The
World Squash Federation (WSF) has appointed world-renowned
International Academy of Sports Science and Technology (AISTS) to
conduct research that will provide a framework to help encourage more
players and ex-players to become qualified as referees.
The
research will also look at new options that will help raise officiating
standards generally.
The
two-phase project, which is due to be completed by August this year,
will involve a combination of information-gathering and interviews by
the Swiss Lausanne-based Institute before recommendations are made at
the second stage.
Welcoming the partnership, WSF President N Ramachandran
commented: "Squash is blessed with some excellent referees from across
the globe, but we do need to enlarge the pool and ensure that they have
the best possible resources to enable them to improve - from local right
through to international level. This study by the esteemed AISTS team
will provide new perspectives for us as part of that process."
AISTS
Executive Director Dr Claude Stricker is pleased to confirm that
the project is already underway: "The AISTS looks at innovative
solutions to develop qualified referees in the sport of squash and
follows a multidisciplinary approach in this process. The AISTS
integrates knowledge from different disciplines such as management,
psychology, economics, technology, and incorporates the knowledge from
the best case studies found in other sports."
