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2017 Annual Awards - Club of the Year Awards Part 4

Now we take a look at our last finalist for the Club of the Year Awards in preparation for the 2017 Annual Awards that will take place on 25th November, 6.30pm at JetPark in Auckland.

The District Winners for the Club of the Year Awards are as follow:

  • Northland - Whangarei Squash Club
  • Auckland - North Shore Squash Club
  • Waikato - Awards Night Not Happened
  • Bay of Plenty - Devoy Squash & Fitness Centre
  • Central - Awards Night Not Happened
  • Wellington - Tawa Squash Club
  • Canterbury - Malvern Squash Club
  • Midlands - Temuka Squash Club
  • Southland - Makarewa Squash Club

Winners from each of the 11 regional District Associations are put forward as contenders for the coveted National Award, which is aligned with the Squash New Zealand Strategic Plan: 'Squash on the Move'.

When deciding a judging panel considers the contribution to and achievements in the following objectives:

  • Participation Growth - increasing the number of people playing and participating in community squash
  • International Success - club members achieving success at significant regional / national events
  • Welcoming Facilities - improving the condition, accessibility and utilisation of club spaces and places
  • Financial Health - governing and managing the club to provide financial sustainability
  • Unified Delivery - working with the District and Squash New Zealand to deliver squash in the community

Our last finalist for the Club of the Year award is the North Shore Squash Club. The North Shore Squash Clubs application reads.

North Shore has 10 membership options which accommodate the majority of people that come to the club. All options are open to discussion to accommodate those wishing to participate in the club and to make their experience enjoyable and to continue to come back.

We are a club who is continually exploring avenues to increase participation in the sport and people playing on the courts and growth in the club. Recently 2 new corporate memberships have joined adding between them 20 more people involved in the game.

North Shore Squash Club has pay to play which is popular with those that do not want a membership but want to enjoy the game. There are an average of 3 to 5 bookings a week. We also have visitors playing with members and those that come in off the street to play.

North Shore Squash club run many programs within the club and have pathways for those that wish to climb up the grades or those that wish just to participate and play squash.

  • Juniors
    • Junior club night is on a Friday starting at 5.30pm with those trying the game for the first time or learning how to play. 6.30pm those that have moved from the 5.30pm group to those the top juniors are on the courts
    • Development squad is the next step for those wanting to take it further and go in to competitive squash.
    • Academy – On reaching C grade the player moves from the development squad to the Academy. Of the 8 juniors at present in the academy 3 were named in the Auckland junior team to represent the district at Junior Nationals at the teams event
    • With each of the squads and junior club night are coaches for all the sessions assisted by senior players and top juniors.
  • Ladies night. 2016 saw the introduction of ladies night which is growing in strength. Made up of mainly beginners and lower graded players. Many who have started at ladies night have gone on to playing interclub, tournaments and a group have just competed in the F grade ladies division of Auckland Superchamps eliminations placing 2nd
  • Club night. This is open to all members’ old and new plus prospective members. It is busy night both on and off the courts with people playing and socialising, all interacting together

All players who participate in assisting with programs, club nights, Superchamps coaching are encouraged to attend the coaching modules run by Squash Auckland and the club pay their fee to participate.

We run 2 business houses a year which are increasing popular. We limit the teams to 10 and already have 10 teams for the round to be held at the end of the year with no advertising

Depending on the level of work that the volunteer is giving back to the club recognition comes in many forms, from free memberships to acknowledgement through the weekly newsletter, personal thanks and refreshments.

The strategic plan is assessed every 12 months and is on a 3 year plan.

2017 saw the North Shore Squash Club undergo major renovations and upgrade. An already vibrant club through its members and their enthusiasm and friendly nature the structure was also back to a bright, fresh and welcoming place.

Without volunteers the club could not run as efficiently or effectively as we do. Our committee is made up of a President, Vice President, and Treasurer, Secretary, Club Captain, Junior Representative and 6 committee members who all give up their time to be on the committee. Regular working bees are held at the club and grounds as work is required to be done. These volunteers are all acknowledged and thanked on the day personally and usually with a meal and refreshments. They are also acknowledged through the weekly newsletter. Many of our coaches involved in our programs and those that assist with programs do so on their own time and we give back to them in ways that benefit all parties.

Every 12 months when the budget is set the maintenance plan for the following 12 months is looked at and the previous 12 months is also gone over to ensure work is completed or moved into the new year.

Funding is applied for to assist with work around the club, assisting teams and groups going away.

The club is in the throws of doing a marketing plan to promote the club and also the membership to those outside of the club.

Through word of mouth and business house many new members and also corporate groups are coming and playing squash and enjoying our facilities.

Members who are already here are always treated with respect and a friendly smile and greeting as they walk in the door past the office and always by our friendly bar manager where ever he is in the building. No issue is a problem and no question is ever wrong.

North Shore Squash Club has a website which is regularly looked at to keep it fresh. The news and activities happening are updated every week to fortnight celebrating our members and their achievements.

We have an online booking system run through iSquash and there is a newsletter which goes out through mailchimp weekly and also Facebook is constantly updated.

Club activities are promoted through word of mouth, club members, via the hospital

North Shore Squash club has a close link to the schools.

  • Westlake Girls High use the courts after school to train their squash teams. They also run programs for those that want to play squash through the school. They utilise the courts twice a week
  • Carmel College run a squash program in terms 2 and 3 before school twice a week
  • Murrays Bay Intermediate have squash as part of their PE program and are at the club 6 to 7 times a term from 10am to 11am.
  • Westlake Boys High. Their squash teams train twice a week in the early morning. The school also have squash as part of their PE program booking and using the courts during a school day 2 to 3 times a week.
  • Secondary School competitive teams are played through the terms 2 & 3. There is normally one tie on a Friday at the club after school
  • The Intermediate Zone day and Auckland Secondary Schools teams squash competition are held annually at the club

The number of Interclub Teams in 2017 were

  • # of Spring Interclub teams (Senior & Masters) 13
  • # of Autumn Interclub teams (Senior & Masters) 18
  • # of Winter Interclub teams (Senior & Masters) 13 Senior R1 7 Masters 14 Senior R2
  • # of Doubles Interclub teams (both Spring & Summer) 4
  • Total Number of Interclub Teams 69

Superchamps Team Entries were

  • # of Men's Teams 4
  • # of Women's Teams 3

North Shore Squash club host their own tournaments annually. An Open for all players, Masters, Junior and a Ladies D,E,F 19+. North Shore Squash club hosts Squash Auckland Superchamps eliminations every year with the grade changing year to year. Games normally commence on Tuesday night and are played every night of that week. Games are also played on Saturday afternoon finishing on Sunday with finals

In 2017 the North Shore Squash Club hosted the World Masters Games (WMG). 2014 it was announced that in April 2017 the WMG were to be held in Auckland. North Shore Squash club was named as the club which would host squash. 3 years of preparation and collaboration with Squash NZ, Squash Auckland and WMG. A normal tournament at the club averages 150 to 170 entries. WMG had 460 players from 21 countries who competed over 8.5 days. Starting on Saturday 22nd April and finishing on Saturday 29th April. Except for ANZAC day when games commenced at 1pm games would start at 8am and final games were scheduled to 9pm each day. All 7 courts were used. In the weeks leading up to the games the courts reverberated with the sound of squash balls been hit, people from all over the world catching up and making new friends. The positive feedback from competitors, spectators and supporters was heard through all forms of mediums for months after. All of those that competed personally came and thanked the team that held make this all happen for the best games they had ever competed in.

Within 3 weeks of WMG finishing the club then went on to hold their North Shore Open in conjunction with a Men’s and Women’s Professional Squash association tournament. Attracting players from as far away as Scotland. Another well run tournament with all the players saying that they would come and play it again

Opportunities provided for competitive and non-competitive players include Online Booking, Pay to Play, Corporate bookings, Business House, Firm social squash afternoons, Senior Club night, Junior Club night, Junior Academy, Junior Development Squad, Ladies Night, Superchamps training - Grades, Smithson Classic, Fun doubles and Racketball.

Congratulations to the North Shore Squash Club on being a finalist for the Club of the Year.


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