Harvard Coach Sets Up Squash Program, Hopes to Tour U.S., Canada With Juniors

Dave Fish '72, coach of the Harvard men's squash and men's tennis teams, is planning a North American tour to showcase some of the world's top junior squash players this summer.

According to Fish, he and his predecessor, Jack Martin, coach of the Harvard men's team for 44 years (1930-1974), had considered the idea of an international squash program for many years. They both sought to use squash as "a vehicle to promote international exchange by having a one month tour of top world junior players throughout the United States and Canada... to use athletics as a tool of understanding and growth."

After Martin retired, Fish put the program on hold as he took over coaching responsibilities for the Crimson. Fish began to lay the groundwork for the program in the summer of 1984 by establishing an non-profit foundation to sponsor the program (International Junior Squash Exchange Program), and last summer sought corporate sponsorships and private donations to subsidize the estimated $60,000 cost of the tour. He was successful in raising $20,000, and said he expects to raise the remaining monies before the start of the tour.

The 20 or so juniors participating in the tour will represent many of top squash playing countries in the world--Brazil, Argentina, Japan, Australia, Pakistan, India, Israel, Egypt, Sweden, Norway and Finland.

Each junior (14-16 year-old) will have to meet several standards to be chosen for the tour.

*each must be a top representative of the junior circuit in his country.

*each must be bright and articulate to be able to relate his experiences in the United States and Canada to his countrymen back home after the tour.

*each must be new to travelling and to the world squash circuit to reap maximum benefit from the novel travel experience.

Squash is viewed in quite differently in foreign countries, Fish says. First, squash is a game for the masses abroad, not just for the upper-middle classes as it is in America. According to Fish, foreign governments view squash as a "way to bring kids out of the ghetto." Public indoor courts abound, and are regularly used by everyone.

Another crucial difference between the American and foreign games is the kind of ball used in play. Abroad and in Canada, players use a much softer ball, which slows the game and allows players more time to set up properly. As a result, squash is much easier for beginners to learn.

The juniors in the program will receive exposure to the unique American "hardball" game, and entertain American fans with their high caliber of play in both hardball and the more worldly softball game.

Fish will begin his recruiting process when he attends the unofficial world junior championships, the Drysedale Cup, in London in January. At the tournament, he plans to talk to many of the national coaches, from whom he hopes to create an International Board of Advisors for the program.

If all goes according to plan, the members of the board will be charged with several responsibilities: supervising the selection procedure of players in their native countries, raising money for the round-trip airfare to the United States, and generating publicity for the program in their countries.

Publicity is also a main focus of Fish's present efforts here in the United States. He sees good p.r. enabling the program to "seek additional corporate sponsors as an appealing investment." Corporations must believe that "it [the program] is a worthwhile thing rather than just a dollar-to-dollar payback investment."

Squash News, the largest circulating squash publication in America, has been particularly helpful in publicizing the program. Its director, who will serve on the International Board of Advisors, is "extremely interested in seeing the program pulled off," according to Fish.

The juniors will come to Boston in June for several days of training. After several exhibitions in the Hub, they will tour the strong squash areas throughout the country, specifically New York, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia. They will finish their tour in Toronto, what Fish calls "the squash capital of North America."

Fish expects to have several of his top Harvard players and many other national amateur squash stars assist with training on the tour.

Housing is Fish's biggest logistical problem. He hopes to find the juniors places to stay with families throughout the tour, and give them the priceless cultural experience of sharing American homelife.

College dormitories and hotel sponsorships are other possible housing options, although Fish considers the former a last resort. The Gesters, an international squash club, has offered its services to find housing for the juniors.

Wherever the foreigners tour, the kids will play each other as well as top local junior players. Individual sponsors will be invited to participate in special squash days and have a first-hand experience in the program.

In addition to competing on the court, the juniors will be competing with other tourists by visiting many popular attractions throughout the United States and Canada, getting exposure to North American history, business and government.

They will sit in on a Senate hearing, witness the chaos of the floor of a stock exchange, and go high a top the Washington Monument.

Fish sees the International Junior Squash Exchange Program not as a one-time deal, but rather as a precursor to bigger and better things in the future. He hopes to eventually attract players from developing nations and from countries who are just now developing squash programs like China.

Furthermore, "maybe there can be an American-Canadian tour throughout foreign countries," Fish says.

Fish is now looking for someone to take over the day to day operations of the exchange program. For now, he and assistant coach Steve Piltz are running the show.