Inter-club tournaments are where squash communities connect. Players from different clubs compete, rivalries form, and the local squash scene grows beyond individual club walls.

Running one takes more coordination than a regular club event — multiple clubs, more players, potentially multiple venues. Here's how to make it work.

Why Inter-Club Events Matter

For Players

• Compete against new opponents
• Test skills outside the club bubble
• Build connections across the local squash community

For Clubs

• Strengthen relationships with nearby clubs
• Attract players who might consider membership
• Raise your club's profile in the region

For the Sport

• Grow the competitive scene
• Create pathways from club to regional to national, as encouraged by World Squash
• Build a sense of community beyond individual clubs

Formats

Team Match

Clubs enter teams. Each team has 3-5 players. Team with most individual match wins takes the event.

Club A vs Club B

Match 1: A1 vs B1 (each club's strongest player)
Match 2: A2 vs B2
Match 3: A3 vs B3
Match 4: A4 vs B4
Match 5: A5 vs B5

Team with 3+ wins takes the tie.

Best for: Building club identity, team camaraderie

Individual Tournament

Players enter individually. Standard elimination or round-robin format. Players from all clubs mixed in the draw.

Best for: Large fields, finding the best individual players

Graded Divisions

Multiple divisions by skill level. Clubs enter players into appropriate grades.

A Grade: Top players from each club
B Grade: Strong club players
C Grade: Developing players

Best for: Inclusive competition where all levels play meaningful matches

League Format

Clubs play each other over a season (e.g., 6-10 weeks). Each fixture is a team match. Final standings determine the winner.

Best for: Ongoing competition, building rivalries

Planning Timeline

8-12 Weeks Before

• Agree date, venue, and format with participating clubs
• Set entry fee (per player or per team)
• Create registration process
• Book courts (host venue or multiple clubs)
• Assign an organiser from each club as point of contact

4-6 Weeks Before

• Open registration
• Communicate format, rules, and deadlines
• Confirm catering/refreshments plan
• Arrange trophies or prizes

1-2 Weeks Before

• Close entries
• Create draws and schedule
• Share draw with all clubs
• Confirm volunteer roles (scorers, referees, hospitality)

Event Day

• Set up venue (welcome desk, scoring stations, results board)
• Brief volunteers
• Run matches according to schedule
• Capture results and photos
• Present awards

After

• Publish final results
• Share photos and highlights
• Thank participating clubs
• Debrief: what worked, what to improve

Coordination Across Clubs

Single Organiser

One person (or club) owns the event. Other clubs provide players and support.

Pros: Clear accountability, fewer coordination issues Cons: Burden falls on one person

Rotating Host

Each year/edition, a different club hosts.

Pros: Shared load, variety of venues Cons: Inconsistent quality, knowledge loss between editions

Shared Committee

Representatives from each club form an organising committee.

Pros: Buy-in from all clubs, distributed work Cons: More meetings, slower decisions

For first events, single organiser with a rotating host future is usually easiest.

Venue Considerations

Single Venue

All matches at one location.

Pros: Easier to manage, atmosphere, spectators in one place Cons: Limited courts, may require long day

Multiple Venues

Matches split across clubs, simultaneous or staggered.

Pros: More courts available, spreads hosting Cons: Coordination complexity, split atmosphere

Single venue is better for finals and showcase events. Multi-venue works for league-style fixtures.

Seeding and Team Composition

Individual Events

Seed based on ratings or rankings. If clubs use different systems, agree on a method:

• Use one club's ratings as baseline
• Seed by committee (each club nominates their player order)
• Unseed and random draw (fairest but chaotic)

Team Events

Each club orders their players 1 to 5 (strongest to weakest). Player 1 plays Player 1, and so on.

Enforcement: Some events require ratings to prevent "sandbagging" (hiding a strong player at a lower position). The PSA World Tour uses world rankings, and national federations like US Squash maintain their own rating systems for this purpose.

Rules and Disputes

Agree these upfront:

Document in a "rules sheet" shared with all participants.

Scoring and Results

Manual

Paper score sheets collected by organisers. Results entered into spreadsheet. Published after the event.

Works for: Small events, low-tech environments Problems: Slow, error-prone, no live visibility

Platform-Based

Use a tournament platform with live scoring. Spectators follow remotely. Results feed into standings automatically.

Works for: Any size, especially multi-court events Benefits: Live visibility, less manual work, integrated ratings

Budget

Typical costs:

Cover with entry fees. Typical: $15-30 per player, or $50-100 per team.

Surplus can fund future events or contribute to junior programs.

Making It Social

Competition is the core, but social elements make people come back.

• Shared meals: Lunch between rounds, dinner after finals
• Presentations: Short ceremony for winners, best match, sportsmanship
• Photos: Capture team shots, action, presentations — share afterward
• Drinks: Post-event gathering at host club bar

An inter-club event that's only matches is forgettable. Add the social layer.

Growing the Event

Year 1

2-3 clubs, simple format (team match or individual), single venue.

Year 2

Add more clubs, introduce graded divisions, better promotion.

Year 3+

Establish as annual fixture, create trophy with history, consider regional expansion.

Consistency matters. Same weekend each year, same format, building tradition.

Checklist

8-12 weeks before:

• Clubs confirmed
• Date and venue set
• Format agreed
• Entry fee set

4-6 weeks before:

• Registration open
• Rules documented and shared
• Prizes arranged
• Volunteers recruited

1-2 weeks before:

• Entries closed
• Draws created
• Schedule published
• Volunteers briefed

Event day:

• Venue set up
• Matches run on time
• Results captured
• Awards presented

After:

• Results published
• Photos shared
• Thank-yous sent
• Debrief completed

Frequently Asked Questions

How many clubs do you need for an inter-club squash tournament?

Two clubs is the minimum for a team match. Three or more makes a proper event with group stages or a round-robin. For your first inter-club tournament, start with 2-3 clubs to keep logistics simple, then expand in future editions.

What's the best format for an inter-club squash event?

Team matches (3-5 players per club, matched by ranking) work best for building club identity and rivalries. Graded divisions (A, B, C grade) are better when you want inclusive competition across all skill levels. For a first event, a simple team match format is easiest to organise.

How much does it cost to run an inter-club tournament?

A typical inter-club event costs $250-700 for court hire, balls, prizes, and refreshments. Cover costs with entry fees of $15-30 per player or $50-100 per team. Many clubs break even or generate a small surplus for future events.

How do you seed players from different clubs fairly?

If clubs use different rating systems, agree on one method: use a common platform's ratings, have each club nominate their player order (strongest to weakest), or seed by committee. Some regions use national federation rankings from bodies like England Squash or Squash Australia as a baseline. For team events, each club orders players 1 to 5 and matching positions play each other.

Should we use a single venue or split across multiple clubs?

Single venue is better for atmosphere, spectator experience, and logistics — especially for finals and showcase events. Multiple venues work for league-format fixtures spread over weeks. For a first event, a single host venue keeps things manageable.

Bottom Line

Inter-club events grow the game beyond your own walls, which is exactly what squash needs as a growing global sport. They're more work to organise, but the payoff — new rivalries, community connection, raised profiles — is worth it.

Start small with 2-3 clubs. Get the format right. Build from there.

PlayPulse handles draws, live scoring, and results across multiple clubs — whether you're running a single event or an ongoing league.

See how it works →

Related Reading

• How to Run a Squash Tournament
• How to Create a Squash Draw
• How to Grow Your Squash Club
• Online Tournament Registration

Questions about inter-club events? Email playpulse.io@gmail.com