What's On My Mind
by Georgetta Morque
March 20, 2014

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.
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