Please see a News Update from the Board of Irish Squash – May 2021

NEWS UPDATE FROM THE BOARD OF IRISH SQUASH

The Covid pandemic has limited our access to playing the sport we all love for much longer than any of us might have predicted. Throughout the past year, an Irish Squash working group collaborated with Sport Ireland to develop and refine Covid Return to Play protocols and we outline our current plans for restarting on June 7th below. 

In addition, there are other very significant initiatives underway: a Single Platform and a new Strategy for Irish Squash with further enhancement of our Governance structure.

Irish Squash Announce Service Agreement with SportyHQ

Irish Squash and SportyHQ signed a 5 year contract in April 2021 whereby the single software platform will be rolled out to affiliated members of Irish Squash over the next couple of years.

This will take place on an ‘opt in’ basis and will be provided as a benefit of affiliation to Irish Squash. The board of Irish Squash recognises that the smart use of technology will allow us to provide an enhanced service to our members and also improve general operations within the organisation. 

A project team was established in July 2020 with Peter O’Halloran, board member Irish Squash as Project Lead and Rosie Barry, President Irish Squash as Sponsor. Several software providers were invited to tender for the contract and provided detailed demos to the project team. Testimonials from other national squash organisations generated useful insight and we are grateful to colleagues in Scotland, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Finland, Germany and ESF for their time and input. 

At NGB and provincial level, SportyHQ will allow us to manage affiliations and to introduce a player rating and rankings model. We will be using SportyHQ to run our tournaments. Clubs have the option of using the platform to manage their membership payments, court bookings and run events. Players will be able to establish their own profiles on the platform and use mobile apps for scoring matches and booking courts.

The platform can also be used by clubs and provinces to create and update their websites.

Please watch our website for updates on the roll out of SportyHQ, commencing over the next couple of months!

Members of the Project Team in Phase 1 included: David Ayerst, Mark McGugan, Gerry Galvin, Brian O’Brien, Eugene Walker, Mark Gilliland, Andrew Gillespie, Gerry Callanan, Karim Singh, Anne Costello, Niall Rooney and Paul Nugent.

We are grateful to Sport Ireland for additional funding provided to us in support of this project.

Sport Ireland Governance Code and new Strategic Plan for Irish Squash

All NGBs are expected to comply with the Sport Ireland Governance Code by the end of 2021.

Irish Squash established a working group to review our existing policies and introduce new ones with the assistance of solicitor Sarah O’Shea, SOS Sports Consult. A review of our board and committee structures is also underway as part of this process.

In addition, we are re-engineering our Strategic Plan and have engaged the services of Derek McGrath and John Feehan of Sport2Sport to facilitate this work. The process of consulting with our stakeholders will begin over the next 4-6 weeks. Please check our website regularly for updates and to see how you can contribute to this project.

We aim to launch our new plan in September, hopefully in tandem with the start of a season where we can enjoy competitive squash once more.

COVID-19 Update

On June 7th, solo training will be permitted on squash courts and 2 household members may train together. Coaching on a one-to-one basis may also restart with social distancing observed and mask to be worn by the coach. Players should arrive at the club in their gear as changing rooms will remain closed.

All standard Covid restrictions must continue to be observed whilst off court.

Please note that we have specifically engaged with Sport Ireland regarding Covid vaccination status and access to play:  there is currently NO variation in the guidelines for individuals who are fully vaccinated.

We await further clarification about the timeframe beyond June 7th for the resumption of ‘pod training’ and we are in the process of developing our plans to restart competitions as soon as public health restrictions allow.

Derek Ryan’s online training sessions for Irish Squash are extremely popular and will prepare many of us for returning to the court. For those who haven’t been able to train, check out Sport Ireland’s website for advice on returning to play after a prolonged absence from sport – the last thing anyone needs is an injury just as we can get back on court!

Please check our website regularly for further news updates and contact us on [email protected] with any queries.

Rosie Barry

President Irish Squash

On June 7th, solo training will be permitted on squash courts and 2 household members may train together. Coaching on a one-to-one basis may also restart with social distancing observed and mask to be worn by the coach. Players should arrive at the club in their gear as changing rooms will remain closed.

All standard Covid restrictions must continue to be observed whilst off court.

Please note that we have specifically engaged with Sport Ireland regarding Covid vaccination status and access to play:  there is currently NO variation in the guidelines for individuals who are fully vaccinated.

We await further clarification about the timeframe beyond June 7th for the resumption of ‘pod training’ and we are in the process of developing our plans to restart competitions as soon as public health restrictions allow.

Derek Ryan’s online training sessions for Irish Squash are extremely popular and will prepare many of us for returning to the court. For those who haven’t been able to train, check out Sport Ireland’s website for advice on returning to play after a prolonged absence from sport – the last thing anyone needs is an injury just as we can get back on court!

Please check our website regularly for further news updates and contact us on [email protected] with any queries.

Rosie Barry

President Irish Squash

Irish Squash has just learnt of the very sad passing of Jack Davies from Galway LTC. The President, Rosie Barry and the board of Irish Squash would like to pass on its condolences to Andre, Naomi & Molly.

See a tribute to Jack from the Davies Family below;

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Son & Brother Jack Davies. Jack passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on the 1^st May 2021 after a brave battle against cancer.

Jack was a relatively late starter to squash but took to it like a duck to water and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the squash community at both junior and senior level. He played with passion and loved playing all of the venues around the country where he met some great friends, always commenting on how the squash playing community was made up of some great people.

A talented racket sport specialist, Jack played squash, tennis and badminton, all to a high level. Galway Lawn Tennis Club was like a second home to Jack where he both played and, in the past, worked. Most recently he was coaching all three sports at the club as part of his sports degree which he absolutely loved.

One of Jack’s greatest disappointments when learning of his terminal illness was that he would no longer be able to compete, such was his passion for sport. He still continued to follow all of his sporting heroes some of whom reached out to Jack with messages of support including Dominic Thiem and the great Roger Federer himself.

For those who knew Jack and his personality, you will understand there is now a void in our family that will never be filled. We can only hope that time will allow some healing and that we can continue his legacy in life and sport.

We would like to thank everyone for their messages of good will and support, it is hugely appreciated.

May Jack’s gentle soul rest in peace.

Andre, Naomi & Molly

See all the information & centres re the Walk-In Covid-19 Testing Centres. We would ask our clubs & members to please circulate these through your club network and on social media to support the identification of asymptomatic cases in the community.

CLICK HERE 

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Send a mail to [email protected] to register by 1pm on Thursday 15th April 2021

Videos May be On or Off during each of the sessions.

Good luck and we hope you all enjoy the tournament!!

Irish Squash in partnership  with Squash Fitness are offering a 12 week strength & conditioning programme for Juniors, commencing next Monday April 5th and for Seniors commencing Wednesday April 7th.

How it works?

Sport Ireland invites applications for Women in Sport Analysis and Punditry Training

Through its Women in Sport Programme, Sport Ireland is seeking candidates to partake in a new initiative that will provide expert training on pre, during, and post sport event analysis and punditry for broadcast (TV, live-streaming, radio).

Increasing the visibility of females in sport is a key pillar of the Sport Ireland Women in Sport Policy and a number of objectives have been set out, including the training of potential female analyst and pundits. Increasing the pool of female candidates available to broadcasters is one such objective.

The programme, run in conjunction with training, development, and communications experts The Communications Clinic, will last approximately six months, and will provide the successful candidates with the understanding and the practical skills of working in a live studio environment, preparation & research for broadcasts, on-air delivery, establishing area(s) of specialisation and establishing relationships with key stakeholders – broadcasters, players, officials and governing bodies.

Chief Executive of Sport Ireland, John Treacy welcomes the launch of the training, “I am delighted to open applications for this training. Sport Ireland is committed to increasing women’s sustained involvement in sport as coaches, volunteers, club members, athletes, advocates, leaders, and participants.  Having more females visible as analysts and pundits is central to increasing involvement and visibility and I look forward to seeing more balance on our screens and on the airwaves in the near future”. 

As part of the training programme, the successful candidates will also partake in a mentorship programme, which will see them learn from the very best in the business.

Director of Participation and Ethics, Dr. Úna May commented, “This training will take women who have a passion for sport, who know their sport inside out and prepare them to face the obstacles that exist in television and radio. It will help them develop the skills, experience, confidence and ability to become world class media contributors and national role models. Increasing the visibility for women in sport is a key aim of our work and we look forward to seeing more visible role models”.

Sport Ireland Women in Sport Lead, Nora Stapleton added, “Since the Sport Ireland Women in Sport Policy was launched in 2019, significant work has been done to increase the visibility of women in sport. We know that the heroes of today inspire the next generation and sports heroes aren’t just those who compete or perform on the world stage. Many people look up to the expert analysists and pundits and it is important that there are female role models in this area as well”.

The training is aimed at anyone who has a love for sport, a flair for analysing and dissecting matches and events and are seeking a career in the media. 

Interested individuals are asked to submit a brief personal statement that gives a summary of why they are interested in partaking in this programme, and how their experience makes them a suitable candidate for the programme. The application must also include a short video or audio clip analysing a passage of play from a match or event.

Further information on the training and the application format can be found on the Sport Ireland website.

Applications must be submitted by email to [email protected] by 5pm on Friday April 2^nd.  Applications must include a completed application form and a sample audio or video file.

For the full details and to download the application form visit Sport Ireland website.

www.sportireland.ie/women-in-sport/broadcast-training