HARDBALL DOUBLES EXHIBITION

The WSF Management Committee (ManCom) scheduled for Canada in early September gave those ManCom members who had not been exposed to Hardball the opportunity to watch some action. While I had done so several times, seeing matches on adjacent courts while squash events were taking place in US clubs, not everybody had done so.

As a Brit, seeing the cricket pitch when we arrived at the Toronto club of that name was reassuring. Now, that is a real sport! But we were here for an inside game, albeit one with a pretty big playing area too. We were ushered in and given a real treat. No, not the sport but an extensive supply of beer vouchers - something much less of a system elsewhere, mores' the pity.

Into the seats, and warming up in front of us were four greats. Well, maybe only three as Shahier Razik had let on to me in Germany a couple of weeks earlier that he was inexperienced, but as a splendid softballer it would hardly show. Knowing Willie Hosey, Jonathon Power and Gary Waite while they played the squidgy ball game I was intrigued to watch them as top exponents of the North American game……and to ensure a WSF viewing to support the tub thumping that Gary had done on its behalf.


After mistress of ceremonies Lolly Gillen narrowly lost the battle between her voice and the general hubbub to introduce the match we were underway.

Somewhere in the distance were four people swishing around, perhaps fly catching, with accompanying sound effects of rifle shots. Mental note, get glasses immediately.

No, that was irreverent and entirely wrong. The size of the court and the pinging of the ball are very different (more of that in a moment), but the pace, the inventiveness and action generally make Hardball good on the eye, enjoyable to watch, and perhaps easier to enjoy for the uninitiated. It is a great sport in it's own right.

Of course I hardly need outline the issues it faces if it is to expand though. There is the chicken and egg situation of prospective investors, especially on other continents, being unwilling to do so without it being a proven commercial success, yet how do you do so without the investment in courts? And while a white ball and coloured court walls would be a requisite to make the sport attractive televisually, will the sheer pace of the ball make it difficult to film successfully?

Questions rather than answers, but WSF were very grateful to Squash Canada, ISDA, the players and organizers for the opportunity to link with the hardball community and in a small way reinforce the fact that hardball is very much part of the squash family. Hopefully the relationship will grow ever closer.       
        
Andrew Shelley
Chief Executive
www.worldsquash.org