Letter from USA Racquetball President Stewart Solomon

Greetings, Racquetball Family,

It has been a while since the last time I published a letter, and with four months left in my term on the USA Racquetball Board of Directors, I thought now was as good a time as any. The year 2025 is shaping up to be a big one for the organization and the sport, from a full slate of major indoor and outdoor domestic events to U.S. Team participation at the World Games in China this summer. A lot of time is being invested to ensure the big wheel keeps turning!

International Events

For those who might not be aware, every year, there is an adult international competition (Pan American Racquetball Championship, also known as PARC) and the IRF World Junior Championships. In addition to these events, there are The World Games (this year in China) every four years the year after the Summer Games, the Pan American Games every four years the year before the Summer Games (2027 will be in Lima, Peru), and the IRF World Championships (that the United States just hosted in Texas) every other year. These events take planning and coordination with delegations consisting of a couple of players, up to 30’ish players, coaches, a trainer, and parents. A significant number of volunteer hours are dedicated to the success of Team USA.

Indoor National Events

Looking at the Indoor National Events schedule, we are touring the country with stops in Oregon, North Carolina, California, and Minnesota! As much as we would love these events to “run themselves,” it takes time and energy to plan, coordinate, and execute them to the high standards we have set for them. Execution is key, and we rely on several volunteers to work the tournament desk to ensure the standards are met!

Local Events

A number of us run and/or compete in local tournaments. Some of us play to sharpen our swords against other competitors. Others play to show that we are still at the top of our game. But it’s safe to say we all come to these local events to spend time with our “other family.” As I have often said, tournaments are family reunions where some racquetball is played. Sure, we are all competitors on the court, but once we step off the court, we enjoy catching up with friends we might not have seen for a couple of weeks, months, or maybe even years! These reunions are all thanks to those individuals who take time away from their primary families and their primary jobs and volunteer to give back to the sport and family that has brought so much to their lives.

Thank You

And with that, I’d like to say thank you to everyone who gives even just a little of themselves to help continue this great sport of ours; to those who raise their hand to volunteer to referee a match (or say yes after being asked by a hard-working member of a tournament desk), to those that offer assistance in cleaning up after the day or event is over. I want to thank the individuals who step in at National Events for doing whatever is asked of them to help ensure we meet the standards we have come to expect at these events.

I want to thank the Board of Directors who have sacrificed time away from their families and their jobs to be on late-night calls when needed and, when asked, to travel on their own dime to support these events and receive nothing but our gratitude.

I especially want to thank our three volunteers, Karen Grisz, Cheryl Kirk, and Kristin Wattz, who have stepped into this role of “Office of the Executive Director.” They continue in Mike Grisz’s footsteps of volunteerism. These individuals receive no compensation and collaboratively split the work of a paid full-time Executive Director. They travel to National and International events with no financial reimbursement to help represent USA Racquetball. As someone who has paid his own way to support these events and has tried to split time between work and onsite support (once, I was even interviewing remotely for a new job while at the Pan American Games!), I know the feeling of gratification when you put your life on hold to help the cause.

Last but not least, I would like to thank my wife and son for tolerating the time I have invested over the years, the meetings I attended while having an evening snack with my son, and doing my best to split my attention. On the sequential nights, I was away and unable to do bedtime routines. My family knows how passionate I am about racquetball and remains so supportive.

In Closing

I’ve rambled on long enough about volunteers and how thankful I am for every one of you. To wrap this up, in a previous letter, I spoke about how it “takes a village to help a family to grow and develop.” I ask that each of us look for ways to help, and if you don’t know what that could look like, ask someone already helping!

Please consider attending one of the many events lined up both locally and nationally, perhaps the National Indoor Championship in May out in California!

We are the village that will bring racquetball forward to future generations!

Sincerely,

Stewart Solomon
President
USA Racquetball Board of Directors
president@usaracquetball.com