It is now time to start playing our GREAT game of Hardball Singles Squash —competitively — again. And that requires planning for what tournaments we want to hold, when.
I have copied each of you as fellow squash enthusiasts who have either been involved in running the now longstanding “traditional” Hardball Singles tournaments or have spoken about possibly organizing ones, e.g. in new cities like Boston, Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota, San Francisco. I also urge input from the Pros copied here as to what might be done in connection with the Professional Hardball Doubles Tournaments.
Paul Chan and I welcome your input on what you may be planning already or thinking, given that the HARDBALL NATIONALS have been set by US Squash for May 13-15, 2022, at the Spector US Squash Center in Philadelphia. The KIVA has already been set for December 2-5, 2021, in Santa Fe.
IMPORTANTLY, given the overlap between Hardball Singles and Doubles (the Dunlop balls have the same texture and playability), we want to include Hardball Singles as part of all Doubles weekends, by way of companion tournaments or consolations.
We did that in 2020 at the CENTURY (this season set already for January 15-17, 2022) and at the NATIONAL DOUBLES (this season on MARCH 11-13).
We are urging US. Squash to introduce Hardball Singles to the Juniors at the JUNIOR DOUBLES (April 29-31). Notably, at the last National Doubles tournament (just before the COVID Lockdown in March of 2020), the companion Hardball Singles tournament drew a number of Minnesota Juniors, with the 2 Finalists both being Juniors.
QUERY to US Squash, will there be a Collegiate Doubles tournament, as was planned before COVID? If not, why not?
Here are some suggestions for a schedule, based on historical dates and the date for the Nationals.
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2021 – 2022 HARDBALL Singles and Doubles SCHEDULE
Cardinal (DC) – Metropolitan Club or Squash on Fire
Tony Sanders/Ron Vlassaks
Merion Wide Court Hardball Invitational -- Whitney Thain
Milt Russ (NYC) – Richard Chin, Harvard Club
12/2-5 KIVA Classic (Santa Fe) – Walter Burke
Atlantic Coast (Atlantic City) – Greg Park/Paul Chan
William White (Philadelphia). - Whitney Thain
Howard Davis (Atlantic City) – Greg Park
1/15-17 Century Doubles (NYC) – Kit Tatum
Eastern States (NYC) – Charles Johnson
Cate (Santa Barbara) – Terry Eagle, Cate School
Woodruff-Nee (DC) – Metropolitan Club Tony Sanders
???? San Francisco — University Club John Lau
3/11- 13 US Squash Doubles Championships – Philadelphia
with Hardball Singles as well
??? Boston — Eiki Satake
??? New York — Najam Alavi
??? Minnesota —- Graham Bassett
4/29- 5/1 US Squash Junior Doubles with Companion Hardball Singles
??? 5/6-8 DC — Squash on Fire Ronny Vlassaks
5/13-15. US Hardball Singles Nationals with Mixed Doubles — Philly
As all well know, I am passionate about Hardball Singles Squash, especially with the new Dunlop Hardball for the wide courts. Fortunately, I have been able to play here in DC, at the Squash on Fire facility, with its Pros, World Class Coach Ronny Vlassaks and Karan Malik, former Captain of the National NCAA Championship winning Trinity College Team and an All-American, both loving and promoting Hardball Singles play as an enhancement to improving softball performance.
As I always say, Hardball Squash Singles and Doubles Are GREAT Games and GREAT Fun! They keep you FIT for a LIFETIME!!! AND they are REINFORCING!!
Hope to hear from you with you thoughts/comments/plans.
We will call to follow-up.
Tefft W. Smith
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