Three Little Things

Published: 05 Aug 2019 - 16:02 by raystrach

Updated: 06 Apr 2020 - 12:38

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It's been a while.

My last full post on this website was over four years ago, although it seems more like 4 months.

In defence of the level of my own ineptitude, I have answered a few posts, migrated the site from its original location to my own servers, continued to tidy up problems and even started planning for an complete update of Squashgame. Surely that has to count for something!

In the meantime, I have continued to play, coach and ponder the eternal Squash question for a Squash coach; what is it that makes a great Squash player?

I do this for two reasons.

1. I am silly enough to believe that my best Squash is still in front of me. So how can I train and play so that I maximise all of the attributes that have improved over the years (eg skill, experience, self control) and minimise all those that have declined (eg speed, agility, power).

2. How can I best coach (mainly) young people to make the most of their ability, become good people and maybe for some, to go on and become great players.

For starters, it is pretty difficult just to get your head around it once you start. You start thinking an answer may be within reach, then something or someone comes along and changes your mind.

Besides, is it the same for everyone. Can we create the perfect Squash player, Frankenstein style: a Squashenstein? Surely it is just a matter of adding all the right ingredients together and there we have it, a reflection of Jansher Khan.

Unfortunately, humans suffer from the all too human trait.

Individuality. Our greatest strength, our greatest weakness.

What I have discovered is that without three vital ingredients as nebulous and hard to define as they are, it is not possible to be a great player.

1. Good Squash technique.

2. Mental toughness and confidence.

3. Physical fitness and agility.

Over the next weeks and months I will attempt to define these things anew.