SQUASHTIGERS: Shot of the Week!

As everyone would be aware by now, in our SQUASH TIGERS program, each week we have a "Shot of the Week"... (SHoW). The goals is to cover all the basic strokes in the game and ensure that players have a clear understanding of the drop, lob, drive and boast. A reminder that when we say a "clear understanding", this should include a solid ability to CONCISELY explain what the stroke should look like, and a small number of key technical characteristics so they can apply this to their practice.

This week the shot of the week is THE BOAST - emphasizing the boast from mid-court.

Players should be able to explain to anyone, mom, dad and other players the characteristics of the stroke...in this case: 1. Unless otherwise specified, when we discuss "the boast", we refer to a two wall boast 2. The ball strikes a side wall first, then strikes the front wall - we encourage players to aim for a narrow angle, when in doubt, the more narrow the better

3. Boasts from mid third are most often hit with cut or slice and with medium to fast racket head speed - they are not a flat shot, nor are they a soft shot

4. We want our boast to end up outside our opponents hitting zone, potentially forcing a cross court drive which we would then volley!

Technically, we focus on simple feedback: 1. For an attacking boast, we predominantly use a full swing, partly to ensure racket head speed and partly to assist in deception

2. We swing "up the wall", rather than across the body and open the racket face to ensure the appropriate angle is achieved 3. We slice heavily to keep the ball "down" after it contacts the front wall 4. We make sure we recover strongly to the T position following execution to ensure we can cover a counter drop, or whatever else our opponent may wish to attempt

The boast is an important part of any players arsenal and Boast Week is an important week for all our players. Even if we do not intend to make boasting a significant part of our A Game, we will get good repetitions at managing situations to prevent being exploited by our opponent, who may be adept at that stroke!

Finally my standard reminder that the curriculum runs in 12 week phases, which means we go through each stroke three times, with one "revision week" at the end of each annual quarter. If you didn't know, now you know! #NOWuKNOW

SQUASHTIGERS: Shot of the Week!

As everyone would be aware by now, in our SQUASH TIGERS program, each week we have a "Shot of the Week"... (SHoW). The goals is to cover all the basic strokes in the game and ensure that players have a clear understanding of the drop, lob, drive and boast. A reminder that when we say a "clear understanding", this should include a solid ability to CONCISELY explain what the stroke should look like, and a small number of key technical characteristics so they can apply this to their practice. This week it's the defensive drive - which we refer to as a "B Drive"! Players should be able to explain to anyone, mom, dad and other players the characteristics of the stroke...in this case:

1. Hits the front wall a racket length above the service line

2. Bounces half way between the back of the service box and the back wall and then bounces to strike the back wall before being intercepted by the opponent 3. Hit with "medium" slice/effect to keep the ball tight to the wall 4. Beats our opponent with tightness - for our elites this means two floor boards from the side wall, for our less experienced players perhaps it's within the service box "channel".

Technically, we focus on simple feedback:

1. Medium size swing, shoulder rotation important

2. Extending the follow through at the target to direct the path of the ball

3. Slice the ball, the effect helping to keep it "on the wall"

4. Integrate the follow through with the recovery to the T - one of the SQUASH TIGERS key rules being to recover to the T before the opponent touches the ball

The "B Drive" is vital for players to be able to gain time to recover to the T. From behind, a full drive is almost always the best choice and the competency to run back in the court and drive the ball full is paramount.

Finally my standard reminder that the curriculum runs in 12 week phases, which means we go through each stroke three times, with one "revision week" at the end of each annual quarter. If you didn't know, now you know! #NOWuKNOW

SQUASHTIGERS Weekend Wrap Up!

What a weekend it was… Another busy weekend in the SQUASHTIGERS world!

At the club we had our first inaugural US Squash sanctioned tournament - the Squash Tigers Silver. The club was packed out with visitors from all over the US, lots of squash and lots of smiles. As you’d expect, we had a host of the team playing in all age groups. Congratulations in particular to Angela on winning her way to her first final, and Edward on playing up a storm and making a semi-final. Humzah, Michael, Henry and Anika also represented, gave 100% and impressed Jamie and I with their efforts.

Up north, JJ and Eric contested the “NTA & Squashfit Academy Junior Gold by WLJ Capital”. In Philly we had Kevin and Adam in the less extravagantly entitled EA Squash Club Spring Bronze. In both locations the boys made us proud, fought hard and lived to fight another day!

Squads on Saturday and Sunday were moved to 3:30 - with Performance at 5:00 - to accommodate our tournament guests. Well done to those who rejigged their weekend training plans and came out to some great squads. Saturday was great, Sunday even better with the players deserving extra credit for the off court - heat plus humidity plus hard work = very impressed coaches!

At the club, as always, we have a big week ahead of us... The theme of the week centers around "DEFENSE”, specifically the defensive drive. You can look for lots of repetitions on the technique and tactical implications of one of the most important strokes in the game. Additionally for the Performance Program crew, it's a big week of strength endurance... so make sure to arrive at training all ready to go!

Finally, a reminder that Summer Camps are only a month away… kicking off June 20. I’ve met and talked with almost everyone about their summer plans to maximize both their fun and their squash improvement. If you have any questions, you can email me and we’ll sit down briefly to get things ironed out for you… summer at Squash Tigers is going to be awesome, serious fun and seriously hard work each and every day!

See you all at the club soon!