Three to Five Year Objectives:
1) Public Courts operated by the BSRA
2) Growth of Active Squash Population
3) Junior Development
4) Technical Training – Referees / Coaches
5) Public Awareness
6) Squash Tourism
7) Hosting of Regional Tournaments
8) Increased corporate funding
9) Improvement of the Financial Position
10) Relationships with international/regional squash organizations
In addition to the objectives summarized above and detailed within this document there is an important concept that may be considered as a -Ten Year Objective-.
Community Facilities – a squash court could be added to existing community centres and /or cricket clubs. Initially these could be open air facilities with concrete floors which utilize at least one wall of the existing building. The BSRA could send volunteer coaches out to these facilities at least in the initial stages until residents of the area became familiar with the game.
DEVELOPMENT PLAN
1) Public Courts operated by the BSRA
Currently, there are no public squash courts in Barbados and the BSRA does not have a home. There are only five squash courts in the island where members of the public can rent facilities and play squash. These are located at the Barbados Squash Club (3), Pleasant Place Squash Club (1) and the Accra Beach Hotel (1). There is also one court at the Defense Force (very limited usage to non-members of the Defense Force) and two courts at the Almond Beach Club in St. Peter (for guest use only). The lack of facilities and most importantly the lack of affordable facilities is a critical limiting factor for the game of squash.
The limitations realized by this lack of facilities can be summarized as follows:
1) expansion of the game is limited
2) introduction of the game to schools and rural communities is limited
3) Hosting of local tournaments is expensive and controlled by the owners of the courts (BSRA has to pay court fees when tournaments are hosted and when the courts are used for the junior program).
4) the number of participants in the junior program is limited by no of courts
Specific Objectives
– To lobby the National Sports Council and the Barbados Olympic Association for the construction of facilities. (ongoing)
– To start a building fund (fuelled by a percentage of all fund raising, sponsorship and donations eg buy a brick). (Council approval received for this initiative)
– To appoint a Committee who are not currently involved in squash administration who will have the sole objective of working towards creating a new squash facility on the island. (by March 2003)
2) To encourage growth and involvement of the active squash population (the junior section of the population in item 3)
– To continue to host at least one veteran’s tournament per year.
– To continue to host at least one Open tournament per year
– To continue to host the one National Championships per year
– To resurrect the Interclub League that attracts social club players who may not like the more serious competitive environment of the other tournaments (to recommence 2003).
3) Junior Development
Junior Program
The Saturday Junior Program allows children from all walks of life and at all levels of squash to benefit from squash coaching. The sessions run in line with the three school terms and are led by head coach Richard Walcott and a team of -volunteer coaches- which comprises national players and other enthusiastic mature players. The cost to participants is $4 per session. The BSRA provides rackets, balls and eyewear (eyewear is mandatory). The sessions attract 40 kids on average every week.
Specific Objectives:
– To continue with program indefinitely
– To maintain current level of participation (the facilities limit expansion of program).
– To continuously improve level of coaching.
– If we can’t take squash to schools then let us bring schools to squash. As an addition to the Saturday program sessions could be held during the week for schools located in close proximity to the squash courts eg St Lawrence, St Mathias and the Garrison Secondary. (to be actioned during the 2003-2004 period)
Holiday Camps
The resurrection of an initiative spearheaded by Rudy Goodridge several years ago when
Summer Squash camps were hosted. Squash camps strengthen the camaraderie between junior players and stimulate interest in players new to the game.
Specific Objectives:
– To host two junior holiday camps per year (the first of these – Easter 2003 is currently in planning stages).
– At least one of these camps must provide training for beginner players.
Junior Tournaments
– To host a minimum of two junior tournaments per year. At least one of these tournaments should be regional/international. (achieved in 2002)
Advanced Junior Development (to be considered and acted on in 2003)
– To coordinate a special focus on advanced and/or highly talented junior players.
– To work in conjunction with parents to increase the overseas exposure for these juniors. Providing assistance in sourcing sponsorship for tours and equipment.
4) Technical Training
– To pursue development grants aimed at technical training for coaches/referees
– To continue to host local clinics for coaches/referees (on average one referee clinic is hosted a year and available free of cost to all interested persons. This is accomplished by inviting an international referee who holidays on the island to donate an afternoon. Hosting of coaching clinics for coaches has been halted due to the expense of bringing a well recognized coach to the island from overseas).
– To promote participation by members of the BSRA in events/seminars/courses provided by national bodies such as the BOA and the NSC. Eg the BOA Sports Adminstrator’s Course (squash will participate in the Jan 2003 course)
– To maintain contact with the Sports Medicine Association and participate in their initiatives.
5) Public Awareness
– To document and submit to the media all information relating to the success of Barbadian players at home and abroad. (all tournament results currently submitted to both newspapers).
– To publish a newsletter at least three times a year (Drop Shot – 2003 1st issue expected by the end of February).
– To maintain a web site containing substantial information relating to squash in Barbados (www.squashbarbados.org).
6) Squash Tourism
– To work with interested groups to promote Barbados as a holiday squash destination and/or training holiday for University players.
– To maintain and strengthen relations with existing groups eg Sharif Khan and the Khan Festival – hosted in October 2001, 2002.
7) Hosting of Regional Tournaments
– As noted at least one regional junior tournament per year.
– To host the junior and senior Caribbean and Southern Caribbean tournaments in the years allotted to Barbados (CASA 2003 scheduled for Barbados – August)
8) Improvement of the Financial Position
– To obtain full sponsorship for all BSRA activities (ongoing)
– To ensure that the fund raising committee is active and functioning (through reporting system to Council).
– To work with the NSC and other National Federations in joint fund raising efforts
9) Relationships with international/regional squash organizations
– To maintain relationships with international/regional organizations eg (World Squash Federation, Pan American Squash Federation) and take advantage of development opportunities.
