First ? that is fantastic!? Squash is the healthiest sport in the world ? and elite squash players are the fittest athletes in the world based on physiological testing (only Nordic cross-country skiers have a higher VO2 max:).? It is also the most tactical (i.e., intelligence required) of individual sports ? more than 1,000 individual cognitive decisions per match!
Second ? squash and rowing are the only two sports at Smith College where someone can participate without actually having played before ? what a great opportunity to experience an important part of college life ? intercollegiate athletics (50% of congress played a varsity sport at college).
The Smith College squash program is designed to develop smart, fit players as quickly as possible ? the team does this better than any other college in the United States.? Smith team members have won the Ann Wetzel Award more than any other team (last year Clair won the Award). The team has also been the top academic team both in the CSA and at Smith for the last several years:? The average athlete GPA at Smith is higher than the GPA of non-athletes ? there is something about participating in Athletics that allows students to do better academically.
What are the Steps to Come out for the Team?
Step 1:? Show up and play at the Recreation Department?s Racquet Sports Night ? it is held Thursday evenings from 7-9 p.m.? You can show up and leave at any time ? you can play for 10 minutes or 2 hours.? This is not a Smith Squash team organized event ? however, the facilitators are members of the team, and they can provide you with basic instruction (e.g., how to hold the racquet properly) that will allow you to progress to the point where you can tryout for the team.? Your first step to learning how to play squash is to become competent at British Racketball ? attempting squash before becoming good at racketball is actually detrimental to your development and will hinder your attempts to play for the team.
Step 2:? After 2-3 visits to Racquet Sports Night, you may email coach Tim Bacon to express interest in coming out for the team.? Tim will arrange to come down and watch you play/practice and will let you know if it will be realistic for you tryout ? or whether you need more development.
Step 3:? As mentioned above, squash is a very physical game and you need to be in shape.? What sort of shape? The level of fitness required depends on your squash ability ? the newer you are to the game, the fitter you have to be:
- be able to run for 30 min. at a minimum 10 min./mile pace ? ideally, you should be able to run 3 mi./5K in about 24-25 minutes.
- be able to to do a set of 12-20 lunges per leg with perfect form ? both forward lunges and lateral lunges.
- be able to hold the plank position for a minimum of 30 sec. ? both front and side.
The squash team?s pre-season workouts can be found here.? Ideally, if you intend to come out for the team you need to be doing this training before joining the team.
Step 4.? After you been approved by Tim to tryout for the team, you will need to complete some administrative forms before you can practice with the team.? You must have had a full medical physical by a doctor in the previous six months, and provide written proof (i.e., a letter from your doctor mailed or faced to the Athletic Department).
Step 5. Squash practices start the week of October 29th:? Monday to Thursday 4:30 to 6:45, and Fridays 4-6.? After two weeks of ?trying out? the team, you will be asked if you want to ?commit? to the team for the the of the season.? The season runs from Oct. 29 to December 13, and then from Jan. 7th (interterm practices twice a day) to Feb.17th.? Attendance at all practices is mandatory except if you have an academic class ? in which case you will make up the time by attending Racquet Sports night.
Questions?? Contact squash captains Eunice Zhao or Silvi B. Kiss (their contact info is in the Smith Directory).
Happy Squashing!
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