PSA CEO Alex Gough On The SquashFORWARD Series

The Nations Cup – the first event in the new SquashFORWARD series – concluded on Sunday, with a new best-of-seven games, first to seven points scoring format used in Tauranga, New Zealand.

The event – which featured eight teams split into two groups – featured plenty of drama, with the Powerplays – which granted players an opportunity to win double points in a rally twice per match – proving a popular edition.

England – represented by Mohamed ElShorbagy and Sarah-Jane Perry – ended up taking the inaugural trophy, pipping hosts New Zealand, who were represented by home favourites Paul Coll and Joelle King, in a thrilling finale on Sunday evening.

We caught up with PSA Chief Executive Alex Gough to discuss the success of the event as well as the future of SquashFORWARD.

Q: Alex, thanks for joining us. Could you please explain what SquashFORWARD is?

Alex Gough: SquashFORWARD was created in 2018 and was primarily a vehicle to engage with the younger players and get a view of what they thought and get some ideas around what they thought squash could be in the future.

Q: What is the purpose of adding these events to the PSA calendar?

AG: Mainly innovation really. Obviously, in our main PSA Tour events it’s difficult to try new formats. We just really wanted to have an event where we could put in new scoring, try things like the Powerplay, and test some things out to see what the players think.

Q: Why have you decided on the Nations Cup as the first SquashForward event?

AG: There are a couple of reasons. One was obviously the New Zealand open, which is taking place this week, and it is the first time we’ve been back down in New Zealand for for almost 30 years. We really wanted to try and make the trip worthwhile for the players. So when we started talking to Squash New Zealand and the teams down here with Wayne Werder, they were keen on doing something else. So it was kind of a natural fit.

Q: How have PSA & Squash New Zealand worked together?

AG: It’s just a really good collaboration. Obviously on the ground. Wayne [Werder, tournament promoter] and the team and Martin Dowson [Squash NZ Chief Executive] from Squash New Zealand have been great pulling everything together. Then you’ve got the efficiencies of building the stadium and getting everything ready as well.

Q: Will PSA form closer relationships with National Federations as a result of SquashFORWARD?

AG: Yeah, absolutely. We’ve worked with quite a lot of Federation’s now, but we’re really getting more involved in tournaments. Obviously, we come with a couple of aspects, guys from the media team, we have SQUASHTV, we come with a lot more than we used to 10 or 15 years ago. We’re really trying to help the Federations and work with the Federations, it is a big part of the strategy going forward.

Q: How has the new scoring format gone this week?

AG: I think it’s been really good. The Powerplays were something that Squash New Zealand and the guys down here were keen on putting putting in. I had my reservations, I must admit, but it’s been brilliant. The crowd love it and it’s a really good one for engaging the crowd and hopefully engaging new audiences. Some players used it better than others, I think they started to get used to the tactics.

Q: How have players reacted to the new format?

AG: You could see from the interviews players did after the matches that they all seemed to be enjoying themselves. There’s less pressure because there’s obviously not World Ranking points on the line, but there’s still a lot of pride out there, and they still want to get the wins.

Q: Each team features a man and a woman. How important was there to ensure that both sexes were included equally?

AG: It was one of the main factors really. The men’s & women’s tour has been together since 2015, and everything we do, all across the board, is around equality. So having a joint team event and everyone competing side by side is hugely key.

Q: What’s next for SquashFORWARD?

AG: I think we’ll just take stock of what’s worked here, what’s not worked and get some more feedback from the players get some more feedback from the fans. Obviously, when we did this one we did a bit of a poll to the fans, and this was what came out top, this format. So there’ll be a few tweaks there. I think the team aspect of it is one that will definitely stay and then we’ll look to try and do the next event in the next season, basically.