How do we get more adult squash players to play tournaments? The small draws in both national and local tournaments are well documented. It doesn’t have to be this way. There is an art to running a successful tournament that used to be the norm – but, with some notable exceptions, the skill has been largely lost or just ignored over the past 20-25 years. But the mistakes that are being made can be corrected. There are plenty of players out there that could and would be playing in tournaments and the key is to get them engaged and psyched to play. Here are 10 thoughts on how to get them playing.
1. Do not assume that just because a tournament is put up on a calendar that people will sign up. In the old days people felt a sense of obligation to institutions that people today for the most part no longer feel. People today have many, many options for using their valuable free time and do not feel guilty about pursuing their other choices.
2. Don’t run a tournament by committee. Have a single tournament director (with the support of a committee) who cares passionately about the success of a tournament. Let them “own” the tournament. For every great tournament I have ever played I can tell you exactly who the tournament director was – going back to my junior squash days. It was their passion that made the tournament great.
3. Reach out to those who entered last year. I have been amazed that I am seldom contacted by tournament directors to play even when I was in the draw the year before. When I ran my (fully-subscribed) tournament for 7 years, the first group I contacted for the upcoming tournament was everyone who had played in the past. The draws were 80% filled after that.
4. Reach out individually to those who haven’t yet entered. Make it your goal to fill every draw. Reach out individually to players in the city who didn’t sign up and sell them on why they should be in the tournament. Promise them a great time – and deliver.
5. Make the tournament special and memorable. Have a special shirt. Have a great Saturday night party. Have a great pro exhibition. Do something special that makes people excited to come back next year.
6. Get the logistics right. Be thoughtful about giving enough time between matches. Get entrants their starting time by Wednesday noon before a tournament. Arrange courts so that you don’t have huge delays even if there are lots of 5-game matches. Have towels and water handy. Enter match results instantly.
7. Walk around the tournament. Don’t just sit behind the desk assuming everything is going ok. There will be confusion and the sooner you resolve it the better. There will be bad referees. Poorly behaved players. Injuries. Confusion about who plays on what court. Nip it in the bud by having someone else be behind the desk and get out and about.
8. Think of it as hosting a big party. Make sure people are happy. Find out what they are thinking. Get suggestions for next year. Encourage people to come to the Saturday night party. Show them that you care deeply about their experience at the tournament.
9. Follow up with players after the tournament. Get their feedback and suggestions for next year. Share the tournament highlights with all competitors. Make them glad they were part of such a great event.
10. Publicize the success of your tournament. Get it onto the association’s website and into the newsletter; email it to association members and post pictures – social and competitive – on social media. Make sure everyone who didn’t play knows that they missed a great event that they won’t want to miss next year.