Irish Squash

JUNIOR MATTERS 2010-2011:

To download a copy of the below information please click here

Junior Committee:

This committee comprises Edwin Brennan (Connacht), Kieran Doherty (Ulster), Brian Dunbar (Munster), Tariq Zaki (Leinster) and Lee Healy (Irish Squash Junior Secretary).


Province Junior Secretary Contact details

Connacht Edwin Brennan 086 3622415 or edwinbrennan@eircom.net

Leinster Tariq Zaki 087 9022866 or zakitariq24@hotmail.com

Munster Brian & Mary Dunbar 087 6218733 or brianmarydunbar@hotmail.com

Ulster Kieran Doherty 079 54402297 or glensofantrim@hotmail.com


Player Behaviour:

The Conditions and Rules for Juniors Travelling to Tournaments and Events have been amended and all junior players are required to be familiar with them. A copy of these conditions and rules is available from your provincial junior secretary and can also be downloaded from your provincial website and from www.irishsquash.com

Tournament Organisation:

All four provincial junior opens will be run over two days. The Junior Nationals will be run over three days.

The reason for the two day tournaments is to reduce interference with Friday work and school time. It may also reduce costs for players who travel on Saturday morning instead of Friday night. However, players and parents should note that matches will be scheduled for 9:30 on Saturday and Sunday morning to allow for reasonably early finishes on both days.

Tournament Draws:

The standard Swiss 8 or Swiss 16 and where a competition is 'over-subscribed' players 9 and 10, and 17 and 18 will be reserves. Entries of 11 and over will result in a 16 draw.

Withdrawals:

Where a player withdraws from the competition up to the day of the event there will be a redraw but where the withdrawal is on the day of the competition there will be a redraw only where the player is in the top 4. Players should also note that penalties apply for players who withdraw after the draw or who fail to complete the competition. The bye-laws on late withdrawal can be found on the competition entry page on www.irishsquash.com.

Entry Fees:

The entry fee is payable at the venue before the first match. Entry fees will be €20 (£15stg) per player (€30/£25 for 2 siblings & €40/£30 for 3 siblings). In the case of the four provincial junior opens there will be an Irish Squash subsidy of €10 (£8stg) per player (or 50% for siblings) thereby reducing these entry fees. We are grateful to Irish Squash President, John O'Connor, for securing the sponsorship that enables this subsidy to continue again this season.

Seedings:

Tournaments will be seeded by the junior secretary on the basis of Irish Squash rankings published on www.irishsquash.com. Rankings will be updated after each tournament. Players dissatisfied with their rankings should, in the first instance, communicate through their provincial junior secretaries (listed above).

Balls:

In line with ESF tournaments the Dunlop Double Yellow ball will continue for all age groups except U11s.

Selection Criteria for U13, U15 and U17 Irish Teams 2010 - 2011:

1. Players must be eligible to play for Ireland (see Byelaw 7) and be under the relevant age on the final day of the competition and be selected by the selection committee.

2. The Selection committee comprises: The Junior Administrator, The Team Coach, and The Team Manager.

3. Team Selection will be based on the ranking points gained from a player's best three competitions from The Connacht Open; The Ulster Open; The Munster Open; The Leinster Open; The Irish Junior National (Closed) Championship. The Irish Junior Nationals earns higher points than the provincial opens. In the event of equality of points the selection committee will chose the player finally.

4. Players wishing to be considered for selection must play in the Irish Junior Open, although that competition will not earn any points.

5. If a player is unable to compete in a tournament (or complete all matches over a tournament weekend) due to illness/injury a doctors/physiotherapists certificate/letter must be submitted to Irish Squash in the week following the tournament.

6. The selection committee will also consider a player's general behaviour on and off court, attendance at squad sessions and commitment to whatever training programme is recommended by the Team Coach.

7. Once a player receives notification of selection, all monies must be paid by the required date, otherwise their selection will be revoked.
8. Players will be selected to play on teams in their own one age group only.

9. Players moving up from one age group to the next during the season will carry over 30% of the points gained at the younger age group.

10. Where players enter a tournament in an older age group the points thereby earned will also be credited to their actual age group.

Selection Criteria for U19 Irish Panels 2010 - 2011:

1. Players must be eligible to play for Ireland (see Byelaw 7) and be under the relevant age on the final day of the relevant competition and be selected by the selection committee.

2. The Selection committee comprises three members: The Junior Administrator, The Team Coach, and The Team Manager.

3. A panel of players (6 boys and 4 girls) will be selected on the basis of the points earned at the Ulster Junior Open and the Irish Junior Nationals.

4. The selection committee will select the team from the members of the panel based on what it considers would be the strongest team.

5. The selection committee will also consider a player's general behaviour on and off court, attendance at squad sessions and commitment to whatever training programme is recommended by the Team Coach.

6. If a player is unable to compete in a tournament (or complete all matches over a tournament weekend) due to illness or injury a letter or certificate from the doctor or physiotherapist must be submitted to Irish Squash in the week following the tournament.

7. Once a player receives notification of selection, all monies must be paid by the required date, otherwise their selection will be revoked.
8. Players will be selected to play on teams in their own age group only.

9. Players moving up from one age group to the next during the season will carry over 30% of the points gained at the younger age group.

10. Where players enter a tournament in an older age group the points thereby earned will also be credited to their actual age group.


Ranking points:

The points to be earned in this season's junior tournaments are the same as those in use on the Senior Tour. The extra points for the Junior Nationals do not apply to U19 players. Players who move up in age group carry 30% of the points already earned at the younger age group.


Event 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18


Nationals 2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 80 60 40


Opens 1500 1350 1200 1050 900 750 600 450 300 150 125 100 80 60 50 40 30 20



Many thanks to Gerry Connaughton who has agreed to continue to compile the points rankings based on the finishing positions of players at Junior Opens. 'Points Rankings' are used to select players for panels and will be published on www.irishsquash.com and updated after each tournament. The seeding of tournaments is NOT based on 'Points Rankings' but on 'Irish Rankings' and these will be done by the Irish Squash Junior Secretary, Lee Healy.

Squad Sessions:

These will be centralised depending on the address of the players and their coach and players are expected to attend. The dates will be published on the Irish Squash website and phone and text reminders will be sent to the players and their parents. Failure to attend squads may lead to a player not being selected on a team.

Schools Competition:

The age rule for these competitions is the same as all other junior competitions and a player must be under the relevant age on the final day of the competition.

Communication between players/parents and Irish Squash:

If you have an issue relating to junior squash please let us know by contacting your provincial junior secretary who will be able to provide you with an explanation or who will be able to follow up your query through the Irish Squash junior committee and the Irish Squash junior secretary.