By Richard Millman, Director of Squash, Kiawah Island Club
It’s not always the case, but in many instances, whether in a club, college or school, the Squash Coach could use some administrative and planning help to continue the development and improvement of the program. If this happens everyone involved in the program benefits.
We squash Coaches are usually pretty good with anything pertaining to the game, and we have some pretty good experience in the field of strength and conditioning, although it is frequently QBE (qualification by experience) and not always scientifically based.
Also Squash coaches frequently barely have enough time to fit in all the lessons, run the pro-shop, string the racquets, run the program, etc., to have much time for taking a step back to objectively review the program.
That’s one place that supporters of a squash program can really help. Perhaps you are an enthusiastic club member or club committee member, or a parent of a middle or high school squash player, or a parent of a club junior. Even a college coach may appreciate some help—although frequently they have more resources and time for organization than their club and school counterpart.
I have been fortunate over the years to have had some terrific mentoring from non squash-playing enthusiastic supporters. I think one of the areas that I could improve in as a squash coach is letting people help me.
Recently I have had some very useful conversations with PJ Watson who is a parent of two up-and-coming junior players. Although PJ isn’t an experienced player herself, her enthusiasm and aspirations for her children’s fullest possible enjoyment of the squash experience led her to commit some ideas to paper after some positive discussions with myself and some other parents.
PJ has kindly given me permission to relay some of these ideas to you, which I do in part in the accompanying “School Squash Program—SWOT Analysis” and “Squash Program Follow-ups,” and I also have some suggestions as to how to make these ideas work in different circumstances
I am extremely grateful to PJ for sharing this SWOT analysis with me. Of course her analysis is specific to her school’s situation and I am not suggesting that you should use her specific system (although there’s a lot of really good stuff there). But it’s a good example of how a good support group such as parents or club members can use the skills they have to enhance a program and help to make the coaching staff more effective and focused.
This system can be equally applied to a club program, college program, any team or an individual (after all, as I said in my book Angles in my poem: Playing for the Team—even when you play alone, you’re never really on your own.).
The key is to include the coach without alienation and then everyone benefits!
There is a wonderful system in place at the Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland, OR, where the club has a system of Member Coaches. These people are able to gain entry to this wonderful club, which has a waiting list, by providing support services to the coaches. I am full of admiration for the wonderful work done at the club using this system and I encourage those of you who are interested to contact the club for details of the system.
In the final analysis (no pun intended) coaches are individuals. Individuals flourish when supported by a great team and as the old adage goes—The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. So, support your local sheriff and send in the SWOT team!
Next month—The Squeeze Boast!
