Re: You are on the money Paul

Absolutely. We are spending an ENORMOUS amount of money not only at he AIS but also in the state sporting Institutes/Academys.
Would the money not be better spent at what I describe as "Grass Roots".. rather than propping up a Sports institute/academy squash programs that ultimately contain players that are not good enough for the AIS? They are players with a little talent and basically are nothing more than a BIG fish in a WEENIE pond. They will only ever be good state grade players yet 10's of thousands of dollars yearly are pumped in to gloss up the state of elite junior squash in this country.
A sports institute program in my opinion is to help athletes with exceptional ability to take the next step in their development towards becoming a member of the AIS.
Looking at say the VIS... there is not a player in that squad that will progress to be a top 30 ranked player. The only player of exceptional ability - Tom Steward is not a memmber and trains independantly. (actually I have to say that one S Fitzgerald who is still a member... would be #1 in the world but has retired....)
Take a look at the South Aust academy of squash. 2 of the players are coaching overseas.. one is 34... and has never turned pro... and for all their enthusiasm and committment not one other will ever be a professional player of note.
SO!! Absolutely the AIS needs to be seriously looked at. As does each state association as they continue to be delusional about the talent within their states.
The ladies state 1 pennant competition I think is South Australia has 6 teams and each team has 1/2 men in the 3 person sides.... what a joke. The women left are all older players who will soon retire.. so will men just keep filling the spots?
Why is it that the $$'s available are not being absolutely PUMPED into the schools and kids... why are there not weekly programs taking children from the classroom into the squash centres and showing them what the game is all about. Kids love sport.. and a lot will try anything... show them the game.. say once a week over a 5 week period. One Junior primary school per day.. bus them in.. have a couple of club coaches available.. and get them THROUGH THE DOORS.
Then show them the game.. let them play.. and have a junior comp all set up for them to play in as soon as the 5 week course is finished.
Once Nat and Rachael are gone we have nothing. Our AIS squads/Aust junior teams were lucky... Martin, Fitzy and Dradey handed it on to Owens, Cooper and Macdonald... to Grinhams and Vacca... to now finishing outside the top 8 at WJT events and it will only get worse... yet we STILL have full squads in the insitutes.. made up of very very veyr average juniors.
And the Women are not alone.

We have a lot of systems in place for the "elite".. but the term "elite" is becoming looser by the year.
It is up to squash australia to lead the way and for state assocs to accept this position and make some moves to stop the rot. Or continue to watch the CLUBS die.. the junior state teams become more and more filled with "composite sides".. watch more and more state grades become very average competitions( with men becoming "ladies"...) watch more and more good coaches head overseas...
We had a good product.. and someone is responsible now for the future. I am hoping someone will put their hands up and make some tough decisions... but it seems to me the ones with the power are the ones with the cooshy jobs... and who wants to come out of a comfort zone? Lots of power.. good money... the state of our game is an embarrassment to our great champions and those that worked their arses off to make Australia a proud squash country.
Rach, Nat, David, Daniel, Stewart, Anthony and a few others can take a bow for continuing to perform at such a high level.. for continuing to represent us..... but when these names are gone... I can assure everyone there is nothing to follow.
Channel 9 could have aired us 24/7 but that wasnt going to get 8 year olds onto the court to build a base for the future.
Wake UP Squash Australia...