Award Bio – Ross Richardson

ROSS RICHARDSON

• 2017 Ivan Velan Award Recipient

Ross Richardson first became involved in the sport in the early 1980’s as a player. Within a few years, Richardson was fully invested in the sport, becoming involved as a coach and in administering and operating programs.

As a Chartered Professional Coach, Richardson has coached a wide range of participants including those who are playing the sport for the very first time up to elite athletes competing at the international level. He has introduced the sport to thousands of high school students in Regina and other communities around the province. From 1988 to 2015, Richardson ran a very successful junior program in Regina, and as a personal high performance coach, he placed many athletes onto provincial and national teams – some of which have had podium performances at the Junior World Championships.

Richardson served as one of the provincial coaches for the Saskatchewan Racquetball Association for 15 years. During that time period, Saskatchewan athletes won at least 221 medals at the national level and consistently placed in the top three in provincial points, winning the Provincial Point Title for ten consecutive years.

Richardson was a coach for Team Canada at three Junior World Racquetball Championships, acting in the capacity of Head Coach at two championships. He is also involved at the national level as one of Racquetball Canada’s national team elite coaches and is the personal coach of national team member Christine Richardson. She has medaled internationally at both the junior and elite level and has been on the podium in Women’s Open events at the national many times.

Richardson has also supported racquetball at the governance level, serving on the Saskatchewan Racquetball Association Board of Directors for over 25 years serving in numerous capacities including the position of President. He has also been involved nationally on several Racquetball Canada committees and task groups.

Richardson has always been an excellent mentor for other coaches and those working to grow the sport. His love of the sport is evident through the time he spends encouraging and advising those who wish to learn and contribute.

Biography Update

• Richardson was inducted into to the Regina Sports Hall of Fame as a Builder in October of 2018