10 THINGS TO DO – to become a SA Top 10 player
The road into the SA Top 10 follows the same pathway year after year. Creating new habits, rituals and good practices, makes the journey easier. Some tips from parents whose children have done it ….
Top 10 tips :
1. All the World of Squash / TuksSquash parents are encouraged to attend the PARENTS MEETINGS – where the year, planning, budgets etc will be discussed.
2. Regular attendance at all training sessions, as well as, extra sessions are vitally important so that the players are consistently on the right track to wards their goals.
3. 100% support from parents is a vital component – getting the youngsters to their sessions is becoming more and more challenging. Talk to the coaches if it has become impossible. They are part of the journey.
4. Keep updated on what is being done at a session.
5. Follow the advise of the coach who spends the most time on court with your child – especially when it comes to squash outside of the program.
eg : Playing against an adult isn’t always the best decision until the player is ready for it. Talk to the coach if there is a family member who plays squash, so that the member becomes part of the process.
6. Only play in the recommended tournaments. Too many tournaments break down the technique that has been built up.
7. Buy appropriate equipment. Having a top of the range racket when the players are still beginners or intermediate is not going to help the youngster to improve. The racket will break !
8. Keep in contact with the coach. the program is big and the coaches cannot contact every parent all the time, but will be more than happy to respond to queries.
9. Help the youngsters to eat healthy meals – at school as well as on the way to squash.
Please respect our rules : no fizzy drinks at the courts, no chocolates and as part of our environmental pledge – no single-use plastic bottles at the courts.
10. Enjoy the journey. None of the players are professional yet. They are still developing into squash players and results can yo-yo. React to losses the same way as to a win, where the focus is not on the score but on fair play and sportsmanship.
The 5 x P’s of squash = participation, perseverance, perspiration and then performance and also parents.