Community Squash: Improving Access and Promoting Wellbeing

At:International Workshop on Physical Activity and Quality of Life

Havana Convention Center, CubaNovember 9, 2012

By Tariq Mohammed, Ed. MDirector, Kidsquash Inc.

Agenda• Background of Community Squash Concept• Kidsquash Profile• Kidsquash Model• Private-Public Partnerships• Role of Social Entrepreneurship• Methodologies for Social Innovation• Lessons for Latin America and Caribbean

Background of Community Squash

• Community squash concept first established in the United Kingdom.

• Cost-effective service developed by squash professionals at educational institutions, private clubs and recreation centers.

• Main purpose is to improve access to the sport, increase participation while promoting health benefits.

Kidsquash Profile• Kidsquash, a community squash program

incorporated as a 501c3 nonprofit in 2006.• Founding members included Harvard University,

Complete Sports Solutions and Friends of Kidsquash.

• Served over 100 children ages 8 to 17 from Greater Boston area.

• Endorsed by US Squash and Massachusetts Squash. Director recognized by United States Olympic Committee as 2011 Developmental Coach of the Year for Squash.

Kidsquash Mission

• Kidsquash provides access to a lifetime sport for young people of all backgrounds “today” and to create a healthy lifestyle for a better “tomorrow.” The program makes the game of squash inclusive by exposing the young to a new activity and most of all encouraging them to develop a lifestyle through a lifetime sport.

Kidsquash Coaching Philosophy

• “Introduction to the Game" - curriculum develops young aspiring players through an accelerated program that enables each participant to start playing and enjoying the sport immediately.

• “Developing Leaders” - the program aims to develop leaders from within the group who have natural talent and excel in the sport to help their peers.

Kidsquash Team• Satinder Bajwa, Founder – Trustee at Khelshala

and former Director of Squash at Harvard University.

• Tariq Mohammed, Director – Head Coach, Girls and Boys Squash at Concord Academy.

• Luke Hammond, Lead Coach – Assistant Coach, Men’s and Women’s Squash at Harvard.

Organization Chart

The Kidsquash Model

• Kidsquash is a low-cost, high impact program that prides itself on:

• Athlete-centered coaching• Developmentally appropriate• Qualified leadership• Private-public partnerships• Affordability

Kidsquash Curriculum

A typical Kidsquash season covers:– Interactive Lectures– Warm-up and Stretching– Drills– Etiquette and Refereeing – Fitness – Tournaments– Friendly Matches

Kidsquash Community

• “Coaching happens in a context.” » Dr. John McCarthy, Director of Institute of Athletic Coach

Education at Boston University.

• Kidsquash is implemented at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Participants hail from over 20 towns in the Greater Boston area and over 25 public and private schools. Majority of the students are Caucasian with few girls and minorities represented. The median Kidsquash family income is approximately $40,000.

Kidsquash Enrollment

• The number of active participants in the Kidsquash program include:

• 2009: 40 registered children• 2010: 27 registered children• 2011: 41 registered children

• An average of 30 % of Kidsquash students returned after each year from 2009-2012.

Kidsquash Scheduling

• Due to available resources and constraints:– Clinics are held once a week for 90 minutes.– Kidsquash season runs for 6 months.

• Depending on student’s interest and ability:– Encouraged to seek private instruction with Lead

Coach at other times.– Attend summer squash camps to develop skills

and gain experience.

Private-Public Partnerships

Kidsquash works in collaboration with the private and public sectors to run its program:

Private sector: - Head - Hi-Tec - Complete Sports Solutions Inc.

Public sector: – United States Squash– College Squash Association– Local Squash Associations

Achievements

Kidsquash graduates have continued to develop their passion for the sport by playing college squash in the Ivy League (Cornell), the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) (Amherst), the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) (MIT) and Atlantic 10 Conference (George Washington University).

Role of Social Entrepreneurship

• How do you define social entrepreneurship?

• What is the social entrepreneurship example of Kidsquash?

• What Kidsquash methodologies can drive social innovation?

Definition of Social Entrepreneurship

• Social entrepreneurship has many meanings to different people and different contexts.

• A working definition of a social entrepreneur:“Society’s change agent: A pioneer of innovation that benefits humanity.”

– Skoll Foundation, July 2007

Evolution of Khelshala• Coach Bajwa, Founder of Kidsquash was

compelled to bring an elite sport to underserved children in India.

• Founded Khelshala in 2009, a sister organization of Kidsquash and sport-based youth development program that provides squash, tennis, academic tutoring and yoga for wellbeing to underprivileged children in India.

• For more visit www.khelshala.in

Khelshala

Empowering Kids Through Sport

Mission of Khelshala

• Khelshala is committed to enhance the future of underprivileged children by building life skills through sport, academics and extra-curricular activities. Khelshala aims to be a leader in the movement to leverage sport to achieve social change in India, one village at a time.

Squash

Tutoring

Music

Yoga

Methodologies for Social Innovation

• Social innovations can be judged on social impact and scalability.

• Kidsquash has created social impact on the lives of over 100 children from diverse backgrounds in the Greater Boston area.

• Scaling-up Kidsquash through replication of the model in other locations can drive social innovation.

Start-Up Tool Kit

• Replication of the Kidsquash model in new sites can begin with start-up kits.

• Contents include:– Job Description of Director & Lead Coach– Acquiring facility (paid or shared)– Identifying and training peer coaches– Community Outreach strategies– Fundraising strategies

Job Descriptions

• Founder to monitor and evaluate program finances.

• Director to monitor and evaluate program operations.

• Lead Coach to monitor and evaluate coaching effectiveness.

• Independent evaluation consultants will review progress periodically.

Shared Use of School and Community Recreational

Resources“Providing access to safe, affordable and convenient recreational facilities is a critical strategy for helping children and adults to be more active, especially in lower-income communities and communities of color that often lack such facilities. Leading public health authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend sharing existing school and community recreational facilities to promote physical activity…. The shared use (or joint use) of existing school and community sport and recreational facilities can be a cost-effective way to promote physical activity among residents of all ages.”

-Research Brief, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, April, 2012

Coach Recruitment

• Hiring qualified coaches is often based on referrals through personal or community networks:– Identify a qualified, experienced and enthusiastic

Lead Coach who is open to further coach education.

– Volunteer coaches require an understanding of the fundamentals of squash and flexibility for feedback on instruction.

Sample Outreach Strategies

• Develop a database of community members by:– Visiting schools and community centers– Connecting with local government agencies– Online advertising (Websites, blogs & social

media)– Promotions at community events • e.g. Youth activity fairs, professional squash

tournaments

Kidsquash Fundraising Strategies

• Kidsquash raises funds through donations for participation, grants and in-kind contributions.

Donations – solicit individuals. Grants – send applications to foundations,

associations and corporations. In-kind Contributions – gifts from individuals,

corporations and educational

institutions. Total Estimated Budget - $25,000

Lessons for Latin America and Caribbean

• Start small by piloting community squash programs.

• Ensure local ownership.• Operate on cost recovery basis for

sustainability.• Build on strengths of local, regional and

national squash associations.• Foster cross-sector collaboration.

Mucho GraciasFor more information, please contact us:

Kidsquash Inc.P.O. Box 380231Cambridge, MA

United States of AmericaEmail: tariq@kidsquash.org

Website: www.kidsquash.orgFacebook: www.facebook.com/Kidsquash

Questions or Comments?