel Yun

The Provincial Training Squad: The Regional Coast Training Squad: Squad members are invited to attend top quality training camps that are subsidized by Squash BC. The camps provide the athletes with: • the opportunity to train with other athletes they don’t normally train with; • a chance to train with and get feedback from different coaches, several of whom coach or have coached our national teams; • a measuring stick to see the extra work that is needed to get to the next level; • confidence and motivation to work hard to reach the next level; • an opportunity to get to know their peers better and build life-long relationships. Congratulations to the 2019/20 Squad Members and good luck for a safe and successful season!

Success for BC Juniors at Ontario Gold event Many BC juniors are now participating in national events to get competition experience and improve their game. Ontario holds 4 junior gold events each season , the first of which was just held at Mayfair Lakeshore Sep 22-24. These 2.5 day events are set by the Squash Ontario Junior Advisory Committee may award 4 out of province spots to round out 32-person draws. Two BC juniors entered and placed at this Ontario Gold. Kamran Gwadry placed 3rd in U13. Meanwhile, Morven Liu placed 3rd in U15. Congratulations Kamran and Morven!

Registration Open for Canadian Junior Open 2019 Registration is now open for the 2019 Canadian Junior Open (being held Dec 6-10). Click here to visit the tournament website. Registration Deadline: Thursday November 14 th  at Noon EST.

Coaching & Officiating

Sport Leadership Conference The Petro-Canada Sport Leadership sportif conference (#SLS19) being held in Richmond, BC Nov 7-9, 2019 is Canada’s conference for coaches, researchers, sport executives, and administrators. It consists of three full days of learning, professional development, and networking with the top minds and leaders of the Canadian sport, business, and education communities. Conference Objectives The conference will strengthen leadership in the Canadian sport system with the following objectives: Educate delegates through collaborative and quality breakout sessions with tangible take-away skills; Inspire delegates with topical and respected keynote speakers; Unite colleagues from sport organizations and energize and broaden potential networks of interest; and Recognize and celebrate Canada’s top coaches at the Petro-Canada Sport Leadership Awards Gala. 2019 Conference Theme MISSION: RESILIENCE An athlete’s body must be strong but supple. A coach’s mindset must be firm but flexible. A sport administrator’s vision must be inspirational but pragmatic. Alongside their skills, it will be their ability to recover and return following an injury, a loss, or a challenge. Their  resilience  will lead them to success.

Our sport community must be resilient as well. Its success demands commitment, cooperation, and courage. Just as participants must overcome obstacles and recover from their setbacks in sport, so must we be resilient in the face of the challenges with our sport system. We can learn to be more resilient by learning from each other. Learn More about the Conference

Get ready for the squash season! Take the Squash Canada Online Officiating Course Squash Canada Online Officiating Course ($35, about 1 hour to complete) includes   HD videos of challenging Referee decisions that help you become a better Referee.  When you pass the online test at the end (80% to pass), you will be certified as a Squash Canada Club Referee. To access click the  Online Certification Course  link  via this Squash Canada webpage

Women and Girls

Emerging Female Leaders Forum October 5, 2019 1:00-5:00 PM Lakeshore Racquet Club Summerland, B.C. 13607 Lakeshore Drive On October 5, 2019, Squash BC in partnership with the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) is presenting the Emerging Female Leaders Forum.   The forum is focused to increasing squash participation of women and girls in the sport in British Columbia.   Attendees will learn about current trends in the sport, proven best practices and hear relevant insights from the sport and squash community through a facilitated panel and round table discussion. Emerging Female Leaders Forum will be of interest to:   Any representative from a squash club, women's squash program or committee 2018 and 2019 Women's Squash Week Ambassadors Consider attending via the Web Squash BC is pleased to announce that we will be making the Forum available live via Zoom.  You will need to register in advance for this meeting by using the following link: Register here

The Emerging Female Leaders Forum will feature: Presentations supporting the trends in increasing participation of women and girls in other sports Discussions associated with current sport marketing /development best practices Insights on how other communities are approaching the issue of decreasing female sport participation A facilitated panel discussion designed to mobilize discussion, brainstorm and share insights on this topic Round table discussion with all participants Special Squash BC recognition presentation of the 2018 recipients of the Emerging Leaders in Squash award The Emerging Leaders Forum is also supported by: ProMOTION Plus, Sport BC, Buntain Insurance and Promosapien.

Wonderful Women's Squash Week 2019

By all accounts, Women's Squash Week 2019 was a resounding success! Numbers are still being compiled, but we definitely broke last year's participation numbers with over 300 participants taking part in events across the province. Jacqulin McNicol, one of the WSW2019 Ambassadors, reported: "the Squamish Squash Club had an unbelievable turnout at our 5 th  Annual WSW event which brought 58 amazing ladies to watch, participate, and last but not least, discuss their existing or new found love for the sport over a glass of wine and some amazing snacks.  This is a record turn out for our club and the evening really could not have gone any better. The feedback and excitement has been building with ladies set to play as early as next week if not sooner.  We are extremely proud to be a part of this yearly event and can’t thank Squash BC enough for their support in making it happen."

WSW2019 Fun at Jericho Meanwhile, Jericho ran 2 events to celebrate WSW2019 and had 42 participants. The events were designed to play, meet new players, test out the legs and skill levels before the season start. Click here for wave!

Other Announcements

Full article Squash Canada announces 2019/20 High Performance Squad Squash Canada is pleased to announce the ten athletes named to the High Performance Squad for 2019/2020. The squad are no strangers to the program as seasoned veterans in the Canadian squash community. The objective of the High Performance Squad is to prepare Canadian athletes to achieve both Canadian and International excellence. Our athletes receive coaching, athlete services, direct funding to support training and competition expenses, and follow a yearly training plan as counselled and monitored by a Squash Canada’s High Performance Director Martin Heath. Congratulations to BC's Nicole Bunyan for making the Team!

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