Squash Canada operates a high performance program that includes a number of year round national teams and specific event teams that represent Canada at international competitions.
In keeping with it’s corporate value of openness and transparency, Squash Canada publishes selection criteria well in advance so that athletes, coaches and parents are aware of the process that will be used to select athletes to a team, or for available funding.
Squash Canada operates several ‘national teams’, groups of athletes at different levels who are provided various recognition, annual training, coaching and/or monitoring services. These include:
| High Performance Squad | Criteria – Click Here |
| National Development Team | Under consideration |
| Junior National Team | Under consideration |
To understand the obligations of Squash Canada to the athlete and the athlete’s obligations to Squash Canada, the 2019-20 Squash Canada – Athlete Agreement is posted HERE.
Should a national team athlete wish to request exemption from a mandatory event, an Event Exemption Request Form is posted HERE.
In order to support its athlete focused value statement, Squash Canada includes a position of Athlete Director on its Board of Directors who is elected by current National Team athletes, and maintains an Athlete Representative Policy posted HERE, which identifies a Male and a Female Representative for liaison purposes and who each carry a vote at the Squash Canada Annual General Meeting.
Many squash competitions are ‘open’, where players are eligible to enter directly. There are, however, a good number of elite level nation vs nation or limited entry competitions where the respective national squash federation controls the entry. In such cases, Squash Canada develops selection criteria in order to determine which players will represent Canada. The following table reflects those competitions and the status of selection criteria and related information.
| Senior Events | World Team Championships (Men’s & Women’s) | Selection Criteria |
| World (Softball) Doubles Championships | 2021 criteria pending | |
| Commonwealth Games | 2022 criteria pending | |
| Pan American Games | Awaiting confirmation of squash’s inclusion in next Games in 2023 | |
| 2020 Pan American Championships EVENT CANCELLED |
Selection Criteria | |
| 2020 World University Championships EVENT CANCELLED |
Selection Criteria | |
| Under 23 Events | Youth Pan Am Games | 2021 criteria pending more information about these inaugural Games |
| Junior Events | 2020 World Junior Men’s Team Championships (Team) EVENT POSTPONED |
Selection Criteria |
| 2020 World Junior Men’s Championships (Individual) EVENT POSTPONED |
Selection Criteria | |
| 2021 World Junior Women’s Team Championships (Team) | Selection Criteria
NOTE as at September 1, 2020: Due to COVID-19 and the uncertainty around when inter-provincial competition may be able to resume, designated selection events have not been determined. This selection criteria therefore WILL BE subject to change as soon as the situation permits reliable planning to be made. |
|
| 2021 World Junior Women’s Championships (Individual) | 2021 criteria pending | |
| 2020 Pan American Junior Championships EVENT CANCELLED |
Selection Criteria | |
| United States Junior Open | Criteria pending confirmation of event. 2019 criteria HERE as a reference only. | |
| British & Scottish Junior Opens EVENT CANCELLED |
Details pending confirmation of event. 2020 samples as a reference only: | |
| 2020 Battle of the Border EVENT CANCELLED |
Selection Criteria | |
| PSA World Tour | Refer to Professional Squash Association | PSA World Tour |
| SDA / WSDA Tours | Refer to Pro Doubles Tours | Men: SDA Pro Tour Women: WSDA Pro Tour |
Squash Canada manages two direct athlete funding programs in support of High Performance Squad members:
Athlete Assistance Program ‘Carding’
The AAP is a program of the Federal Government administered by Sport Canada. Squash Canada receives an annual quota from Sport Canada and in turn proposes criteria to determine which athletes will be nominated for ‘carding’. Historically, Squash Canada has received a quota that has permitted carding of 4 to 5 High Performance Squad members annually. Carding amounts per player can range from $21,180/year to $8,480/year.
Current Carding Criteria can be viewed HERE (2021)
Individualized Athlete Funding
Each year, Squash Canada typically makes a budget allocation in support of High Performance Squad members to assist with training and competition expenses, with emphasis on support for players who may not be ‘carded’. The amount of support is budget dependent but historically has been in the $4,000 range.
Some provincial/territorial governments, agencies or squash associations make available performance-based funding assistance to high performance, elite development and junior players. Athletes are directed to their respective provincial/territorial squash association for information about respective athlete funding assistance program that may exist.