Starting Out – DRIVES

Make every player feels welcome and excited.​ Answer any immediate questions or concerns.​ Introduce the theme and structure of the session for players to engage with and follow along. ​ Be energetic and approachable from the very start.​ BE CLEAR ABOUT ALL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS ​ THEME: Drives​ Points of Focus ​SHOTS:​ F/H & B/H Straight Drives. ​ TECHNICAL:​ Racket up...

Points to consider​ When delivering coaching lessons and clinics for young girls new to the sport, it is important coaches do so in a way that impowers their player, makes them feel confident, and give them a safe environment to express their true self.​ Whatever their ability, be sure to give...

Start every lesson with a fun and structured warm up so players get their bodies warm (and help reduce the chance of injuries) and can get to know one another and feel ready to play.​ PHYSICAL ​ Shuttle runs/widths.​ Lunges: Forward, backwards, lateral. ​ Team races/relay.​ Leg Swings.​ Tag.​ DYNAMIC STRETCHING​ Include fun and squash specific stretches/movements. ...

DODGEBALL:​Each team must run to the middle of the court and grab a ball and throw it at the opposing team to get the players out. If a player catches the ball thrown at them, the thrower is out.  They can bring back a teammate in 'jail'...

FEEDING OPTIONS: ​ Hand feed to floor or wall ​ Place racquet on the floor and bounce ball on racquet strings to create height to the bounce​ Single racquet feed ​ Continuous racquet feed ​ ​THE FEEDER CAN BE: ​ The coach (solo) ​ A partner ​ Two partners (two ball feed) ​ A ball machine feeding​ FEED VARIATION: ​ Pace ​ Height ​ Direction ​ Speed ​ Shot ​

TARGETS:​ Targets help players to focus on the goal of their shot and add a fun element of competition. ​ Mark out appropriate targets in the playing area using cones, chalk, masking tape, court lines, racquet covers, etc. (Safety Note: Be sure that they are not slippery or in a...

These are all points to consider, however, this does not mean every technical point has to be mentioned. Keep it fun and gradually add more technical points to a player's game as they build in confidence and skill level. SPECIFIC GRIP AND TECHNIQUE:​ Stand the player 3...

TIP: Keep the feeding fun and engaging by adding targets and points for good shots​​ POINTS TO WATCH FOR AS A COACH ONCE MOVING PLAYERS AROUND:​​ Do the players understand the movement required to different shots and areas of the court? ​ Is the racquet and body position starting in the same for...

Explain the rules of squash before games:​​ Do they know what each line on the court means?​​ Are they aware of lets and strokes?​​ Do they know the rules of serving?​​ Do the players understand the movement to and from the ball and T?​​ CONDITIONED GAMES RELATED TO THE DRIVE...

Finish the class with a fun game to bring everyone back together​, discuss the class and leave with a smile on their faces! ​ GAMES: ​ Dodge ball​​ Squockey ​ ​Squicket​ CIRCUIT:​ Walking Lunges forward ​​ Walking Lunges Backward ​​ Squat Jumps/hops (forward and backward)​​ Court Sprints x10​​ Ladder work (8 shapes)​​ Hurdle Jumps on one leg ​​ STRETCHING:​ Lying scorpion ​​ Hamstring stretch​​ Hip rotations​ Spiderman...

Reflection can be done during the cool down and is useful, if possible, after every session. ​Use this time to ask if the players had fun, learnt something, felt challenged?​ Encourage the players to keep working on the skills they just learned.​ Use feedback and comments from players...