The Open and Women’s Leagues for 2014-2015 will begin the week of October 20. Sign-ups are now open, so please see your club pro for information about what teams your club will be fielding this year. Sign-ups for teams will run through Friday, September 26.
SEE BELOW FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT SOME CHANGES TO THE MA SQUASH LEAGUES FOR THIS COMING YEAR!
As many players know, last year, US Squash modified its ratings algorithm to an improved, advanced iterative system. This change has resulted in some significant, upward changes in the ratings for most MA Squash players. Conversations with players and pros who play outside Massachusetts confirm that this “regional correction” was warranted. The new ratings are believed to be more accurate and more stable across regions and levels of play. Thus, MA Squash will rely on the new US Squash ratings in defining all leagues for 2014-2015.
In order to accommodate these changes with minimum disruption, MA Squash has elected to “re-brand” each league from 2013-2014 by way of “promoting” it to the next highest designation for 2014-2015. For instance, last year’s Open 3.5 League will continue to play on Wednesday nights, but as this year’s Open 4.0 League, with ratings up to 4.0; last year’s Open 4.0 League will continue to play on Thursday nights, but as this year’s Open 4.5 League, with ratings up to 4.5; last year’s Open 4.5 will continue on to play on Wednesday night, but as this year’s Open 5.0 League, with ratings up to 5.0. The Open 5.5 league will continue to be the Open 5.5 league, with no maximum rating. MA Squash’s goal was to integrate these new, improved ratings while mitigating disruption to players (splitting teams, nights played, etc.). League chairs will have discretion in determining eligibility for given leagues.
Here are the scheduled nights for play for the re-branded leagues:
Old Designation New Designation Night
Open 2.5 Open 3.0 Monday
Open 3.0 Open 3.5 Thursday
Open 3.5 Open 4.0 Wednesday
Open 4.0 Open 4.5 Thursday
Open 4.5 Open 5.0 Wednesday
Open 5.5 Open 5.5 Tuesday
Women’s 2.5/3.0 Women’s 2.5/3.5 Tuesday
Women’s 3.5 Women’s 4.0 Wednesday
Here is the complete, night-by-night schedule for the 2014-2015 leagues:
Monday: Open 3.0, 50+
Tuesday: Open 5.5, Women’s 2.5/3.5
Wednesday: Open 4.0, Open 5.0, Women’s 4.0
Thursday: Open 3.5, Open 4.5
Club pros, league chairs, and team captains have already been notified of these changes and will be working to ensure ample and fair competition across all levels of play. Please contact Open League Chair Tom Durkin (tdurkin@ihrsa.org) if you have any questions about these changes and how it might affect your participation in league or that of your team.