MINUTES OF SQUASH COMMITTEE MEETING ON 18/11/24
PRESENT: Allan Curry (Chair), Roger Tames, Dave North, Andy Smith, Bob Aynsley,
APOLOGIES/ABSENCES: Tim Barker, Karen Heron, Lesley Vitty, Keith Linsley, Wayne Eastaugh,
AGENDA ITEMS
1. Minutes of previous meeting 21/10/24:
- Approved – matters arising:
- Sport Newcastle Awards Dinner 14th November – AC & DN and Jim Pollock (NFC President elect) attended on a Northern Squash table with Duncan Rutherford (Rising Star), Bob Aynsley (Coach of the Year) and their guests.
- Adam Coates advert on white board behind glass back now in place
- provision of team meals using outside delivery options to be revisited in the New Year
2. Squash Coaching
- After discussion, it was agreed course lead coaches (Richard Vitty, Bob Aynsley, Tom Cornell (until end of 2024), Ben Tudor, Zoe Shipsey (from January 2025)) will enjoy “staff” membership with group coaching booking permission (and individual coaching booking permission if required). Support coaches (generally younger level 1 coaches) will need an appropriate squash membership (eg junior; over 16; student)
- BA to draw up schedule of current coaches with qualifications and confirmation they have DBS approval and current 1st Aid certificate.
- Richard Vitty wants to run 6 week course on Fridays after school for years 2-4. He has secured some funding from the County and Committee agreed to match this and allow use of courts 2 and 3 at 4.20 pm and 5.00 pm.
3. Club Championships:
- Proposed date of 7th to 13th September 2025 agreed. It is felt this date will give all members the opportunity to enter (including juniors in exam years and university students)
4. Wazygoose/Internal Leagues/Memberships (WE):
Internal Leagues: Latest session just started and runs up to 20th December; 73 players; next session will be extended by a week to accommodate the festive break.
Wazygoose Updates: Nothing for Northern Squash
Memberships: 383 members (inc. 168 Over 21; 145 junior)
5. Adult Coaching (BA):
- Courses just started with 70 active participants over 6 courses. Majority are women (58%). All paid up bar 2. Already a waiting list for the next course.
- Men's Pathway and Ladies Leagues all going strong with good participation with others wanting to or being encouraged to join.
- Free tasters definitely working as everyone has either joined or gone initially into the courses before hopefully joining.
- Spoken with England Squash about a visit and they have remembered that Donna in Marketing had asked to come up to do a video case study on Northern – she is going to contact me directly. Mentioned Walking Squash which AC is pioneering and they have expressed their interest. Asked about a Level 2 course as we have a few wanting to do these at the Club. Format being changed and I need to speak to Alex Bentham to get more info.
- Making headway with a local charity called US ACTIVE (amongst others) - a North East-based charity which actively seeks to get 12 to 25-year-olds into active sports to help prevent and actively increase resilience for those who are struggling with their mental health. One of the co-founders is Mary-Jane Tacci who spent 32 years in the NHS as a consultant Psychiatrist and is a very keen advocate of playing Sports to help mental and physical health.
- Committee confirmed agreement to help fund Level 3 course for BA (supplementing any financial support from Sport Newcastle which is being pursued through RT).
6. Ladies Squash
- In LVs absence, DN provided an update on Ladies team’s positions.
7. Teams/County/ES/club play: (DN)
Teams: DN provided update on Northern teams current positions.
County: No update since last meeting.
England Squash: Email sent to all members encouraging ES membership. To comply with County requirement, DN will monitor and chase team playyers through December.
Club Play: Numbers continue to be good – court 4 being used if available.
8. Health and Safety (KL)
- KL reported no issues
- Members have been made aware that joining England Squash at Just Play or Play Plus gives them Public Liability and Personal Accident insurance.
9. Safeguarding (AC)
- No current issues
10. Court Maintenance (AS)
- Has chased Club Management re fan and loose shower tiles in men’s changing room
- Radiators in changing room corridor and men’s changing room need turning on- AS to report to Club Management
11. AOB:
- DN intends to run annual Fun Christmas Doubles on Saturday 28th December
- AC continues to progress bike shed (costings/instalment)
- Club Championship boards to be updated at same time as Honorary Vice Chairman is created (AC)
12. Next meeting: Monday 20/01/2025 7.15pm.
