University sports club
Squash Club at Fordham University
Fordham University has an active student community across nine sports — and squash is one of the easier ones to organise yourself if there isn't already a thriving club. Whether you're starting one from scratch or joining an existing group, this guide is for squash players at Fordham: how to find players, where to play, how to run weekly sessions, and how to set up internal competition that keeps people coming back.
Joining or starting a squash club at Fordham
Most universities already have at least one squash-related student group, even if it's informal. The first step is to ask around: search the student union's club directory, post in the campus Facebook or Reddit group, and check the campus sports notice board. If a club exists, you can save yourself months of work by joining and helping out.
If no squash club exists at Fordham University, starting one is a known process. At US universities, sports clubs are usually run as registered student organisations (RSOs) through the student affairs or student activities office. The process requires a constitution, an advisor (often a faculty member), and a minimum number of founding student members. Some campuses route club sports through a dedicated club sports council with separate funding and facility privileges.
Recruiting your first 20 members
Run an open trial session in week 1 of each semester. No commitment, no fee, just turn up and play. About 30% of attendees will join properly afterwards if the trial was fun.
Word of mouth is your best recruiting channel. Ask each existing member to bring one friend — even informally. The friends-of-friends effect is how every successful student club doubles in its first year.
Running weekly sessions
Charge a small per-session fee (2-5 dollars/pounds/euros) to cover court hire and signal commitment. Use an app to handle the payments — chasing cash kills more clubs than anything else.
Build a Discord, WhatsApp, or Telegram group for the club. Use it for week-to-week reminders, last-minute changes, and social planning. The group chat becomes the club's social fabric.
Internal competition and inter-university tournaments
Run an internal tournament once a semester. It gives members something to train for, surfaces the strongest players, and creates social moments that make people stick around. A round robin format works well for under 12 players; pool play with playoffs for more.
Inter-university competitions (where they exist) are the best recruiting tool you have. Win one and you'll have new members banging the door. Organise carpools, accommodation if needed, and a post-event social.
Managing the club with Volley
Volley is the right app for student sports clubs. Free on iOS and Android. Built-in member rosters, recurring weekly sessions, paid memberships (handle term fees in one tap), group chat, internal ELO ladders, and full tournament running. The recurring stuff (RSVPs, payments, ladder updates) belongs in an app, not a spreadsheet — and Volley is purpose-built for it.
Scoring matches in Volley feeds straight into a personal ELO rating that updates over the term. Members watch their rating climb (or stall) and that's genuinely motivating — it's the closest thing student sport has to Strava's segment leaderboards. Free on iOS and Android.
Frequently asked questions
Does Fordham University have a squash club?
Many universities have at least one squash-related student group, but not all of them are easy to find. The fastest way to check is to search the student union or sports association directory and post in the relevant campus social media groups. If no club exists, the affiliation process for starting one is straightforward — most universities make it easy if you have 5-10 founding members.
How do I start a squash club at Fordham?
Recruit 5-10 founding members through orientation events and campus social media, register with the student union or sports association (the process is usually a constitution template and a registered committee), book a regular facility slot, and start running weekly sessions. The momentum from the first few sessions matters far more than the paperwork.
What app do university squash clubs use?
Volley is purpose-built for clubs that run weekly sessions, internal ladders, and inter-college tournaments. It handles rosters, paid memberships, ELO ratings, and tournament running — all free on iOS and Android. Most student clubs use a mix of group chat and a spreadsheet, but Volley replaces both.
How much does running a squash club at Fordham cost?
The biggest cost is facility hire — most clubs charge a small term membership (the equivalent of 30-80 dollars/pounds/euros) to cover it. Beyond that, most expenses (equipment, prizes, socials) can be covered by a small per-session fee. Use built-in payments in an app like Volley to make collection painless.