PAN AMERICAN RACQUETBALL FEDERATION
  • Home
  • About
    • About Racquetball
    • PARC History
    • Member Federations
    • Executive Committee
    • Sub Committees
    • PARC Tournaments
    • Rules
    • Constitution
  • News
  • Events & Rankings
    • Live Events
    • Future Events
    • Past Event Results >
      • Pan American Games
      • Pan American Championships
      • Central American & Caribbean Games
      • Central American Games
      • South American Games
      • Bolivarian Games
      • Other Tournaments
    • Rankings >
      • Pan American Rankings
      • South America Rankings
  • Watch
  • Anti-Doping
  • Partners
  • Sponsors
  • Athlete Representative
  • IRF - PARC Officials and Staff
  • Donations
  • PARC2025
  • Home
  • About
    • About Racquetball
    • PARC History
    • Member Federations
    • Executive Committee
    • Sub Committees
    • PARC Tournaments
    • Rules
    • Constitution
  • News
  • Events & Rankings
    • Live Events
    • Future Events
    • Past Event Results >
      • Pan American Games
      • Pan American Championships
      • Central American & Caribbean Games
      • Central American Games
      • South American Games
      • Bolivarian Games
      • Other Tournaments
    • Rankings >
      • Pan American Rankings
      • South America Rankings
  • Watch
  • Anti-Doping
  • Partners
  • Sponsors
  • Athlete Representative
  • IRF - PARC Officials and Staff
  • Donations
  • PARC2025
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

10/24/2023 0 Comments

The Pan American Racquetball Confederation - PARC and Federación Panamericana de Squash - FPS are excited to announce they will jointly present Racket:Next at the XIX Pan American Games Santiago 2023 during the Pan American Esports Championships.

Press Release Racket:Next Santiago 2023
File Size: 700 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

0 Comments

1/27/2022 1 Comment

Anuncio IRF sobre reformas del sistema de juego y competencia



​          La Federación Internacional de Racquetball - IRF anunció la entrada en vigencia de los cambios del formato de juego y competencia a partir del 1 de febrero de 2022. En relación a esto, el Comité Ejecutivo de la PARC aprobó, por unanimidad, la aplicación plena de dichas reformas en todas las competencias sancionadas por esta organización, incluyendo aquellas que pertenecen a la cadena olímpica y el XXXIII Campeonato Panamericano de Racquetball 2022 a celebrarse en la ciudad de Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia entre el 9 y el 16 de abril del corriente año.
 
          Se transcribe a continuación una traducción de la comunicación de la IRF con los detalles de los cambios aprobados, a fin de poder distribuirlo por los países hispanohablantes de América.
​
​COMUNICADO DE LA FEDERACIÓN INTERNACIONAL DE RACQUETBALL
20 DE ENERO DE 2022

 
1. El primero de los cambios es en el sistema de puntuación, a menudo denominado "puntuación de peloteo". Con la nueva puntuación, el ganador de la jugada gana un punto al final de cada peloteo, independientemente de si el ganador fue el servidor o el receptor al inicio del peloteo.
 
• Se jugará al mejor de cinco (5) juegos.
• Los primeros cuatro (4) juegos se jugarán a 15 puntos, se gana por un (1) punto.
• Si es necesario un quinto juego (desempate), se jugará a 11 puntos, ganando por dos (2) puntos.
• Habrá un (1) tiempo fuera por juego.
• Habrá un límite de dos (2) apelaciones por juego.
• El tiempo de receso entre juegos será de dos (2) minutos.
 
La razón principal de este cambio hacia la puntuación de peloteos es qué, muchas veces, los partidos duran demasiado. Eso afecta negativamente la posibilidad de televisar los campeonatos, además de afectar negativamente la competencia de Racquetball en la Cadena Olímpica, por la gran cantidad de días que se requieren para llevarla a cabo. Además, sabemos que el público en general, a menudo no entiende el racquetball, se pierde y se confunde al tratar de seguir nuestro formato de puntuación tal como ha existido en el pasado. En definitiva, queremos hacer del Racquetball un juego donde todos, jugadores y espectadores, puedan disfrutar por igual, lo conozcan y comprendan mejor.
 
Entendemos que estos cambios generan inquietud y requiere de ajustes a corto plazo, pero hemos aprendido de la experiencia de otros deportes que hicieron los mismos cambios en la puntuación hace años (como Voleibol, Bádminton y Squash). La experiencia fue muy positiva para ellos.
 
Otro beneficio de este cambio es que posibilita el regreso de la Competencia por Equipos a nuestros torneos. Esto es algo que queríamos hacer desde hace tiempo, pero no fue posible debido a la duración media demasiado prolongada de los partidos y en consecuencia, de los campeonatos. En cambio, con el nuevo sistema de puntuación y juegos de menor duración, nos dará tiempo para volver a ofrecer la Competencia por Equipos.
 
La “puntuación de peloteo” entrará en vigencia a partir del 1 de febrero de 2022 en cada torneo IRF, PARC y ARF en el futuro, incluido el Campeonato Mundial Juvenil IRF más adelante en 2022.
 

 
Dos cambios adicionales que consideramos positivos para otorgar mayores oportunidades de acceso y mantenimiento en la competencia internacional son:
 
2. Agregar una categoría de Dobles Mixtos a cada torneo, algo que ya se ha hecho con éxito en otras competencias de Racquetball. Los dobles mixtos ganan popularidad constantemente y las principales organizaciones deportivas de todo el mundo buscan volver a los deportes más atractivos e inclusivos para las mujeres.
 
3. Agregar una categoría de menores de 21 años al Campeonato Mundial Juvenil de la IRF. Creemos que este movimiento es muy importante ya que cubre un rango de edad entre 18 y 21 años, que es cuando muchos jugadores aún no tienen la experiencia y los conocimientos para clasificar a los equipos de adultos. Sabemos que muchos de estos jugadores han dejado el racquetball por otros deportes. Ahora, tendrán la posibilidad de continuar su desarrollo competitivo internacional practicando Racquetball.
 
Los rangos de edad de las categorías en la “IRF Junior World Cup” consistirán en 21 y menores, 18 y menores y 16 y menores. Los rangos de la “Copa Esprit” ahora serán para menores de 14 años; 12 y menos; y 10 y menos. Cambiar a los menores de 14 años a la “IRF Esprit Cup” brindará experiencia sin puntos a jugadores adicionales que no clasificaron para las selecciones nacionales de su país pero que se están preparando seriamente para el éxito futuro en las divisiones mayores en la “IRF Junior World Cup”.
 
 
Cambio de regla IRF
 
En la última Asamblea General de la IRF celebrada en la ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala, el 28 de noviembre de 2021, se aprobó un cambio de regla* con respecto a las apelaciones, a partir del 1 de enero de 2022: El jugador debe detenerse y detener el juego en el momento de percibir una llamada incorrecta y presentar una apelación inmediatamente sobre la última jugada.
 
*Este cambio de regla se reflejará en el Libro de reglas IRF actualizado 2022-2024 que se publicará pronto.
 

 
Conclusión
 
Tengan la seguridad que estos importantes cambios pasaron por un largo proceso de investigación y análisis que involucró a muchas personas y organizaciones que trabajaron junto a nosotros. Vaya nuestro profundo agradecimiento a todos ellos/as por su inestimable colaboración.
 
Confiamos en que estas decisiones beneficiarán al racquetball y darán mayor fuerza e impulso para el éxito del deporte en el escenario mundial y en la cadena olímpica de eventos.
  


1 Comment

1/19/2019 1 Comment

ACODEPA MEETING

The Association of Pan American Sports Confederations (ACODEPA) Board met for the first time separate from the PASO GENERAL ASSEMBLY in Miami to discuss the future of the sport in the Americas. 
Luke St. Onge, Secretary General of Pan American Racquetball Confederation is a member of the ACODEPA Board of Directors. Topics included: Future Pan Am Games, Pan Am Youth Games, and Pan Am Beach Games. PASO has changed its name from PASO to Pan American Sports as part of the major restructuring of sport in the Americas.
The 2019 edition of the Pan Am Games will take place in Lima Peru with opening ceremonies on 
July 26 Racquetball will be a full medal sport as part of the program. They are building three new courts
in addition to the existing, racquetball will have 5 Racquetball courts one of which is a four-wall glass exhibition court.
Country qualifying will take place at the Pan American Racquetball Championships slated for April 
15 to 21 in Barranquilla, Colombia.
​
Picture
1 Comment

12/5/2018 0 Comments

End Of Year Review

Dear Racquetball Friends,

I'd like to provide this end-of-year update on the International development of racquetball since we last met.

The 2018 World Seniors Racquetball Championships was extremely successful with 17 countries competing. A donation in the amount of $10,000 was made towards the Olympic Dream and international enhancement of our sport.

The XXX IRF World Junior Championships were held at La Loma Centro Deportivo in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, featuring 200 young athletes from 12 countries. It was highly successful.
New courts are being built in Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Peru.

The 2019 World Junior Racquetball Championships were awarded to Costa Rica and the City of San José. This event has the full support of the Costa Rica National Olympic Committee, the Government of Costa Rica, the Sports Authority of Costa Rica as well as the city of San José. Four new courts will be built to supplement the existing four courts at the venue.

In Guatemala, new courts are all but finished, bringing 10 beautiful glass courts to support the development of racquetball. We anticipate that this excellent venue will host many International and regional events in the future.

The City of Barranquilla, Colombia, was awarded the 2019 Pan American Racquetball Championships to be held Easter week in April. The four-court facility is part of the legacy from the Central American Caribbean Games held this year. This event is the final qualifying event for the Pan American Games to be held in July 2019 in Lima, Peru.

Final arrangements have been made for racquetball's inclusion as a full medal sport in the 2019 Pan American Games Lima. Four new glass courts, one of which is four-wall glass, will be built for the competition. Sixty athletes will qualify via the Pan American Racquetball Championships as mentioned above.

A planning meeting was held in October for the sports to be competed in The World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Racquetball will have 32 athletes in singles. A four-wall glass court will be brought to Birmingham for the competition to be held in July of 2021. The IOC will be in attendance to evaluate Racquetball for future Olympic Programs.
We hope you find this news exciting and encouraging, and we offer our heartfelt thanks for your continued support and commitment to Racquetball. I know you have all heard this many times, but without your support, the IRF cannot continue to develop racquetball towards the Olympic Program.

As 2018 comes to a close, we ask each of you to please consider a tax-deductible donation to the International Racquetball Federation and/or perhaps let your racquetball colleagues know of this year-end appeal. Donations can be made on our website at www.internationalracquetball.com or sent to our head office at 1631 Mesa Avenue, Suite A-1, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, USA.

Warm regards,
Luke St. Onge
Secretary General
International Racquetball Federation

0 Comments

11/14/2018 2 Comments

2019 IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships to be Held in Costa Rica

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA: Ciudad Deportiva de Hatillo, Costa Rica, will host the XXXI IRF Junior World Junior Championships, 9 to 16 November 2019.

Hatillo has seen significant growth in racquetball participation over the past few years which has led the Municipality of San José, in conjunction with the San José Sports and Recreation Cantonal Committee (CCDR SJ), to present a proposal to the International Racquetball Federation to host the event next year. The idea was enthusiastically supported by the Federación Costarricense de Racquetball (FECORA), its president, Marcelo Gomez, and president of the CCDR San José, Heiner Ugalde.
 
"We had an opportunity to meet with representatives of the International Racquetball Federation during the IRF World Junior Championships last week in San Luis Potosí, Mexico,” said Ugalde. “They gave us the opportunity to host the tournament next year, which makes us happy and motivated. We know that it will have a positive impact on our Hatillo athletes, the National Team, and the sport in general. Today, we are breaking the paradigm that Racquetball is not for one group but for everyone."
 
Ciudad Deportiva de Hatillo currently has four courts, but four more will be built to comply with the requirements of the International Racquetball Federation. Two will become show courts, and a dressing room area will also be constructed. The works department of the CCDR SJ is already beginning on the project, and it is expected to be completed by July 2019.

The Mayor of the Municipality of San José, Eng. Johnny Araya, also expressed his support. "For the Municipality of San José, it is truly an honor that our Capital will once again host a sporting event of international importance, such as the XXXI IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships. This helps to solidify that, in addition to the 2013 Central American Games, the city is recognized as a host for elite sports.”

FECORA also celebrated that Hatillo will host the World Championship event because in recent years it has seen great growth of its racquetball school and will benefit from the addition of more courts.
 
"Nobody used to know about Racquetball in Hatillo,” said FECORA President Marcelo Gomez. “But today the reality is different thanks to the work they have done there. Having more courts is not a whim; it is a necessity due to the number of players who wish to learn and then compete in the sport. Thanks to the Hatillo players' participation, our junior team has grown. For example, four years ago Hatillo contributed only two players to the team, but this year there were 17."

The World Junior Championships include age categories from 10 to 18. Age categories 14, 16, and 18 compete for the overall World Cup title, and the 10 and 12 categories compete for the Esprit Cup title. A Challenger Cup is open to participants in all age divisions who did not qualify for their countries in other categories.
 
Click here for an interview with Marcelo Gomez.
Photo Credit: Marcelo Gomez

About the IRF

The International Racquetball Federation is the international governing body of the sport of racquetball under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee. Founded in 1979, the IRF provides governance, rules, and leadership to its 83 national federation members. A member of GAISF beginning in 1980 and recognized by the IOC in 1985, the IRF offers three events annually and one, the IRF World Championships, biennially. It is the international umbrella organization for racquetball over the Olympic Chain of events such as the Pan American Games, World Games, Central American Games, Central American and Caribbean Games, and IRF Regional competitions.
 
Social Media
Find the IRF on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or visit www.internationalracquetball.com.
 
2 Comments

9/18/2018 0 Comments

Junior World Championships Invitation

The official invitation to the Junior World Championships is available here.
Junior Worlds Invitation
File Size: 728 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

0 Comments

9/11/2018 0 Comments

World Seniors Receives Media Attention

Here's a great article about the McBrides and their experiences at the Senior World Championships. Jack McBride was a long-time member of the IRF Executive Committee.

Read the article here. Photo credit: JEFF HANSEN/St. Albert Gazette
Picture
0 Comments

8/27/2018 0 Comments

New and Returning Board Members to IRF Board

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New and Returning Members Elected to IRF Board
 
Colorado Springs, CO
–
During the recent International Racquetball Federation World Congress, five
individuals were elected or re-elected to the IRF Board of Directors to serve four-year terms. The IRF would like to thank them for their service. They include:
 
María Renée Rodríquez (Guatemala) - Athlete Representative
Yuni Cobb (United States of America) - Women’s Development Vice President
Estuardo Wer (Guatemala) - Regional Vice President, Central American/Caribbean
Aisling Hickey (Ireland) - Regional Vice President, Europe
Miguel Perea (Mexico) - Regional Vice President, North America

0 Comments

8/22/2018 0 Comments

Athletes Attend Anti-Doping Training at IRF World Championships

August 22, 2018 – During the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships that recently concluded, athletes participated in anti-doping training. The training, led by IRF Secretary General Luke St. Onge, covered a variety of topics associated with the rules and regulations that the IRF must follow to remain compliant with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Topics included the Whereabouts Program, Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs), and general education to train and educate athletes on anti-doping. Attendance at the event exceeded 90% of the athletes registered to compete in the World Championships, and content was provided in both English and Spanish.
 
“We were really delighted to see how many athletes attended the event and recognized the importance of anti-doping in our sport,” said St. Onge. “Anti-doping is a crucial component of international racquetball. Compliance is necessary in order to remain an International Olympic Committee recognized sport, and we want to ensure that competition is equal and fair. Education helps to eliminate some of the potential mistakes athletes might make in their nutrition and decision-making with respect to choosing supplements, for example.”
 
Following an extensive evaluation of anti-doping policies and procedures, the IRF was recently approved by WADA as compliant. The IRF regularly tests its athletes at international events in addition to out-of-competition testing.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
About the IRF

The International Racquetball Federation is the international governing body of the sport of racquetball under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee. Founded in 1979, the IRF provides governance, rules, and leadership to its 83 national federation members. A member of GAISF beginning in 1980 and recognized by the IOC in 1985, the IRF offers three events annually and one, the IRF World Championships, biennially. It is the international umbrella organization for racquetball over the Olympic Chain of events such as the Pan American Games, World Games, Central American Games, Central American and Caribbean Games, and IRF Regional competitions.
 
Social Media
Find the IRF on Facebook YouTube, or visit www.internationalracquetball.com.
 

0 Comments

6/26/2018 1 Comment

E-Force Signs Agreement with International Racquetball Federation for Official Racquet

June 26, 2018 – In a significant announcement made by E-Force and the International Racquetball Federation (IRF), E-Force was named the “Official Racquet” of the IRF. 
According to Ron Grimes, owner of E-Force, the decision to continue supporting the IRF and its focus on international growth was an easy one. “As racquetball’s racquet technology leader, E-Force is excited to extend its over 12-year International Racquetball Federation sponsorship.  E-Force is committed to growing racquetball internationally. The IRF, with its efforts towards this shared goal, is the perfect partner.”
 
E-Force has been a longtime supporter of international racquetball, and IRF Secretary General Luke St. Onge was delighted with the outcome of this agreement. “We have been working with E-Force to grow racquetball internationally for many years,” he said, “and we’re happy and excited to see Ron and his company continue supporting international racquetball as the Official Racquet of the Federation.”
 
E-Force will be the “Official Racquet” for all IRF World and Continental tournaments in addition to the Olympic chain of events including the Pan American Games, South American Games, Central American Caribbean Games, and World Games.
Picture
1 Comment
<<Previous

    IRF Official Blog

    The IRF newsfeed covers all things international racquetball  including interviews, commentary, and news.

    Archives

    October 2023
    January 2022
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    October 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    August 2015
    June 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.