Last week Sam Barker posted his last article in his official role as FIR Media Officer so it is absolutely right that we acknowledge just what a huge impact Sam has had on our sport.
Here are some words from our FIR President on all the amazing work Sam has done!
When I took over as president of the FIR in 2018, my main goal was to find ways to increase the awareness of Racketlon. I was confident we could achieve this but only because I had been able to persuade Sam to come on board to work with me! Sam has been instrumental in everything the FIR has achieved over the last 5 years and he leaves foundations so strong that we are now able to expand our marketing team into new areas, but all the while using the methods and the templates which Sam has created over his time in the role.
It would take too long to list all the improvements and achievements, but just in terms of raw data, Racketlon.net is now operating at a peak of 4500 unique visitors per day, compared to daily peaks of 350 visits 5 years ago; social media engagement is up by 300% compared to 5 years ago. Sam has simply revolutionised our online impact.
However, while the data and the stats are all amazing, it’s actually more important to acknowledge Sam the person. Sam has a natural warmth, kindness and infectious enthusiasm which has made him popular across the whole of Racketlon. When you’re continually writing articles (about 185 per year to be precise) talking and giving your opinion about everyone and everything in the sport, it would be very normal to receive some sort of criticism…but I’ve not heard one bad word said about Sam from anyone in 5 years!
Sam is one of life’s good guys and when that’s combined with tireless hard work and a genuine, deep love for our sport, then that is some combination.
I’m going to miss our brainstorming meetings trying to come up with new angles and new ways to talk about and promote our sport (often some pretty stupid ideas, but sometimes we came up with some good ones!). I’m proud of what we were able to create together during the bleak covid years of no tournaments, when we simply had to find ways to bring the Racketlon community together in different ways: having people from 4 different continents hitting balls against living room walls and garage doors being one highlight!
Sam will remain in a consulting role behind the scenes sharing his advice and experience with the new FIR media team as we look to expand and grow on everything that’s been achieved over the last 5 years.
Sanne Veldkamp will head the new media team with input from lots of others. Sanne has great experience within sports marketing as well as also being a current professional squash player and has Racketlon in her family’s blood (with her father and sister having played for many years).
With plans to expand the FIR’s video and YouTube output as well as launching a brand new Tik-Tok channel this year, these are exciting times and all made possible by the groundbreaking work by Sam over 5 brilliant years.
A huge thanks to Sam who we will now emerge from behind his camera and laptop and spend much more well earned time chasing balls around the court!
Duncan Stahl / FIR President
