An email, with response in CAPS, I sent last week to the governing body for competitve squash in BC. Helpfull if you want to get into competing, and an interesting exercise in website usability:
Hi there,
I’ve been playing recreational squash in Victoria for a year now and I’m thinking about entering competitions this fall. However, I don’t have any contacts or information on how they work. I don’t belong to any clubs (just finished University, lack of funds), so I’ve been checking out the Squash BC website to get some information for the beginner, which unfortunately the site seems kinda disorganized and lacking in. For example:
1. Is a Squash BC membership required to compete?
YES
2. Are some lower-level competitions open to the “public” and others only to Squash BC or certain club members?
THE TOURNAMENTS LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE ARE SANCTIONED EVENTS. THERE ARE OTHER TOURNAMENTS HELD AT CLUBS WHICH ARE NOT SANCTIONED BY US AND THEREFORE THEY SET THE RULES. SOME ARE OPEN TO ANYONE WHILE OTHERS ARE JUST FOR THEIR MEMBERS. YOU HAVE TO CHECK WITH THE CLUBS OR COMMUNITY CENTRES IF THEY HAVE ANY EVENTS LIKE THAT.
3. Can I get a one-time license to compete in a single competition?
YES YOU CAN. IT IS $10 FOR THE WEEK AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO ARRANGE THAT SPECIALLY WITH OUR OFFICE OR YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO ARRANGE SOMETHING THROUGH THE CLUB OR FACILITY WHICH IS HOSTING THE EVENT.
4. Under Rankings on the website, what’s the difference between Competitive and Alpha?
ALPHA IS AN ALPHABETICAL LIST OF ALL MEMBERS AND THEIR POINTS. COMPETITIVE RANKINGS ARE JUST THOSE WHO HAVE COMPETED RECENTLY (IT’S THE ACTIVE LIST).
5. For the Tournament listings on the website, what are the AAA, AA, A rankings equivalent to?
THERE WAS AN EXPLANATION THERE. OUR WEBMASTER HAS REMOVED IT. THANKS FOR BRINGING IT TO MY ATTENTION. I WILL GET IT BACK UP THERE. THE A’S ARE A WAY OF PLACING IMPORTANCE ON SOME EVENTS. MORE A’S – MORE POINTS FOR RANKINGS ARE AT STAKE.
6. Are there recommended competitions for a beginner to enter (or, do some competitions not really cater to the beginner?)
ALMOST ALL COMPETITIONS HAVE ALL LEVELS AVAILABLE. THEY GO “A”, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’, AND SOMETIMES NOVICE (WHICH IS VERY BEGINNER). “OPEN” OR ‘A’ IS THE STRONGEST WHILE ‘D’ OR ‘NOVICE’ WOULD BE THE WEAKEST.
7. If the Squash BC membership expires Oct. 31, then obviously I should wait until Nov. 1 to purchase one?
IF YOU PURCHASE NOW, YOUR MEMBERSHIP WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE GOOD RIGHT THROUGH UNTIL OCT. 31 2005
8. Am I required to belong to a club in my area in order to compete in BC?
NO,
Any help you could provide would be much appreciated,
THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENTS, IT’S GOOD TO GET THAT FEEDBACK. WE TEND TO EXPECT PEOPLE TO KNOW MORE THAN THEY DO. WE NEED TO BE REMINDED OF JUST THE KIND OF QUESTIONS YOU HAVE RAISED. THANKS, AND BY ALL MEANS LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE WE CAN HELP WITH.
LEIGH SKELTON
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