A squash coach can provide instruction and guidance on a wide range of topics related to the game of squash. Some of the things you may learn from a squash coach include proper footwork and movement on the court, effective shot selection and execution, strategies to use during a match, and mental skills for staying focused and performing under pressure.
In addition, a squash coach may also provide guidance on fitness and nutrition for squash players, as well as techniques for analyzing and improving your performance.
Overall, a squash coach can help you develop the skills and strategies needed to take your squash game to the next level.
(Photo Credit: Mr Ian)
Coaching Is For All Standards Of Players
Squash coaching is great for all levels of play. For beginners, coaches can help you with the rules and basic strategies of the game along with guiding you through the correct way to hold the racket and stroke through the ball.
For more advanced players, squash coaching can help you determine your weaker areas so that you can work on improving them and it can get you thinking more strategically about your game.
Warming Up And Cooling Down
Most squash coaches will begin a session with a warm-up routine and end the session with a cool-down routine.
Warming up and cooling down are essential parts of any physical activity, including squash.
Warming up helps to gradually increase the heart rate and prepare the body for the demands of squash. It helps reduce the risk of injury and improve performance. Squash is a fast-paced, strenuous game which makes a warm-up even more essential in terms of reducing the risk of injury.
Cooling down, on the other hand, is the process of gradually decreasing the intensity of the activity and allowing the body to return to a resting state. This can help to reduce muscle soreness and stiffness and can also help to improve recovery.
My Squash Coaching
If I had to rate myself as a player, I would put myself as a slightly above-average club-level player. I play for fun and to keep myself relatively fit. That said, I would still like to improve my game and see if I can get it to a slightly higher level, and therefore, I signed up for a set of squash coaching lessons with the squash pro at my local club.
Prior to my first lesson, my coach had seen me play (and lose!) a home game for our clubs’ team. His analysis of my game from watching this was that I am an aggressive player in terms of I like to take the ball early and I like to hit the ball hard. He informed me that this style is fine but (there is always a “but”)
a) I wasn’t fit enough (cheeky but true) to take the ball early and hit it so hard and
b) when I did hit it hard I was often overhitting the length or playing the ball mid-court due to poor accuracy.