Every point starts with a conversation 1. ACKNOWLEDGE Quietly tell yourself what just happened. Good or bad. Accurate. No judgment. Examples: • Good length • Right decision • Late to the ball 2. DECIDE Tell yourself what you will do next. Adjust or  repeat what is working. Examples: • Same plan • Build the rally • Recover faster • Hold position 3. AFFIRM Finish with calm, positive self-talk. Not hype. Something that feels true. Examples: • I’m clear on this • I know how to start • Stay...

Every rally begins before the ball is struck. In junior squash, consistency is often treated like a personality trait. Some players are described as “steady,” others as “emotional,” as if these qualities are fixed. In reality, consistency is built from habits, and one of the most powerful habits a young player can develop is a clear pre-rally ritual. A pre-rally ritual is a short, repeatable routine used between points to reset attention, regulate emotion, and begin the next rally with...

You may have heard a popular quote floating around: “It takes about 400 repetitions to create a new synapse in the brain, unless it’s...