Squash is an intense physical sport. Though lessons and an instructor provide invaluable benefits, becoming part of a squash club offers players even more experiences and resources.
PSAs who hope to play squash at college should begin recruiting early. This allows coaches the opportunity to evaluate each player individually as well as assess their work ethic.
1. Check the Courts
Squash courts should be in good condition. If they are dirty, stained or scuffed it’s best to find another club. In addition, walls must be free from cracks, chips and any damage which might compromise player safety and potentially cause injuries.
A quality squash club should also provide its members with access to a first aid kit and, ideally, an automated external defibrillator (AED). This will ensure their safety should any emergency arise during game play or training session.
Temperature and humidity play an integral part in player comfort and court maintenance. An ideal court temperature range should be between 60-65deg Fahrenheit with humidity between 40-60%; ensuring floor and wall surfaces stay in great shape for longer.
Players should wear appropriate footwear when playing squash, such as sneakers or flat shoes that provide sufficient foot protection. Furthermore, it’s a good idea to bring a water bottle as well as various snacks and energy bars; due to the strenuous physical demands required for squash play, taking frequent breaks between sets is vital in order to prevent injuries from arising.
Players should ensure they wear appropriate footwear and rest, but should also take note of their speed of play. Players can quickly become exhausted on a hot court, so it’s essential that they pacing themselves. Sprinting around aimlessly may tire out your body quickly and make hitting accurate shots difficult.
One of the biggest mistakes new players make is overplaying. Doing so increases their risk of injury while missing valuable training opportunities, with novice players often suffering two to four times as many injuries than advanced ones due to factors such as not properly balancing on-court time with fitness and conditioning, playing too close to opponents, or poor follow-through techniques.
An effective recruiting email should provide college coaches with a brief summary of a recruit’s academic history, squash ability and level, extracurricular activities, and why they are reaching out to that particular school. It is crucial that recruits remember that academic standing, test scores and AI thresholds are only part of what determine college admission; rather they should focus on making themselves as competitive an applicant as possible.
2. Check the Members
No matter your skill level, joining a squash club provides you with access to an incredible community of players all keen on the sport. Feeling part of something can help encourage repeat participation while working closely with an instructor is crucial for improving your game.
When selecting a squash club, carefully evaluate both the number of players and their age range. It is ideal to play alongside people of similar ages so that you can train together and share learnings between games; this will help your game advance more rapidly towards becoming world class.
Finding an appropriate squash club requires asking around. If you know anyone who plays, discuss what they like most about their club – this can help guide your decision making and lead you in the direction that’s right for you.
To play squash, you will require the appropriate equipment. This should include a racquet, squash ball and eye protection. Furthermore, appropriate shoes will help avoid injury; tennis or running shoes provide excellent traction and support that are needed when participating.
Squash is a captivating and exciting game suitable for people of all ages and skill levels, providing great physical exercise while strengthening muscles and burning calories. Additionally, this activity makes an enjoyable social activity perfect for the whole family and may help children’s balance development as they play together on court.
There are various ways to play squash, from singles, doubles, four-wall and tournaments – making this game both social and fast-paced at the same time! Squash offers endless hours of enjoyment!
College Squash Association The CSA serves as the governing body for men’s and women’s intercollegiate squash in the US. They organize national collegiate championships, regular season operations, rankings, honorable mention selections as well as All-American selections.
3. Check the Facilities
Squash clubs provide members with various facilities, including courts, fitness areas, lockers and social spaces. Furthermore, coaches and instructors are on hand to help players improve their game as well as staff for maintenance tasks and other duties. In addition, these clubs have an expansive community of players which provide both support and motivation during development of players.
Squash clubs typically feature other forms of sports equipment to help members stay in shape, including racquetball courts and other fitness equipment such as treadmills. Tournaments can also be organized to offer players both competitive and recreational tournaments – making Squash an appealing way to stay active, make new friends and stay healthy!
College Squash
Many aspiring college athletes dream of competing varsity squash at college level, yet any high school student does not need to be an elite-ranked student-athlete in order to secure an athletic scholarship to play the sport there. College admissions committees consider many factors when considering an applicant’s application – their grade point average, test scores, academic history, extracurricular activities, essay strength and personal narratives provided within it all will all be assessed by college admissions officers as they review an applicant’s application package.
While student-athletes must be highly competitive to gain admission into a school’s varsity squash team, some institutions also offer an introductory club level option for non-recruited walk-on players. No matter whether one competes at either level, squash continues to gain in popularity and scholarship opportunities are becoming more accessible than ever.
Prospective college players can effectively prepare themselves for the recruiting process by participating in a US Squash junior tournament with live streaming capabilities for spectators, and working with their current coach to arrange an itinerary of prominent junior events that fit within their availability schedules. Performance at these events will be judged by college coaches, making this tool an invaluable one in their recruitment.
4. Check the Fees
Membership fees can quickly add up over time, so it’s advisable to compare costs among similar clubs in order to select one with which you are comfortable. Be sure to include both initial and ongoing expenses such as guest fees or court usage fees when making your selection.
US Squash Member Club annual fees vary based on court usage, and currently range between $114/year per member for membership from July 1 through June 30 of the following year (July 1-June 30). These dues support junior scholastic squash team programs, community development and high performance programming initiatives and adult squash initiatives as well as being used by US Squash national dues which support junior team programs, community development programming as well as adult initiatives – in addition to keeping you connected to your sport through accreditation of competitions/championships/ratings/rankings Club Locker technology as well as knowing you are supporting missions that promote access, community excellence and sportsmanship!
Depending on the club you’re considering joining, their guest fee may be waived for potential members. Guests typically are allowed two times each month and twelve per year – plus members may invite guests for lessons and clinics at non-member rates!
SquashRx operates the only full-service squash facilities open to the public without membership or affiliation in NYC and are conveniently accessible from every subway line as well as PATH. They have locations both midtown and downtown Manhattan that make access easy from all three boroughs of Manhattan and PATH.
Racquet Club in Philadelphia provides an exciting athletic and social club experience, mixing old world pleasures with modern comforts. Offering four international courts, a gym for warm-ups and cool-downs, relaxing dining options, active affinity clubs, guest rooms, an indoor pool and much more, its coaching team includes former international #1 Peter Nicol.
Engaging with the club and its community by attending a squash camp at a college campus is another effective way of building your understanding. Though not guaranteed as a pathway for recruitment, college campuses provide coaches an invaluable opportunity to observe prospects in an unfamiliar environment while observing players interact socially with fellow students – something clubs cannot always do effectively themselves. Finally, players need to communicate directly with coaches regarding recruitment initiatives in order to be proactive with regards to college recruitment efforts.