Squash Coaching Info

HSRC JUNIOR TOURNAMENTS 14th 15th MARCH

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:49:00 +0000

Please note the change of date of the HSRC Junior Tournaments. These will now take place over the weekend of the 14th/15th March. We hope to play most matches on the Sat but some will need to be played on the Sunday. We will do our best to accommodate any other commitments when arranging any matches on the Sunday.

We would like as many juniors as possible to enter and make it a fun time for everyone!

It costs £3.00 if you just enter one tournament. If you enter more than one, it costs just £5.00 in total no matter how many you enter.

Please sign up at the club or email me to register to play.

There are 6 tournaments:-

HSRC Junior Open (B): any U19 male junior. The final of this event will be played at Club Finals Night in April.

HSRC Junior Open (G): any U19 female junior. The final of this event will be played at Club Finals Night in April.

Mini-Squash Champion : any mini-squash player. All matches should be played on Saturday Morning

Development Group Champion: any 1-2.30 Sat player. We will try and play most matches on the Sat.

More Adv Group Champion: any 2.30-4pm Sat player. We will try and play most matches on the Sat.

Racketball Champion: any Sat junior player. Rackets provided We will try and play most matches on the Sat.

Please do enter. Tournaments are best when there is a good entry and plenty of competition for everyone.

Saturday 14th February

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 18:23:00 +0000

Dev Group

Individual sessions with Mike.

Intermediate: Drop from the back, volley drop and conditionS

Three: one drive others drop or boast.

Saturday 7th February

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 18:21:00 +0000

Dev Group (John):
Some individual sessions on Court 2

Intermediate: Game play and conditions focussed on the drop.

Saturday 31st

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 18:19:00 +0000

Dev Group: 1-2:30 did the drop session similar to the one last week for the advanced group but made the feeds just from front and split them into 2 teams with points added for good dropping

Internediate: a bit of a mix match of things olly had a court doing 3/4s, mike with volleys and me with even more drops so we had 3 groups who mixed between the courts

Saturday 24th January: John

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 18:16:00 +0000

Dev Group: Tournament at Northern Crosby. We did alot of 3quarters with conditions and challenge matches.

Adv Group: Drop to target session. Drops from feeds from front and also from feeds landing around short line. Progressed well.

Amended Saturday 17th Jan 09

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 20:35:00 +0000

Mini-Squash Group (n=6) : Lives then games.

Development:
Round Robin (n=8): Danny and Emma then finalists. Danny the winner.

Competition (n=12) :
All five courts used with different activity centred around the lob
in each court. Court 5 (n=2) : Lob serve then channel game. Court 4
(n=4) : three quarters boast Xcourt lob drive Court 3 (n=2): One
boast other lob or Xcourt lob Court 2 (n=2): 2 people boast Xcourt
lob drive Court 1 (n=2) game. After 10 mins rotate activity.
Invitation to all to join the Junior ladder.
Focus: Vary the pace tactic

January 2009 ladder

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 17:05:00 +0000

Ladder as of Jan 10th 2009

10jan09.pdf

End of 2008 ladder results: January note (predates 10/1)

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 14:11:00 +0000

Emma beat Connor, Katie, Jack, Nikki and Danny

Alex K beat Olly 15-4

Emma beat Nikki 11-6

Mathew beat Jack 15-1

Connor beat Mike 15-11

Olly beat Alex Clements 15-11

Mathew beat Michael 11-7

Jack beat Will O'leary 16-14

Emma beat Danny 11-7

Connor beat Nikki 11-7

Alex C beat Toby 15-8

Mathew beat Alex C 15-8

Competition Group

Sandy beat Charles 11-6, 11-1

Sam beat James 11-5, 11-13, 11-5

Alex K beat Mathew 11-9, 12-14, 11-9

Sam beat Charles 8-11, 11-5, 11-8

10th January: Match Play and Ladder Results

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:40:00 +0000

Development Group
Ross beat Will Flush: 16-15
Nikki Andrews bear Amie 15-13
Matty beat Emma 15-5
Will Oleary beat Danny 15-12

Competition Group

Sandy beat Mathew 11-6, 11-5
Sandy beat Tim 9-11, 11-8, 11-5
Sandy beat Johnny 11-3, 12-10
Mathew beat Sam 11-7, 11-2
Will beat Sam 11-5, 11-9
Mathew beat Olly 11-4, 11-6
Johnny beat Olly 11-4, 11-6
Katherine beat Will 11-2, 11-2
Katherine v Johnny 11-7, 11-0,
Will beat Olly 11-3, 11-6

John Challenge

Katrina lost 11-6, 8-11, 12-14
Katherine won 11-8, 12-14, 11-9

Saturday 6th Dec: Coaching

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:07:00 +0000

For those of you in the Development group we will be continuing to work on the lob, this time on the Backhand Lob and the Lob serve.

Using the boast drive format but this time lobbing the ball straight and then cross court (easier) on the BH side. Important to get down to the ball and under it. (Alternative crocodile format with one feeder)

Take direct approach to the ball

Racket face open, wrist open

Lift up and under the ball keeping a balanced stand

Lob is an underused shot that can be used both to defend and to attack. Should be used with sensitivity, feel the shot so you are floating the ball high to drop in the back corners of the court.

Good online video

<a href="http://www.totalsquash.com/content/item/forehand-lob-fiona-geaves/3.html">http://www.totalsquash.com/content/item/forehand-lob-fiona-geaves/3.html</a>

For those of you in the Competition group we will incorporate the lob into Change of Pace routines. Varying the Pace of the ball is one of the key tactics in squash as it reduces the predictability of a game and often unsettles your opponent.The 10 Squash Tactic Fundamentals

Vary your serve in speed and direction.
Volley the serve putting your opponent on the defensive.
Hit the ball to a good length and wide for cross courts.
Volley the ball wherever possible in the rally.
Hit the ball to the corners to get the opponent off the "T".
Hit the ball early when the opponent is out of position.
Vary the time of the hit when they are in position, to upset their rhythm.
Recover to the "T" as quickly as possible after striking the ball.
Keep your opponent running, by hitting the ball away from them.
Vary the pace of shots to reduce predictability.

29th November: FH Lobs and Challenge Games

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:48:00 +0000

Using the boast drive format but this time lobbing the ball straight and then cross court (easier). Important to get down to the ball and under it.
Take direct approach to the ball
Racket face open, wrist open
Lift up and under the ball keeping a balanced stand
Lob is an underused shot that can be used both to defend and to attack. Should be used with sensitivity, feel the shot so you are floating the ball high to drop in the back corners of the court.

Good online video

http://www.totalsquash.com/content/item/forehand-lob-fiona-geaves/3.html

22nd November: Boast and Drive

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:47:00 +0000

Development:
Coach feed CC drive for boast, drive being progressively deeper.
Diagonal game: only play ball inbto front left or back right and vice versa

Competition
Trickle Boast
Skid Boast
Reverse Angle
Volley boast
Backwall Boast: use sparingly as last resort. Let the ball get as close to the backwall as possible - aim for top of the backwall to give height and spin.

Routines
Volley Boast
A deep boast
B high drive
A volley boast
B hard drive
A defensive boast

A straight drive
B deep boast
A drop
B trickle boast
A straight drive
B defensive boast
When moving from the front backard to the T then turn into position for boast.

Rotating Boast
A (at front) CC
C at back boast
B in mid move to front to CC

Channel with trickle boast or drive. If trickle boast then drive down that side.

15th November: Deep boasts

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:46:00 +0000

8th November: Boasts and Movement

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:46:00 +0000

Saturday 1st Nov: Challenge Games and boast

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:44:00 +0000

Volleys to target

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:05:00 +0000

Session 1:

Four on court. Volley feeds each half of court. At least 8 out of 10
volleys into or past the service box
Three on court: Two feed FH/BH, hitter alternates FH/BH returning to
the T after each shot (Target: 16/20)
Competitive practice: Alley games. Server plays ball above cut line,
receiver does not let ball hit the floor or 2 points for volley
Conditioned game: ball not allowed to hit the back wall.

Important: keep body sideways to the ball. Take the ball in line with
non-playing shoulder for FH and with playing shoulder for BH. Open
racket head, shortened swing, punch action.

Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XRWITCpx5I

Session 2: Pressure volley feeds, Two feeder play, 2 person exchange
to 50, Figure of 8, Alley Games with 2 points for volley, Volley game.

Saturday 11th Oct: John on Volleys

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:45:00 +0000

Session 1: Boast drive 3/4 game with extra point for win on the volley

Session 2: Figure of Eight practices (with bounce for less
experienced players)

Individual Coaching available from John

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:43:00 +0000

Just to let you know that if you are looking for some extra coaching
then John is now offering individual or group sessions (max 4 people)
at off peak times at the club. You need to pay the normal court
lights fee + a coaching fee to John.

If you are interested, then text/phone John on 07727644734 or email
him on Johnknight1986@hotmail.com

John is a Level 2 england Squash registered coach and also a
Racketball coach.

Many thanks, Irene

Some other good online videos

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:27:00 +0000

Watch Chris Fuller doing Figure of Eight Volleys

http://www.totalsquash.com/content/item/chips-challenge-chris-fuller/15.html

Position on the T

http://www.totalsquash.com/content/item/which-part-of-the-t/43.html

Cross Court Training Session

http://www.totalsquash.com/content/item/cross-court-training-session/
70.html

Using the corners of the court

http://www.totalsquash.com/content/item/move-your-opponent/13.html

Forehand drop: remember a short swing

http://www.totalsquash.com/content/item/forehand-drop/19.html

backhand Serve

http://www.totalsquash.com/content/item/backhand-serve-steve-townsend/
36.html

Putting a new grip on your racket

http://www.totalsquash.com/content/item/gripping-a-racket/34.html

Sat 11th October: Cross Court and Straight Drives Videos

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:19:00 +0000

Some good things to try:-

To improve length of drives: The Shoe Game

http://www.totalsquash.com/content/item/shoe-game/24.html

To play the cross-court drive well, think about where your opponnent
is. Study this video. Its good.

http://www.totalsquash.com/content/item/how-wide-to-hit-your-cross-
court-shots/39.html

Oct Ladder Positions: 4th Oct

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:58:00 +0000

Here are the ladder positions JuniorLadder_oct6th.pdf

1-2.30 session:
Matty, Connor Michael Jack and Matthew working on controlling their drives by doing competoitive half court games.
Alex, Olly, Emma and Sarah working on volley control to target
Will and Will O'L working on drives, leading racket into front wall

2-4pm
Game play and control of volleys to target with penalty for missing. Racket preparation and body position major issues.
Demo of Figure of Eight Volleys by Tom to Tim and Tom. make this a target to work on.

New Squash Season: Sat 4th October

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 07:47:00 +0000

Well hopefully all the game play over the last month has warmed you up and got you back into playing squash! Over this month we are going to focus on Volleys again culminating in you having a go at the Chips Challenge Figure of Eight volleys.

http://www.totalsquash.com/content/item/chips-challenge-figure-8-volleys/2.html

Saturday 3rd May: Lob Challenges

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:52:00 +0000

Lob Serves: FH and BH 2 points if outright win on a serve or lob during a rally. Rallies are up and down the half court channel.
Three on Court: A boast B lob, C try to intercept
2-4 Group: Start of EOS tournament. Channels with Lobs for two points.

Saturday 26th april: Volley challenges

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:46:00 +0000

Working in two teams to see which team is more accurate in their volleying skills.
Wall Volleys: FH and BH
Service Line Volleys to partner.
2-4 group: Volley Challenge games in two teams
Ball not allowed to hit the back wall (Practice: Taking the ball early)
Volley game back quarters cross-court (Practice: Importance width of volley)
Channels: drive or volley (Practice: keep the ball low if playing a good volleyer)
Channels: drive or volley (Practice: keep the ball low if playing a good volleyer)
Boast CC lob straight drive for points
!5 minutes each condition. Move between courts.

Sat 1st/8th March Buying time: the lob and lob volley

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:58:00 +0000

The lob is the most underused and underrated shot in squash.

Yet it creates time to recover when you are in difficulty. Use it to slow the pace of a game. A good player controls the pace of a game. Change in pace can break an opponents' concentration.

In turn it can cause your opponents difficulty when played to land deep in the back corner. It can expose an opponents weakness in the air as well as the back corners.

Key dimensions of the lob

High
Soft
Drops in the back corners

How to LOB

Hit UNDER the ball and hit it UPWARDS [high on the front wall, about 2ft below the out of court line]
Racket face is OPEN
Hit SOFTLY .... slow the racket head speed through the ball
Prepare as your approach the ball: shorten your back swing

Emergency: The Flick Lob

No time to swing
Low racket. Open racket face
Flick upwards

SELF Practices

Bounce ball on racket to get feel of open racket face

High pat of the ball to the front wall

Self feed of ball off front wall then lob it over your head

Partners (FH and BH) ...adapt for volley lob

A feed short ball
B straight lob

A boast
B CC lob (safer than straight lob)

A boast
B CC or straight lob

A boast
B lob (CC or straight) or drive (CC or straight)

A straight drop or boast
B lob

Boast, CC Lob, Volley Drive
Boast, CC Lob, Volley Drop, S Lob

Conditioned Games

High: all shots above the cut line....can do channels on this
Lob short ball rule
A hard or soft shots, B soft only
A hard shots, B soft only
A any shot, B must lob any boast or drop.

Video examples online

http://www.guide-to-squash.org/pages/hit2/hit29.html

Games online

http://www.squashclub.org/main/e-lessons/match/match.shtml

Ultimately want to keep the stroke preparation for the lob as similar as possible to that for the drive so your opponent doesn't know whether going to drive or float a lob. This is especially useful on the backhand.