World Squash Update
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WORLD SQUASH UPDATE Issue 80 May/June 2019 FOR ALL WSF REGIONAL & NATIONAL FEDERATIONS cc: WSF Regional Presidents, WSF Commssion Members, Stakeholders, PSA members, SPINs, Media, Accredited Products and Companies FROM: WSF EXECUTIVE BOARD TO: WSF REGIONS AND NATIONS WSF STRATEGIC PLANNING & STAFF UPDATE (Circulated on 25 April) Colleagues will have read this in the April Briefing circulated to Regions and Nations: The timing of the end of the Olympic bid and Andrew Shelley’s leaving will be used for (i) a full scale ‘deep dive’ Strategic Review involving all stakeholders to determine future WSF priorities, and (in tandem) (ii) development of key criteria and a global process to identify and recruit a Chief Executive Officer. The Board reviewed the decision of Andrew Shelley to step down and decided that to deal with this in the following manner: 1. Because of the importance of making the right appointment and while also determining the strategy, and structure of WSF this process would not be rushed. 2. It was noted and welcomed that Andrew Shelley would be willing to offer office support after his finishing date (30 June), subject to discussion and agreement. 3. President Jacques Fontaine along with Board members Peter Lasusa and Huang Ying How will lead the development of the framework for our in depth strategic plan in tandem with the search for our new CEO. During this process the WSF office will be set-up to conduct ‘business as usual’ over the coming months. The Board wants to confirm that given our strong relationship with the Professional Squash Association, both for the Paris 2024 Olympic bid and generally via our MOU, both bodies agree that the bid outcome sends a very clear message that we must focus solely on strategies that will help ensure that the sport flourishes, rather than what we think will please the IOC. There will be sport-wide efforts to promote and grow squash globally that might place us closer to Olympic Games acceptance but this will not define us going forward. The ‘deep dive’ Strategic Planning will reflect these intentions in terms of re-calibrating priorities in our own plan, and also the joint strategic planning that we will undertake with the PSA. This planning will not be done as an internal project as the WSF Board regard it as essential that Region & Nation input is deeply embraced, and accordingly, representatives of a cross section of Member Nations will be on the intended strategic planning committee and it will be led by an experienced strategic planning facilitator. A good deal of our time at the up-coming Annual General Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa in November will be devoted to this essential process. We will be updating the member nations routinely on these important developments for our sport. Thank you for your cooperation and support. Jacques FONTAINE, President, World Squash Federation 1 WSF BOARD & EXCO MEET IN LISBON * The Executive Committee were updated on progress being made towards recommendations In April, alongside the European Team Championship from the Voting Review Group following their survey Division 3 in Lisbon, the WSF Board and the WSF of National Federations. A report will be received by Executive Committee (Board + Regional Presidents + the Board in time for an AGM motion to alter the PSA) met. Key outcomes for information were: procedure, if thought appropriate. * Led by President Jacques Fontaine the Executive Committee reviewed the outcome of the bid to secure a place on the programme of the Paris 2024 ____________________________________ Olympic Games. The use of entirely different criteria that had been published to justify the addition of For promotion and break-dancing had already led to formal protests to both the Paris Organising Committee and the IOC. ranking points ..... While a meeting with the IOC Director of Sport was eventually offered, at the time of the meeting he had not provided a slot. These events form part of the WSF and PSA Satellite The late bringing forward of the announcement was Tours. also unhelpful as we fund-raised to cover the costs, leaving us and bid partners PSA with a substantial ~ WSF World and WSF Regional Junior deficit to cover. Championships However, all felt the quality and strength of the bid ~National Senior & Junior Championships was excellent – it was only the movement of the IOC ~ National Junior Opens away from genuine sports and into youth activities ~ Satellite Tournaments that caused the failure. General details and event registration here In light of this, the general intention is to focus World Junior ranking lists can be seen here initiatives and activities solely on the benefit they bring to the sport, rather than trying to positively influence the IOC. When the opportunity to be considered for Los Angeles 2028 comes around a view will be taken on the approach, cost and amount of effort to be expended upon it. * The Board reviewed the decision of Andrew Shelley to step down (see next page) and decided to deal with this in the following manner: - Because of the importance of making the right appointment and first determining the strategy and structure of WSF this process would not be rushed. - It was noted and welcomed that Andrew Shelley would be willing to offer office support after his finishing date (30 June), subject to discussion and agreement. - President Jacques Fontaine and Board members Peter Lasusa and Huang Ying How will lead the development of plans. During this process the WSF office will operate as normal. - The timing of the end of the Olympic bid and Andrew Shelley’s leaving will be used for a full scale ‘deep dive’ Strategic Review, relationships and priorities for WSF as mentioned above. * WSF Commission reports were reviewed as were update reports on the development of WSO (World Squash Officiating) and Club Locker Transition, amongst other topics. 2 ANDREW SHELLEY STEPS DOWN next natural stage is a squash museum, but one thing at a time!). After nine years in the role of WSF Chief Executive, Andrew Shelley confirmed his desire to step down to To conclude, I would like to thank you Jacques, and the WSF Board in March, finishing in his role at the the Board members too for all your friendship and end of June. support. As can be seen from the Board meeting notes on page While I first joined a WSF committee in 1985, and two, the Board have plans to deal with this; and as acted as TD for World Championships from the Andrew has said that he is happy to support the WSF institution of the role in 1990 until I started on the staff office during the transition period, it was emphasised in 2010, actually working full time for WSF has been a that it will be business as usual for the WSF great chapter of my life. administration. _________________________________________ An extract …. WSF APPROVED BALLS Here is how he explained his reasons and his plans in an extract from his letter: Dunlop provide the WSF Adopted Ball, which is The Olympic bid is over – sadly, far earlier than we used for all WSF World and Regional Championships. had hoped – and the challenges facing us need strong A number of manufacturers make balls that have been impetus as we consider our future relationships and tested to conform to the WSF Squash Ball strategy. Specifications and so are quality assured. With this in mind I have decided that it is the right time for both WSF and myself for me to step down as They are all listed here: CEO. I saw the Olympic bid through as promised but if I stay Artengo SB 990 Squash Ball a little longer I will only be hanging around and hanging on. Instead, I should be letting a fresh CEO make a start. Dunlop XX Yellow Dot Championship Ball It is definitely in our best interests not to delay. For myself, I set off Eye Squash Ball with the intention of working in squash for a couple of years before getting HEAD Sport AG Yellow Dot Ball a ‘proper’ job. Instead of that brief Huashen Double & Single period I have spent Yellow Dot Balls 43 years on the front line of our sport, and it is the Karakal Squash Ball right moment for me to step down from a central role, MR Price Sport Maxed Squash Ball but step back a little too. I have been incredibly fortunate in having three jobs in the 43 years that I have been passionate about – in Prince Rebel Pro Ball a sport that I love too. I have been supported by the stellar talents of Lorraine and Jazz (and before them Heather Hills at WISPA), Taiball Yellow Dot Ball who have masked so many of my failings and enabled me to muddle through. It is time to release Lorraine and Jazz from their burden! Tecnifibre Squash Ball My intention is to carry on working if an opportunity arises, and ideally in squash. Also to have time to fulfil Victor/VICTEC Doppel-Gelb my vision of a Squash Archive so that squash’s books, Squash Ball programmes, handbooks, magazines and films are collected together and available in perpetuity. (The 3 NZ TO HOST THE WSF MEN’S TEAMS WSF ACCREDITATION World team squash returns to the North Island city of WSF Accredited Products available from these Tauranga after just four years as New Zealand hosts companies mean assured standards when building or the WSF Men's World Team Championship 2021. renovating squash courts. Contact details on the WSF website It was in 2017 that the fifth largest city in New Zealand staged the Women's World Junior Team Championship - and now the Devoy Squash & Fitness Centre (pictured below during the 2017 championships) will welcome the world's leading men for the Men's World Team Championship, 38 years after the biennial WSF championship was last held in New Zealand, in Auckland, in 1983.