Board of Directors/Office of the Executive Director Update
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by USA Racquetball
We thought this might be a great opportunity to regale our members with a few updates and also talk about the structure under which USA Racquetball is currently operating relative to governance and operations.
First, the updates:
U.S. Team athletes Jake Bredenbeck and Naomi Ros, supported by Head Coach Pablo Fajre, have just concluded competition at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, China. Their experience was covered in social media via photos and blog posts (check out USA Racquetball’s Facebook page). Breaking News: Jake Bredenbeck & Naomi claimed the GOLD Medal in the Mixed Doubles
We were thrilled to learn on August 7th that Racquetball will indeed be included on the sports program for the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. Much gratitude goes to the International Racquetball Federation and Pan Am Sports for their outstanding support toward this life-changing development.
The U.S. Junior Team takes the spotlight for the next international event on the calendar – the IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Around 30-35 U.S. Junior Team athletes, supported by family members and coaches/staff, will make the trip to compete for the gold, December 5-13. Watch for donation appeals and posts as the time grows closer. This is a tangible way to invest in the future of Racquetball!
A full USA Racquetball National Event Schedule for 2026 will be published soon, including the just-announced change of dates for the USAR National Indoor Championships to February 11-15 in Tempe, Arizona.
Now, a bit about USAR’s governance and operating structure:
Everyone knows USA Racquetball has a Board of Directors, right? But what is an OED? And what are these committees about? How does it all fit together?
Board of Directors (BOD) 101
The Bylaws reside on the website, and the Board and Executive Committee are defined and governed by Articles VI, VII, and VIII, pp. 8-19.
Easy first step, get to know who’s on the Board by visiting https://www.usaracquetball.com/governance/board-of-directors
BOD Fun Facts:
- There are 12 USAR Board members. By USOPC requirement, at least 1/3 must be athlete representatives elected by their peers who have been U.S. Team members over the past 10 years.
- USAR current Board makeup: Five are athlete representatives; two are state association presidents; one heads up the NMRA; one brings an independent director perspective; two of the officers fulfill operations roles as “the Office of the Executive Director (OED)”; several bring business ownership experience.
- We wear a lot of “hats” in the sport.
- The Executive Committee is comprised of the four officers (president, vice president, secretary, treasurer) plus two of the five athlete representatives.
- Some Board members are elected; others are appointed. (See Elections at the conclusion of this article.)
- We attend monthly Board meetings and also serve on numerous committees and advisory/working groups.
- We are all volunteers. Except for one paid staff director and several contractors, we are 100% run by a volunteer Board of Directors; volunteer Office of the Executive Director; and volunteer Committee/Advisory/Working Group leads and members.
So what’s this OED thing?
At the end of 2024, USA Racquetball’s volunteer Executive Director Mike Grisz re-entered retirement, but not without first helping to establish the Office of the Executive Director (OED). At the onset, the OED was made up of three individuals: Karen Grisz, Cheryl Kirk, and Kristin Wattz, who divided up executive director responsibilities, in essence running the day-to-day operations of USA Racquetball. Kristin Wattz was chosen as President of the Board when Stewart Solomon termed off in May, and then there were two in the OED. Karen and Cheryl work as a team with Kristin’s involvement and with Operations Director Jonathan Greenberg’s considerable contributions.
We interrupt this educational piece for a USAR appeal to new or expired members...
The reason we don’t have an CEO/ED per se is because we don’t have the funds. While fortunate to have individuals who will step in, bringing dedication and experience with them, we desire to get back to a more traditional structure. That’s where you come in...you who love this sport and want to see it stay the course for generations to come.
Whether or not you plan to compete soon vs. a few months down the road, please renew your membership now if it’s expired, or consider gifting a friend or family member with a membership. This isn’t about “having to be a member” to play a tournament; it’s about supporting and sustaining your sport for the long term.
With support from new or renewed memberships that amount to $5/month per player, USAR as the National Governing Body will be able to continue to provide ever-improving programs and competitive events for you and for everyone who values racquetball on the local, state, and national level. Please help!
Okay, back to structure. Committees, you say?
Committees/Advisory Groups/Working Groups
The Board of Directors is busier than ever prioritizing initiatives and meeting the considerable-but-rewarding demands of overseeing a National Governing Body. Service on Standing Committees or Working/Advisory Groups are time commitments that Board members and others devote in areas where they have keen interest and/or specific skills and experience to contribute.
To learn more, visit Committees and Advisory/Working Groups: https://www.usaracquetball.com/governance/standing-committees
Something to think about: Committee needs are analyzed every year directly after the Board’s Annual Meeting (this year it was on May 13th at the USAR National Indoor Championships). We are always happy to hear from members have specific interest in one or more committees or groups and would like to know more, i.e., time commitments and what to expect from committee service. Please write using one of the contact email addresses at the end of this article.
Board Election – Coming Soon!
The Board Election cycle runs April 1 through March 31, ending when the election has taken place. Soon the Election Committee will send out a call for Statements of Interest* to serve on the Board of Directors, and the Election Chair and Committee will administrate the 2025-2026 election process.
*Specific experience is particularly valued in areas including, but not limited to, professional management/leadership experience, marketing, fundraising, public relations, communications, finance, and/or technology. Potential Board members should be willing to be directly involved in fundraising activities. Board members must be citizens of the United States; at least 18 years of age; and current members of USA Racquetball. See Board of Directors Selection Procedures on the Meet Our Board of Directors page under Governance/Board of Directors.
We always welcome suggestions and/or questions to include in future updates. What would you like to know? Please contact Kristin Wattz (President) or Cheryl Kirk (Secretary).
Stay safe and healthy, everyone!
