SquashSmarts is the third major urban youth program nationwide to combine the sport of squash with academic tutoring and mentoring for low-income middle school students in order to enhance academic achievement while fostering life skills and developing fitness. SquashSmarts fills a visible gap in the Philadelphia public school system since no school-sponsored academic/athletic extracurricular activities exist in West Philadelphia middle schools. Participants are selected from the Drew and McMichael schools at 38th & Powelton and 35th & Fairmount Streets. Drexel University provides court and classroom space in its Daskalakis Athletic Center at 33rd and Market Streets.

Squash, or sport, serves as the hook, but at its core, SquashSmarts emphasizes individual attention through one-to-one tutoring and mentoring. This personal attention, tailored to each student’s needs over the course of a three-year-long commitment, is what makes SquashSmarts so unique. Recruited at a pivotal age in 6th grade, team members sign a contract of participation through 8th grade so that academic enrichment influences high school selection. Our full capacity is twenty-four students due to court space. The program runs as follows:

Each participant also pairs with a college student athlete mentor to learn how the balance between academics and athletics enhances education and general wellness. In addition to housing our program, Drexel University volunteers its athletes as mentors and undergraduates as tutors. The Center for Community Partnerships of the University of Pennsylvania provides undergraduate and adult tutors. Penn’s men and women’s squash teams also participate. Local squash professionals donate their time, and “SquashSmartsers” benefit from the enthusiasm of over 50 area squash volunteers. Several board members are active tutors and squash volunteers as well.

In order to fulfill our objective of 30 hours per month of focused attention for each team member, SquashSmarts relies heavily on volunteers from the community in addition to its two full-time staff members. These consistent, structured relationships create an environment in which students develop self-esteem, discipline and character. SquashSmarts’ education through recreation model provides critical support to West Philadelphia’s underserved youth.