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Insights Library — All Posts by Category
Explore the Racquet Sports Institute Insights Library—a single place for decision-grade analysis, benchmarks, and practical playbooks. Because no courts, no players, our content keeps facilities at the center while connecting market signals to design and day-to-day operations. You’ll find deep dives on ecosystem trends and country developments, proven facility models, smart management (planning, community, programming, operations tech), architecture that turns strategy into built performance, updates on our forthcoming AI.
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Organizing Summer Camps: A Club Manager’s Playbook
Summer camps are a proven, portable revenue engine for clubs. This playbook covers one-week formats, age/skill segmentation, and day vs. overnight models. Schedule 9:00–16:00 to protect peak hours. Keep ratios tight (max four per court), use assistants and guest coaches, and hold limited drop-ins. Price in the high hundreds; 20 campers at $600 ≈ $12k per week. Track fill rate, revenue per court-hour, re-enrollment, and conversions. Model transfers to padel and pickleball. Add
ASB Glass Floors: Slip Resistance — A Deep Dive after the London Classic
Referees and players report slips on the ASB GlassFloor at pro events, especially when sweat pools near the T. Tribology explains why squash needs micro-texture; wood courts restore grip by re-sanding. Experts flag possible micro-abrasion on glass; ASB denies wear, citing MSquash and pointing to humidity plus planned heating/ventilation. PSA says it’s reviewing feedback to ensure safe, fair conditions. Read the full analysis of standards and safety details here.
Summer Camps—It’s Not Just Summer Training—It’s a Junior Pipeline Engine
At Squash On Fire, summer camps turn idle daytime courts into revenue and build a junior pipeline without disrupting evening play. Programs span from fun, activity-based sessions for kids to high-performance weeks led by top coaches, with a clear management focus on measurable outcomes. Fact: the financial target is $150k per season. Camps consistently convert participants into year-round academy members and offer a scalable model across racquet sports.
The Quiet Revolution: How Kanzy El Defrawy is Reinventing Squash in the UAE
After an injury ended her pro career, Kanzy El Defrawy arrived in Dubai seeking anonymity and found a city full of squash courts but no system. She built The Flying Daf Academy from scratch, pushed for federation pathways, educated parents, and expanded to 12 sites. Next comes a true home: a seven-court hub inside the green-financed AllSports Arena in Al Quoz, opening Dec 2025/early 2026—uniting training, leagues, and national ambitions.
From Gold Medals to Grassroots: Yes—Sport Policy Is Pivoting
For decades, sport policy meant funding elite athletes to chase Olympic and major games medals. That model is cracking. Governments from the UK to Australia and Canada now prioritise grassroots participation, health, and inclusion. The IOC’s own reforms—gender parity, citizen events like the “Marathon Pour Tous,” and school programs—underscore this shift. International Federations that embrace participation will thrive; those stuck on medals risk losing funding, hosts, and pu
From Court Time to Well-Being: Why Racquet Clubs Should Double Down on Wellness
Wellness is no longer a spa add-on but a growth driver for racquet clubs. The Global Wellness Institute’s microtrend report shows younger players seek social recovery, better sleep, and mental fitness alongside court time. From social sauna culture to sleep-smart facilities and evidence-based recovery, wellness widens reach, boosts loyalty, and smooths utilization. For tennis, squash, padel, and pickleball venues, the post-match experience may be as decisive as the match itse
New Insights Redefine the Future of Padel in the United States
The 2025 State of Padel in the US Report highlights the sport’s rapid rise and unique U.S. trajectory. While infrastructure lags behind Europe, growth is accelerating with indoor-first expansion, smart club models, and surging equipment sales. Unified competition structures and the World Padel Rating are bringing order to the market. Yet challenges remain—especially coaching gaps and risks of overbuilding. For investors and operators, disciplined strategy is key.
Michelle Martin’s Vision: Squash for Everyone in Australia
Australia’s squash revival hinges on shifting from aging, privately owned courts to council-run, multi-sport hubs. Michelle Martin shows how advocacy through state bodies unlocks funding and access. Case studies: a like-for-like rebuild at North Manly (still just three courts) and a push for Willoughby’s private centre to become a community racquet hub. Aligned with ASC’s Play Well strategy, plans should prioritise informal play, modular design and 4–6 court clusters.
Eighteen Minutes: Sport’s Fight for Fan Attention
Sport is competing in the attention economy. Red Torch finds fans give roughly 18 minutes of daily social time to sport while hundreds of thousands of accounts fight for it. Passion doesn’t equal consumption; relevance must be earned. The winners create participation through authentic communities, agile club partnerships and culture-led events, and by entering the wellness conversation. Measuring minutes of attention becomes the benchmark for sponsorship value and long-term g
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