GETTING STARTED WITH JUNIOR SQUASH
Junior squash in the US is designed so every child can find their own path, whether that’s playing for fun, joining leagues and teams, competing in tournaments, or even pursuing college or professional squash one day.
Step 1: Get on court.
The best way to begin is simply to play. A lesson with your local club professional is an excellent introduction. The pro can teach basic skills and help map out a development plan.
Step 2: Practice with others.
After a few lessons, most juniors enjoy hitting with a partner. Once comfortable, they can explore more programming at their club and beyond.
Step 3: Explore competition.
For juniors who enjoy competition, US Squash offers tournaments for all levels. It’s important that juniors first practice refereeing, marking, and playing matches at their home club before entering. Start with a Bronze tournament and then move up gradually, this ensures they build confidence at the right pace.
- USR TOURNAMENTS:
USR tournaments are rating based only. There are no ranking points associated with USR tournaments. Any club can host a USR tournament and run it however it fits to their program. Co-ed, any age, any division size etc.
2. BRONZE TOURNAMENTS:
Bronze tournaments are one day LOCAL tournaments, played on either a Saturday OR a Sunday. Bronze tournaments are designed as a starting block for juniors and US Squash accredits approximately 150 around the US. The division size is usually 8 and the important part to know about bronze tournaments is that the entry is taken on a first come first serve basis. For silver, gold, JCT and championship tournaments the entries are all based on ranking points.
3. SILVER TOURNAMENTS:
Silver tournaments are REGIONAL and cater to intermediate level players. Silver tournaments are played over 2 days (Saturday and Sunday) and US Squash accredits approximately 110 silver tournaments each season around the country. Silver tournaments have a 16 player division size in under 11, under 13, under 15, under 17 and under 19 age groups.
4. GOLD TOURNAMENTS:
Gold tournaments are an advanced level which attract highly ranked players statewide and NATIONALLY. US Squash accredits approx. 40 Gold tournaments, being held in approximately 15 states, all over the US. The player division sizes are 16 players for girls and boys under 11, 24 players for girls and boys under 13/under 19 and 32 players for girls and boys under 15/under 17. Gold tournaments are played over 3 days, with the earliest start time of 4pm on Friday evenings.
5. JCT TOURNAMENTS:
Junior Championship Tour Tournaments are the highest level of junior tournaments which attract the very best top ranked players in the entire country. The division sizes are as follows: top 16 ranked players in the girls and boys under 11 (U11) and top 32 ranked players in girls and boys under 13, under 15, under 17 & under 19 (U13, U15, U17 & U19). US Squash accredits 6 JCT’s throughout the season in venues around the US and each JCT is played over 3 full days. There is also one Super JCT in June which has larger player division sizes of 32 for the girls and boys in the under 11 (U11) and 64 player division sizes for the boys and girls under 13, under 15, under 17 and under 19 (U13, U15, U17 & U19) and is played over 4 days.
6. US CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENTS: US Championship tournaments include the four events below:
The US Junior Open is our international tournament where junior players from all over the world can come to the USA and compete for the US Junior Open title.
- Eligible U.S. Players: The top 48 US ranked players based on the cut list points calculation will gain entry. Any player with 4 or more active tournament exposures from accredited US Squash tournaments may only enter through the U.S. player entry portal, regardless of their citizenship. Division sizes will be limited to 128 players per division prior to the regular entry deadline.
- International Players: The first 80 International players to enter the tournament will gain entry. Admittance is based on the time of entry received (i.e. first come, first served).
US Junior Squash Championships:
- The US Junior Squash Championships (and Silver/Bronze Squash Championships below) mark the end of the official squash season, though tournaments still continue all year round.
- The U13, U15, U17, and U19 division entries are each limited to the top ranked 32 eligible players. The U11 divisions are limited to the top ranked 16 eligible players. All players must have a minimum of three active junior tournament exposures (played within the past 11-months). All players must be citizens of the United States.
Silver/Bronze Junior Squash Championships (not be confused with regular Bronze and Silver tournaments above):
- The U.S. Junior Silver and Bronze Squash Championships are restricted to players US ranked number 33 and below, (17 and below for players in the U11 age division) using the rankings from the regular registration deadline of the Junior Squash Championships (which takes place the weekend before).
- For the Silver Squash Championships, the U13, U15, U17, and U19 age divisions are each limited to the highest ranked 32 eligible players that enter. The U11 age division is limited to the top ranked 16 eligible players that enter. These will make up the field of players for the Silver Championships, and the remaining players will be added to a Bronze Championship.
- To have a chance to be eligible to compete in US Championships all players must have a minimum of three active junior tournament exposures (played within the past 11-months).
- For the Silver and Bronze Junior Squash Championships all players must be either citizens or residents of the United States.
