Comments for Alan Thatcher's Squash Blog http://squashuk.com Squash reporting and analysis from the front line Sat, 12 May 2012 12:04:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 Comment on PSL: Super Surrey claim hat-trick by admin http://squashuk.com/players/psl-super-surrey-claim-hat-trick/#comment-1072 admin Sat, 12 May 2012 12:04:05 +0000 http://squashuk.com/?p=4004#comment-1072 Great video. Thanks Dre. The way Adrian and Tom moved and competed non-stop for 80 minutes was truly phenomenal. Great video. Thanks Dre. The way Adrian and Tom moved and competed non-stop for 80 minutes was truly phenomenal.

]]> Comment on PSL: Super Surrey claim hat-trick by admin http://squashuk.com/players/psl-super-surrey-claim-hat-trick/#comment-1071 admin Sat, 12 May 2012 12:03:15 +0000 http://squashuk.com/?p=4004#comment-1071 Thanks Dre. Some excellent coverage on BBC TV today with Nick Matthew, James Willstrop and Laura Massaro. I've got a good feeling about the Olympic bid this time. Alan Thanks Dre. Some excellent coverage on BBC TV today with Nick Matthew, James Willstrop and Laura Massaro. I’ve got a good feeling about the Olympic bid this time.
Alan

]]> Comment on PSL: Super Surrey claim hat-trick by Dre http://squashuk.com/players/psl-super-surrey-claim-hat-trick/#comment-1068 Dre Sat, 12 May 2012 00:09:53 +0000 http://squashuk.com/?p=4004#comment-1068 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5rJC04VdaE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5rJC04VdaE

]]> Comment on PSL: Super Surrey claim hat-trick by Dre http://squashuk.com/players/psl-super-surrey-claim-hat-trick/#comment-1067 Dre Sat, 12 May 2012 00:07:45 +0000 http://squashuk.com/?p=4004#comment-1067 A great night Alan pure entertainment ... The Olympic committee take note squash is one great sport requiring the highest levels of fitness and skills ... <a href="" title="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5rJC04VdaE" rel="nofollow"> A great night Alan pure entertainment …

The Olympic committee take note squash is one great sport requiring the highest levels of fitness and skills …

]]> Comment on Save Our Squash! Campaign stops court closures by Alan Prosser http://squashuk.com/players/save-our-squash-campaign-stops-court-closures/#comment-1056 Alan Prosser Tue, 08 May 2012 20:45:01 +0000 http://squashuk.com/?p=3467#comment-1056 An excellent result. Regular team and social players at Bridgend town, Mid Glamorgan South Wales are fighting a similar proposal using the same camaign theme, e petition, lobbying of locally elected councillors etc We are about to engage with the local press. Given that we are only 6 weeks away from total closure and removal of 3 courts with no consultation. Not suprisingly we are still coming up against a brick wall in parts of the council and newly appointed private providers and I was wondering whether there were any addiitonal tactics you used to get your voices heard. Regards Alan Prosser Chairman Sunnyside Squash Club An excellent result.

Regular team and social players at Bridgend town, Mid Glamorgan South Wales are fighting a similar proposal using the same camaign theme, e petition, lobbying of locally elected councillors etc We are about to engage with the local press. Given that we are only 6 weeks away from total closure and removal of 3 courts with no consultation.

Not suprisingly we are still coming up against a brick wall in parts of the council and newly appointed private providers and I was wondering whether there were any addiitonal tactics you used to get your voices heard.

Regards

Alan Prosser
Chairman
Sunnyside Squash Club

]]> Comment on BLOG: Let there be light by Simon Crowther http://squashuk.com/players/blog-let-there-be-light/#comment-1053 Simon Crowther Mon, 07 May 2012 22:02:51 +0000 http://squashuk.com/?p=3942#comment-1053 that was meant to be a :$ ! that was meant to be a :$ !

]]> Comment on BLOG: Let there be light by Simon Crowther http://squashuk.com/players/blog-let-there-be-light/#comment-1052 Simon Crowther Mon, 07 May 2012 17:15:53 +0000 http://squashuk.com/?p=3942#comment-1052 Well, I suppose the line of thinking is one which produces continuity of play. ie. what the PST is attempting (although I can't really see how a no let policy could work in a game like squash where there is a clear safety consideration - I would need to have a proper look at what they are doing). But, yes, if it is possible to tighten the rules to result in fewer lets and fishing attempts, then it should be done. Quite a difficult task though, I would suggest. The rules are trying to move in that direction and I actually find the minimal interferance rule fairly clear: To me it means interferance that doesn't impede the player on their journey to the ball. Or, maybe that's my interpretation of it. 'Every effort' seems a bit inaccurate... do you have to dive on the floor, for instance? But then, sufficient effort? Sufficient for what? That point is really to do with whether or not the player would have got to the ball, which isn't necessarily about the amount of effort - some players will get there easily, others not. Some will be tired others less etc. etc. This is where the common sense element has to come in. I am all for referees being selected on the basis of performance, but, at the moment, that might tend to reduce the numbers somewhat. :D Well, I suppose the line of thinking is one which produces continuity of play. ie. what the PST is attempting (although I can’t really see how a no let policy could work in a game like squash where there is a clear safety consideration – I would need to have a proper look at what they are doing). But, yes, if it is possible to tighten the rules to result in fewer lets and fishing attempts, then it should be done. Quite a difficult task though, I would suggest.
The rules are trying to move in that direction and I actually find the minimal interferance rule fairly clear: To me it means interferance that doesn’t impede the player on their journey to the ball. Or, maybe that’s my interpretation of it. ‘Every effort’ seems a bit inaccurate… do you have to dive on the floor, for instance? But then, sufficient effort? Sufficient for what? That point is really to do with whether or not the player would have got to the ball, which isn’t necessarily about the amount of effort – some players will get there easily, others not. Some will be tired others less etc. etc. This is where the common sense element has to come in.
I am all for referees being selected on the basis of performance, but, at the moment, that might tend to reduce the numbers somewhat. :D

]]> Comment on BLOG: Let there be light by Seshadri http://squashuk.com/players/blog-let-there-be-light/#comment-1051 Seshadri Mon, 07 May 2012 04:21:50 +0000 http://squashuk.com/?p=3942#comment-1051 Good post, Simon. Of course I'm not disputing the point that decent remuneration will interest more ex-pros in refereeing. But the problem still remains that unless the rules provide a clear and consistent line of thinking that will provide the identical decision in all [or at least the overwhelming majority of] interference situations, we will still see wide fluctuations in the judgements. I have a collection of well over a hundred Pro matches ranging from Jansher to Ramy. Frankly, I can think of only one referee [let him remain unnamed for now] that I would trust 100% to understand exactly what is going on. There are other good refs, but their performances are of the curate's egg kind--good in parts. Right now, refs are unaccountable to either players or coaches--it's a very unhealthy situation when those most affected by poor refereeing have no say in the ranking of referees. A better option is to have an elite panel of neutral referees who are graded on their performances by the players and coaches. Good post, Simon. Of course I’m not disputing the point that decent remuneration will interest more ex-pros in refereeing. But the problem still remains that unless the rules provide a clear and consistent line of thinking that will provide the identical decision in all [or at least the overwhelming majority of] interference situations, we will still see wide fluctuations in the judgements.
I have a collection of well over a hundred Pro matches ranging from Jansher to Ramy. Frankly, I can think of only one referee [let him remain unnamed for now] that I would trust 100% to understand exactly what is going on. There are other good refs, but their performances are of the curate’s egg kind–good in parts. Right now, refs are unaccountable to either players or coaches–it’s a very unhealthy situation when those most affected by poor refereeing have no say in the ranking of referees.
A better option is to have an elite panel of neutral referees who are graded on their performances by the players and coaches.

]]> Comment on BLOG: Let there be light by Simon Crowther http://squashuk.com/players/blog-let-there-be-light/#comment-1050 Simon Crowther Sun, 06 May 2012 13:47:08 +0000 http://squashuk.com/?p=3942#comment-1050 People are always going to rebel against officials, in any sport. Some squash players are badly behaved. Probably most recognise that it is to their advantage to keep quiet, play on and let things average out, unless the decision is really bad. But, they do respect good markers and when matches are marked well, there is generally good continuity, in my experience as a spectator. Yes, you could refine the rules a bit, but squash is a complex game with many grey areas and I often thnk it is in trying to apply the letter of the rules that many referees come unstuck and lose the respect of the players. Good markers employ a combination of in-depth, practical experience of the game, application of the rules and common sense. There are some people in pretty much every club who can do this, but you don't get good people without compensation for their efforts. What you get is people who feel they are doing the sport a favour, rather than people who who feel obliged to perform well. Some of those people may be very good, but the majority won't be. If we want to raise the standard of refereeing in the sport generally, money is the answer, however we go about securing it. It isn't throwing a bit of money around, it's giving people the incentive to provide a high quality service, which would help to take the sport forward. I'm not saying it's the only requisite, but it is necessary. People are always going to rebel against officials, in any sport. Some squash players are badly behaved. Probably most recognise that it is to their advantage to keep quiet, play on and let things average out, unless the decision is really bad. But, they do respect good markers and when matches are marked well, there is generally good continuity, in my experience as a spectator. Yes, you could refine the rules a bit, but squash is a complex game with many grey areas and I often thnk it is in trying to apply the letter of the rules that many referees come unstuck and lose the respect of the players. Good markers employ a combination of in-depth, practical experience of the game, application of the rules and common sense. There are some people in pretty much every club who can do this, but you don’t get good people without compensation for their efforts. What you get is people who feel they are doing the sport a favour, rather than people who who feel obliged to perform well. Some of those people may be very good, but the majority won’t be. If we want to raise the standard of refereeing in the sport generally, money is the answer, however we go about securing it. It isn’t throwing a bit of money around, it’s giving people the incentive to provide a high quality service, which would help to take the sport forward. I’m not saying it’s the only requisite, but it is necessary.

]]> Comment on BLOG: Let there be light by admin http://squashuk.com/players/blog-let-there-be-light/#comment-1048 admin Sat, 05 May 2012 11:23:48 +0000 http://squashuk.com/?p=3942#comment-1048 Seshadri: Totally agree with your point. As someone who works as an editor, it is my job to make any article easily understood by the readers. The same principle should apply to the rules of squash, especially when we delve into the more technical areas. For example, how much effort is "every effort?" When does "minimal interference" start to maximise? I remember playing in a friendly match between the media and the referees during a British Open tournament at the wonderful Lambs Club in London a few years ago (before it was demolished). I recall one of the referees making some rather insulting remarks when he found out I worked for a tabloid newspaper. He was certainly a member of your Humpty Dumpty Referees' Club. Seshadri: Totally agree with your point. As someone who works as an editor, it is my job to make any article easily understood by the readers. The same principle should apply to the rules of squash, especially when we delve into the more technical areas.
For example, how much effort is “every effort?”
When does “minimal interference” start to maximise?
I remember playing in a friendly match between the media and the referees during a British Open tournament at the wonderful Lambs Club in London a few years ago (before it was demolished).
I recall one of the referees making some rather insulting remarks when he found out I worked for a tabloid newspaper.
He was certainly a member of your Humpty Dumpty Referees’ Club.

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