TAKING OUR SPORT INTO THE FUTURE

TAKING OUR SPORT INTO THE FUTURE

SQUASH NEW ZEALAND, an incorporated society, is the official national body for 18,500 registered squash players in NZ who play out of 196 affiliated clubs (within the boundaries of our 11 Districts). Squash NZ launched the online IT tool, initially named Squash IT (SIT) in 2009. isquash is a registered Trademark. This document was produced in November 2012

WHAT IS ISQUASH? isquash is a web-based, integrated, user friendly IT tool which promotes easy and affordable access to clubs for all participants. The web-based tool is FREE for squash clubs and members and contains many services and modules Individual player profiles Individual login for all squash players, with access to update their contact details Online disputes management process Online membership management Database for club administrators with ability to export to Microsoft Excel Grading list Current, national grading list linked directly to online results entry Online court booking Access & Security System Linked to Online Booking Online payment Results Entry Linked to Grading List Pay2Play for casual members Bulk Email Inter-club competition management Including entries, draw, results and ladders Tournament management Including entries, draws, management on the day and integrated results entry Introducing isquash from Squash New Zealand PAGE 3

WHY isquash? The project is aligned to all four pillars of Squash NZ's strategic plan: Connection Leadership Clubs and Pathways and is in line with our vision - New Zealanders Choosing Squash. Ultimately, the aim of isquash is to increase the number of squash players by making it easier for them to play squash. However there are some other underlying objectives to the project Increased utilisation of squash facilities Increased revenue for clubs Improved security and access to facilities Provision of a standardised data platform Provision of standardised processes and procedures Targeted and direct communication within the squash community Reduced workload for club volunteers Introducing isquash from Squash New Zealand PAGE 4

WHAT S THE HISTORY? Originally called "Opening the Doors", the project aimed to bring squash into the 21 st Century and make it more accessible to the public and came out of research into the state of the sport. The project was conceived in Christchurch in 2006 by a local steering group of squash players with expertise in IT. Funding came from Christchurch City Council and the Canterbury Community Trust to scope the feasibility of the project, and from the SPARC Active Communities programme for initial development. Maintenance and further developments since then have been funded by Squash NZ. 2009 2010 2011 2012 Launched Squash IT with - Grading List - Individual player profiles Launched InterClub module (including draws, results, ladders etc) Launched Online Booking (8 clubs using) Launched Bulk Email Launched Access & Security system Launched Tournament Module - Club Membership Management - Results entry (including disputes management) Launched Pay2Play Renamed SIT to isquash 23 clubs using Online Booking Introducing isquash from Squash New Zealand PAGE 5

WHAT ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS? COMMUNICATION Many sports would like to be able to communicate directly to the people playing their sport. isquash allows this! The traditional method of communicating from National Office to Regional body to Club to Member is no longer required with this national online membership management tool as communication channels have been opened. All communication complies with the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Act 2007. PAY2PLAY With a trend towards casual participation, isquash now allows squash clubs to market their facilities and our sport to casual members. isquash s integrated access, security and court booking modules enable casual players to book and pay for a court online, AND gain access to the club. Where previously it was difficult for non-club members to utilise squash courts, this feature now allows marketing to the masses and can attract new participants and access new markets. Literally, it is opening the doors. Evan Williams, professional New Zealand squash player Introducing isquash from from Squash New New Zealand PAGE PAGE 6 6

COLLABORATION The system is integrated from player to club to region to national office which means that a member's information is stored and managed in one central repository, but is accessible to everyone (with permission). Previously in squash, and currently in other sports, this information is stored in a variety of formats (often inconsistent) and not always available to all groups (National, regional, club, member). ONLINE GRADING LIST One of squash s biggest assets is its grading list, which enables players to track their results and improvement relative to all other graded players. Squash NZ has had a grading list for over 25 years but the processes involved were slow and required considerable manpower at all levels (club volunteers to paid national office staff). Development of the online grading list has saved hours of manual data entry, allowed instant results publication, and has saved considerable printing, postage and labour costs. The Grading List displays a player s results from the past year and automatically adjusts their points based on their match results. Introducing isquash from Squash New Zealand PAGE 7

COMPETITION MANAGEMENT Although there are a variety of competitions in squash around the country (various forms of inter-club, club champs, tournaments etc), isquash allows for results to be entered directly into the grading list for all of these competition formats. Being webbased, all users can see who, when and where they will be playing. After the event, they can see all results and the full competition ladder too. REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES isquash now allows clubs to increase their revenue through casual booking. Indirect opportunities for increasing revenue opportunities arise due to better communication with members (eg. Fundraising and sponsorship). Furthermore, reduced volunteer and paid staff time spent on administration allows more time to be allocated to other development programmes and income-generating activities. The Online Booking system at Whangarei Squash Club allows members to check online to view court availability and book courts Introducing isquash from Squash New Zealand PAGE 8

isquash caters to players of all levels and abilities, from junior players, to casual players, to our elite players TECHNOLOGY The system uses the latest web-based technology, particularly in the very complex module which links a physical access system (locks) with online booking, lighting, heating, air conditioning and security cameras. Future developments will add online payments (very soon) to increase the usability of existing modules, and an iphone/android isquash application (or at least a mobile-friendly version of isquash). CONTINUAL DEVELOPMENT isquash was launched in November 2009, simply as a membership database and Grading List. During the past three years many more modules have been developed and there have been constant improvements to the existing modules. Development is a continual process with new versions regularly released. Introducing isquash from Squash New Zealand PAGE 9

WHAT NEXT? In a recent survey, 70% of squash players said that isquash, technology and communication was what Squash NZ did best and 94% said that utilising technology was important to the future of squash. Planned future improvements for isquash include Customer Relationship Management (CRM) will improve the existing membership management system to enable more information to be stored integration with other systems accounting & billing packages Increased use of Online Payments extending the online payment feature to tournament registrations and for club payments collaborate with existing providers to increase opportunities for online payment services Mobile technology utilise mobile technology to cater for the increasing use of mobile phones to access the internet make playing squash as easy as possible and literally, in your hands Targeted promotional campaign the Access systsem and the Online Booking module are not utilised by all squash clubs a targeted promotional campaign will aim to increase the uptake of these modules. Introducing isquash from Squash New Zealand PAGE 10

CAN YOU HELP? If you would like to support the future development of isquash, please contact Squash New Zealand. 09 815 0970 admin@squashnz.co.nz www.squashnz.co.nz P O Box 21-781, Henderson, Auckland 0650 Building 42, Unitec, Carrington Road, Mt Albert, Auckland www.fb.com/squashnz @SquashNZ www.youtube.com/squashnewzealand Introducing isquash from Squash New Zealand PAGE 11