January - February 1997: Volume 8, Number 1


CHANGING TIMES

by Luke St. Onge

This past year has been a banner one for the sport of racquetball. To mark its fourth decade, the AARA has changed its name to the United States Racquetball Association and taken a page from its successful tennis colleague, the USTA -- expanding its responsibilities and taking on a corporate identity that better reflects the totality of the association as it is today. Now, as we prepare for a new year, we have a new look, a higher profile and more challenges.

As part of an annual renewal of our commitment to the sport and its millions of enthusiasts, we invite you to review the past twelve months with us. The sidebar details some of the highlights of 1996, which included more television exposure, the debut of a U.S. Open that re-united the pro's and amateurs, a successful launch of the Racquetball Industry Initiative, and an eighth consecutive World Cup team championship for the United States.

Yet racquetball participation figures continue to slump according to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, which predicts a 20% drop in its research numbers for 1996. At the same time, all of the initiatives brought forward this past year have been carefully devised to reverse any such trend. We know you want to help protect your sport as well -- and you can -- by assisting us in our efforts to sustain programs which boost our visibility and viability in a competitive sports market.

We need your help, and your passion for the sport, to re-establish racquetball as a growth commodity in the sporting industry. As we do each holiday season, we ask you to consider making an investment in the future of racquetball through an unrestricted tax deductible donation. Racquetball deserves its rightful place among competitive sports that provide lifelong enjoyment to so many. We hope you will join us in making it happen!

RACQUETBALL 1996

New Points of View: World Championships are televised live on ASPN for the first time ... Time Warner & ESPN tape and broadcast the semi's and finals of the pro division at the U.S. OPEN -- a first ... The Racquetball Industry Initiative (RIA) reaches 2,000 court clubs and fitness centers with a video tape and workbook which shows club owners how to realize $90,000 per court per year ... Two internet websites are developed for the association and RACQUETBALL Magazine. [http://www.usra.org and http://www.racqmag.com]

International Acclaim: The U.S. National Racquetball Team wins the combined title at the World Championships for the eighth time. They win all six gold medals in individual competition, but they surrender the men's team competition to the Canadians ... U.S. National Team wins Tournament of the Americas in Cali, Colombia ... U.S. Junior National Team wins Junior Worlds in California in December 1995 with 12 countries competing.

The Pros: U.S. OPEN is held in Memphis with 140 in the men and women's pro draw, plus 600 amateurs in affiliated competition. ... IRT accepts promotion of the Women's Tour. Now called the IRT/WIRT Tour. ... IRT/WIRT boasts 28 stops. A record for the sport.

National Staff: Kevin Vicroy joins the National Staff as media coordinator ... AmPRO is restructured under Michelle Gould to include programming, coaching, and instructional.

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