In recent years, squash has increased in popularity at the junior, high school, and collegiate levels. The sport, long regarded as an elite and niche activity, is flourishing thanks to expanded access, innovative programs, and increased sponsorship. As the 2025 CSA Club Team Championships and US High School Team Championships unfold, it’s evident that squash’s grassroots movement is fueling its future at every level of play.
College Squash: A Championship Culture
The College Squash Association (CSA) remains at the heart of collegiate squash, fostering competitive excellence across multiple divisions. This season’s CSA National Team Championships, held March 6-9 at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center, features powerhouse teams and emerging programs vying for national titles. The CSA Club Team Championships, which began last weekend, further highlight the growth of squash at the club level, providing collegiate athletes with more opportunities to compete, develop, and build community through the sport.
High School Squash: Expanding Opportunities
Philadelphia, a city with a deep squash tradition, will host the 2025 US High School Team Championships from February 21-23. As the largest team squash event in the country, the tournament will bring together top high school programs to battle for the coveted national championship.
Meanwhile, the National Interscholastic continues to expand its reach, celebrating its fifth edition this year. The tournament’s format is designed to introduce students from regions without established high school squash teams to competitive play. By allowing athletes from different schools to form teams, the event ensures that more young players have access to the sport. The competition also provides opportunities for Junior Varsity, B or C teams, Co-Ed squads, and Squash and Education Alliance (SEA) teams to compete nationally.
Junior Development: Investing in the Future
At the junior level, organizations like the US Squash Junior High Performance Program (Junior HPP) are grooming the next generation of elite players. Hosted at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center, the program provides top junior athletes with world-class training under the guidance of national coaches and Team USA support staff. Participation is by invitation only, ensuring high competition and development.
Internationally, efforts to grow the junior game are also gaining momentum. PwC Isle of Man recently announced a three-year sponsorship with Isle of Man Squash, which is dedicated to developing squash opportunities for young players. The initiative funds training sessions, uniforms, and equipment, allowing young athletes to participate in local and off-island competitions.
Breaking Barriers: Increasing Access to Squash
One of the biggest challenges in squash has been accessibility, with private clubs often requiring costly memberships. However, programs like SquashRx are changing the game. Operating in New York City and New Canaan, Connecticut, SquashRx eliminates membership fees, allowing juniors to take classes without long-term commitments. This affordability model is making squash more accessible to a broader audience.
Similarly, Play Squash Academy serves the Virginia, D.C., and Maryland regions by offering youth squash clinics designed to enhance technical skills, tactical understanding, and mental resilience. These efforts ensure that young players receive top-tier training while making the sport more inclusive and widely available.
Squash Expands in the West
While much of the squash activity resides along the eastern seaboard, the sport is making significant strides on the West Coast. The SoCal Squash and the Southern California Junior Squash League have established the only official inter-club and program junior squash league sanctioned by US Squash. The league brings together teams from as far north as Santa Barbara and as far south as San Diego, with each team comprising five players from the same school, club, or after-school nonprofit program. Last season, 14 teams competed in the league, and that number is expected to grow this year, reflecting squash’s increasing popularity in the region.
A Legacy of Excellence: College Squash’s Centennial Celebration
As squash continues to grow, it also honors its storied past. The sport is celebrating its 100th year in collegiate athletics, a milestone chronicled in racquet-sports historian Rob Dinerman’s latest book, A Century of Champions: 100 Years of College Squash (Millennium Printing Corporation, 2024). The book captures the history of men’s and women’s college squash, from its first match between Harvard and Yale in 1923 to today’s thriving scene.
With grassroots programs, high-performance training, and increased sponsorship fueling its expansion, squash is poised for a bright future. The 2025 season across junior, scholastic, and collegiate levels reflect the sport’s growing appeal, ensuring that squash remains a dynamic and accessible sport for generations to come.
