Squash Politics

At the end of the 2011-2012 season, our team finished 7th out of 8 teams, finishing 16 points ahead of the 8th place team, and only 8 points separated the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place teams from us.

During the season, we shot ourselves in the foot by accomodating other teams that could not field a full team on our scheduled night to play, likely giving up precious points. Lesson learned.

We had expected to be relegated back down to level 2, but only 1 team from level 2 had been slated to move up, so we had be given another chance to stay at level 1. But what we didn't know is that bow valley club had recruited so that they could field a team at level 1. It is notable that bow valley finished 6th at level 2, 14 points behind the 2nd place team that decided not to move up and 24 points behind the 1st place team.

Now it seems that instead of granting any team a free pass, it would make sense to allow a playoff between Eau Claire and bow valley to see who gets that final spot in level 1. Initially bow valley had suggested a playoff and subsequently rejected the playoff because of the stipulation that they would have to field a level 2 team. It seems that the majority of the recruited players could return to their previous teams at the winter club or glencoe or back to their level 2 team where they would likely be more competitive.

Sure, it sucks to get the short end of the stick. There is nothing fair about how this entire situation was handled and it sucks that the Calgary Interclub Squash League has f'd us over.

Unfortunately, we allow this to happen and we wonder why squash isn't ever going to be a sport widely accepted by the general public. Perhaps squash was never meant to leave the private clubs. I guess that's it.