Pro tips for the new season from Lauren West
1.Have Fun!
Having fun is the reason we all play and can be what keeps us going on those off days when you just cannot hit a ball straight! Drill with friends, play condition games and don’t even think about keeping score: no score, no stress! You can truly focus on whatever you’d like; want to work on volleys? Play a deep rail game but volley anywhere is a classic!
- Warm Up, Cool Down, Recover.
Listen to your body and don’t rush it!
Something I love to do myself, and incorporate in every junior clinic I teach, is GLUTE ACTIVATION! Squashies are known for weak glutes and this is the reason for so many injuries. You are about to spend a season lunging every time you hit the ball – so it is key to fire up those muscles and reduce the chance of injury.(I found this out the hard way)!
Follow Lauren’s go to routine here
- Keep it Simple.
Focus on technique rather than power and the accuracy will return. Solo drills and ghosting are always good practices to get back into the swing.
My main advice after a break: “Be okay with being rusty, we are all in the same boat! Use it as a chance to leave some of those bad habits in last season!”
- Set Bite Sized Goals.
Establish realistic goals you want to achieve this season and give yourself ample time to get there. If you break it all down instead of worrying about the big picture – you’ll be setting yourself up for a great few months of squash!
- Strength, Strength, Strength!
Adapt an off court training routine that will have you feeling happier, stronger, and faster on court… while also getting the benefits of a sexy new bod!
Stay tuned for next month’s Rally Roundup where we will dig into some off court training tips with Nicole Bunyan of Squashletic! Sign up for the Rally Round Up Newsletter here.