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
• 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).

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. 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. 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.

PlayMetric 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 playmetric.co@gmail.com