SPECIAL EVENT
IAB Summit in the Rockies

Cheyenne Mountain Resort
Colorado Springs, Colorado
September 4-6, 2003

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The afternoon session of the International Association of Businesses (IAB) United States Racquetball Association Summit in the Rockies separated the attendees into ten teams of focus groups to discuss no-holds-barred, "blue sky" ideas for the sport's future. The working groups were asked to consider any and everything, without restriction, presuming that any/all projects were fully funded and do-able.

In the first breakout session, the group was asked to come up with ideas on what the sport of racquetball (in general) should do to increase participation and visibility. Approximately thirty ideas surfaced during the brainstorming session and the group was then asked to narrow those ideas down to ten, which were then discussed individually by each focus group.

The ideas that were discussed in greater depth were, NCAA participation, implementation of a national advertising campaign, marketing the sport in health clubs, gaining television exposure, the building of a national racquetball center, collegiate programming, the building of a portable court with a traveling demonstration team, racquetball awareness in schools, implementing a grassroots campaign, and identifying a national spokesperson.

After hearing each presentation the groups then narrowed the topics down to the top three which the USRA will explore further. The top three, in order, were gaining television exposure, building a portable court with a traveling demonstration team, and emphasizing collegiate participation.

A second session focused more specifically on what the USRA's role should be in the pursuit of these projects, and the same procedure was used to determine the priorities of the group as being 1) a National training center, 2) more Grand slam events and 3) Junior development. 

Additional discussion is scheduled for Saturday's agenda, following presentations by Membership Director Kevin Joyce, who will unveil a series of technology enhancements planned for the association.