If you are looking to organise a squash competition and request sanctioning at any of our competition levels, some of the information below may be useful. If you would like to discuss the conditions of your event and linking it with the Scottish Squash competition pathway, please e-mail info@scottishsquash.org.
The documents below give further information on Scottish Squash sanctioned events and will support you running your event on SportyHQ, Scottish Squash’s preferred competition management system.
Scottish Squash Sanctioned Competitions
Roles & Responsibilities for Sanctioned Competitions
This document details the roles and responsibilities for all sanctioned competitions (Bronze/Silver/Gold/Regional Masters). It explains the specific role and responsibilities for both the club/region and how Scottish Squash will support.
The document also explains the role and responsibilities for host clubs/regions for all Scottish Squash Platinum events.
Regulations for Sanctioned Competitions
This document details all the information clubs/regions are required to know prior to applying to run a sanctioned event or applying to become the host club/region of a Scottish Squash Platinum event.
SportyHQ Support
SportyHQ Tournament User Guide 1 (How to set-up a Tournament)
This user guide takes organisers through the appropriate stages of setting-up an event on SportyHQ and everything required to be completed prior to the days the event runs.
SportyHQ Tournament User Guide 2 (How to run a Tournament)
This user guide takes organisers through the steps on how to use SportyHQ to run your event during the competition days.
Useful Resources
Various knock-out and round robin draw templates which can be downloaded quickly to run tournaments on a paper based system.
Scottish Masters Circuit – Poster (coming soon)
A poster for clubs/regions to help promote and advertise the Scottish Masters Circuit
Scottish National League – Poster Template
A poster specifically for advertising the Men’s and Women’s Scottish National League. Clubs/Regions can download this to use as they wish.
Competition Hosting: Frequently Asked Questions
I’m new to competition hosting. How do I get started?
Competition organisers are a key supporting network for the player pathway within squash in Scotland. At Scottish Squash, we are keen to support the growth and learning of new organisers at every opportunity and greatly value the contribution of local volunteers.
If you have not hosted a tournament before, on this page you can find documents under the SportyHQ toggle which provide step-by-step walkthroughs of setting up and running a tournament on SportyHQ, Scottish Squash’s preferred tournament software. You can also find answers to frequently asked questions below.
If you need further assistance, contact info@scottishsquash.org and a member of our team will be happy to set up a call to talk through any questions as you get started.
Why don’t I have the option to set up a tournament?
You will need to be an administrator of a club or region in order to access this function on SportyHQ. Contact your club or regional committee and inform them you wish to host a tournament. The option to ‘Create Tournament’ is accessible from the club or region’s administration page.
You are not restricted to hosting at the club you are an administrator for. However, you should always inform the host club in advance of creating and publishing your tournament on SportyHQ.
How do I request sanctioning from Scottish Squash?
To do this:
- Click Request Sanctioning in the Administrator Panel via the tournament home page
- Select Scottish Squash (Squash in Scotland) from the Governing Body dropdown menu
- Select the desired sanctioning level of your competition. More information on competition structure in Scotland can be found here.
- Tick the box to agree to the terms
- Click Submit Sanctioning Request
Scottish Squash will then view your application for sanctioning and either approve or reject the application. In the case of a rejection this will come with correspondence and reasoning.
Do I have to sanction my competition?
No, you do not. Often, local competitions in Scotland are not sanctioned on the national level within the Scottish Squash Competitions Structure. However, there are many benefits to sanctioning your competition at the Bronze or Silver level* if you decide to do so:
- Increased multiplier for SportyHQ ranking points
- Inclusion of your tournament on the national competitions calendar
- Promotion via the Scottish Squash SportyHQ dashboard and social channels; increased profile
- Entry data at your tournament contributes to national statistics, providing a clearer image of the sport to the NGB and sportscotland.
- Insurance coverage for all players
* The number of Gold and Platinum sanctioned competitions each season is prescribed by Scottish Squash. Platinum and Gold sanctioning requests cannot be submitted unless a club is selected as a host venue following the annual application process. See Host Gold and Host Platinum for more details.
Tournament Settings: What should I include as my refund policy?
The Scottish Squash entry fee refund policy can be found in ADM10-G08 Competitions and Events Terms and Conditions.
Tournament Settings: What should my closing date for entry be?
For Bronze and Silver sanctioned competitions, this can be set as the competition organiser wishes. Enough time should be allowed for seeding, draws and communication before the tournament. One week prior to the start date is generally sufficient for most competitions, but a larger entry may require more work. Contact info@scottishsquash.org if you need assistance.
For Gold and Masters Regional competitions, we suggest clubs and organisers allow some more time after the entry closing date to allow for the coordination of draws and seedings with Scottish Squash, and communication with entrants. We recommend 10 – 14 days in advance of the tournament being optimal to allow for this.
Tournament Settings: What should my withdrawal deadline be?
The withdrawal deadline is the last date on which withdrawals from the event will be accepted without consequence. Commonly this is set as the same date as the closing date for entries, or within a few days after.
The withdrawal deadline relates to the Scottish Squash refund policy which can be found in ADM10-G08 Competitions and Events Terms and Conditions.
Sign-Up Page Configuration: What should I include as my Introductory Text?
This section can be used to welcome players to your tournament and give a short introduction to the tournament after players click the sign up button.
Some organisers simply copy the information from About the Tournament (in Tournament Settings) here, as it’s not guaranteed that entrants will visit the tournament home page before signing up.
For Gold and Masters Regional competitions, Scottish Squash recommend including the following:
“This competition is [Gold / Masters Regional] sanctioned by Scottish Squash. Please note entrants without a Squash in Scotland membership will be subject to a £6.00 guest fee. Memberships can be purchased with the entry fee if desired.”
Sign-Up Page Configuration: What should I Include as my Terms and Conditions?
For sanctioned competitions, the following information should be included:
“The Scottish Squash Competitions & Events Terms & Conditions apply to this competition (link below). We recommend that all players (and parents) familiarise themselves with them before submitting their entry.
Scottish Squash Competitions & Events Terms & Conditions: https://www.scottishsquash.org/policies-procedures/#toggle-id-7.”
I am hosting a Junior competition. What should my age limit cut-off be for draws?
The age limit cut-off should be set in the settings for each applicable draw. Settings can be accessed via Manage Draws in the Administrator Panel.
For junior age categories, players should be under the age limit on the last day of the tournament.
Example:
For a tournament from 20th – 21st September, Under 13s must be a maximum 12 years of age on the 21st September. Players turning 13 on the 20th or 21st September are ineligible for the Under 13s, and should compete in the Under 15s age category.
I am hosting a Masters competition. What should my age limit cut-off be for draws?
The age limit cut-off should be set in the settings for each applicable draw. Settings can be accessed via Manage Draws in the Administrator Panel.
For Masters age categories, players should be over the age limit on the first day of the tournament.
Example:
For a tournament from 20th – 21st September, Over 45s must be a minimum of 45 years of age on the 20th September. Players turning 45 on the 21st September are ineligible for the Over 45s, and should compete in the Over 40s age category.
Entries to my tournament require an England Squash member ID. How do I remove this?
This is a root issue identified within the SportyHQ framework that is affecting some competitions created by regional administrators.
Scottish Squash are aware of the issue and are working with SportyHQ developers to remove this requirement.
Please contact info@scottishsquash.org if your competition is affected by this issue.
