Of Ratings and Rankings

March 1st, 2005 Mithun Mukherjee Posted in General

By Fred Weymuller

With all RSRA tournaments and nearly all tournaments put on by RSRA member clubs sanctioned by the USSRA, it is possible for many of you to accumulate enough tournaments for you to be Nationally Ranked. How would you like that?

What’s more, you can join the gang of Rochesterians already headed out on the open road to out of town tournaments. Not only do those results add to your tournament record, they’re lots of fun and you’ll get to meet a lot of interesting people.

Our new Rochester Squash Ladder gives you an opportunity to receive a USSRA Rating without having to be observed by a rater. Simply challenge several times, report your results to Ladder Coordinator Chip Nimick (nimick@cc.rochester.edu) and we’ll soon have enough data to assign you a Rating based on how you’ve done vs. people already rated. You will be placed in a skill level somewhere between 2.5 and 6.0. Skill level tournaments are usually offered in 0.5 increments (2.5., 3.0, 3.5…etc.) but bigger lots (3.5-4.5) may be offered.

All results, including friendlies, if both players agree to reporting them, may be used towards your Rating.

Ranking is a somewhat different matter and, of course, has been going on much longer. Ranking is done at the end of every playing year in the different versions of the game (softball, hardball and doubles) and is done by gender, age group and skill level. Skill level means Rating level and no longer means A, B, C, D. Ladder matches and friendlies DO NOT count towards National ranking.

To be ranked in Men’s A or Open or Skill Levels softball, it is necessary to play in 4 sanctioned events. Four sanctioned events are also necessary for hardball A or Open events.

For ranking in 30+ -55+, it takes 4 with at least 2 in age group for softball and 3 with at least 2 in age group for hardball. For 60+ and 65+ 3 sanctioned events with at least 2 in age group will suffice. For 70+-85+, 2 sanctioned events with at least 2 in age group will do.

For men’s doubles A requires 4 sanctioned events in Open or A; 40+, 50+, 55+, 60+ requires 3 sanctioned events with at least 2 in age group and 70+ requires 2 events in age group.

Women’s singles: 4 sanctioned skill level or open championships, one out of region. The Howe Cup counts as out of region. The U.S. Championships counts as 2 events.

Juniors must play 4 sanctioned tournaments in their age group. The U.S. National Closed tournament is counted as 2 of the 4 required events.