World Squash Day Big Hit Aims To Attract One Million New Players
World Squash Day returns on
Saturday October 12th with ambitious plans to attract one million new
players to the game over the next decade.
The theme for 2019 is for every club on the planet to
open their doors and hold a free taster session called The Big Hit.
Clubs and federations will be supported by social media
campaigns and a new WSD website
www.worldsquashday.net has been set up to
provide further ideas and promotional material which can be downloaded
for free.
World Squash Day founder Alan Thatcher said: "Our
aim is to attract 100,000 new players to the game this year.
"Every club and squash facility is invited to host a Big
Hit taster session to promote the health benefits that squash has to
offer, alongside the fun and friendly social atmosphere that is a
universal part of our great game.
"Each club can create their own pathways to look after
those newcomers, including weekly group sessions, mentors to help them
on their way, and social evenings to complement the huge fitness buzz
that squash is guaranteed to deliver."
World Squash Day is endorsed by the World Squash
Federation, PSA, and national federations across the globe.
"World Squash Day is a wonderful annual initiative,"
said World Squash Federation president Jacques Fontaine. "It
provides such a great opportunity for clubs everywhere to show the
public who have not yet experienced it just what makes our sport so
popular around the globe."
Many nations are already planning campaigns to support
the push to attract a new generation of players.
England Squash have launched
one of the biggest development initiatives in the history of World
Squash Day. In partnership with racket brand Karakal, they are
offering equipment bags including 18 rackets, plus a grant of £250, to
the first 100 clubs to sign up. To date, 76 clubs have signed up to
support the initiative.
Mark Williams, Director of
Sport at England Squash. said: "World Squash Day serves as a springboard
to inspire the nation to pick up a racket and we are thrilled to have
Karakal's support to grow the game in England.
"This year, we've set the ambitious target of engaging
5,000 players through World Squash Day events in England and we are
encouraging clubs to sign up and help showcase our fantastic sport to
their local communities. Delivery partners will receive a host of
incentives including the Karakal kit bag and a £250 grant to grow their
programmes."
Thatcher added: "We hope this fantastic event will
capture the imagination of the wider public and attract new people to
the game. To make it a huge success, we need the support of every squash
club and federation.
"Next year on World Squash Day we plan to launch Squash:
Project 200 as we begin the 10-year countdown to the 200th anniversary
of the birth of squash.
"If we can attract 100,000 new players to the game every
year over the next decade, that's one million new players, all buying
rackets and equipment, spending money on hiring courts, supporting their
local clubs and federations, and helping to create stars of the future."
Further information from Alan Thatcher:
alan@squashmad.com
Website:
www.worldsquashday.net
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