By Jim Snyder   Fri, Apr 01, 2011

You don’t have to be stuck indoors in the summer time to play squash.  To make the break to the outdoors all you need is one wall and about 30 feet by 30 feet of open space.   Also, chalk to make lines and you may need a broom to sweep up the playing surface.  

The court can be laid out to just about any size depending on the ability and age of the participants but we recommend the following layout to get started. 

The court should be about 16 feet wide or about two parking spaces.  With the chalk make side lines about 18 feet long and then cap off the ends to make the base line.  Chalk the service short line cutting the court in half width-wise and then place a center line cutting the top box in half.  You don't need to make the complete lines, just the T as a reference is all that is necessary.  Add two small boxes in the outside forward corners for services boxes.  Finally, add the nineteen inch high tin line on the front wall.  The heigth of the tim can be adjusted to the players' ablilities.  The floor layout should look the same as a regulation size court,  just smaller.                                                 

To start the game, serve with one foot in the service box and one foot out of bounds.  It may be necessary to have a service line (cut line) on the front wall for more advanced players, but it is not needed for the average player. 

Once the ball is served to the opposite big box, the ball is in play like regular squash; no more than one bounce on the ground and it has to hit above the tin.  But unlike regular squash, it has to stay in bounds on the floor (lines are out).  Scoring and lets are the same as four wall squash.

 One wall squash is very competitive and an excellent way to introduce new players to the game.  Have fun and enjoy the ourtdoors.

By   Mon, May 16, 2011

By   Sun, May 29, 2011

Fairmount Athletic Club is pleased to announce the second annual:

 College Squash Recruiting Showcase

August 27, 2011

Fairmount Athletic Club

 Over 20 college team coaches will be present offering perspective on college squash and the recruiting process – panel discussions by Division I and Division III coaches.  Tom Kovic of Victory Collegiate Recruiting will speak on how student athletes and their parents can best approach and prepare for college recruiting.  Student-Athletes will play exhibition matches to showcase their skills to the college coaches. 

For more information on the following go to http://www.fairmountac.com/trainerfinder/websites/60197/squash/CalendarAndEvents.html

Attending Colleges and Coaches

Men’s Coaches:

By   Wed, May 18, 2011

Jim Snyder and Ron Koenig visited the Pennsylvania School for the Death and with the  help of interpreter Arianna Neromiliotis and physical education teacher Joe Barrett, introduced  the students at PSD to the game of squash.  After a demonstration and an explanation of the rules, the students got a chance to play squash on one of the four one wall courts set up in the gym.   

This was the first time the  students had seen squash played in any form.  The middle and high school students took to the game immediately.  Several of the students were quickly playing complete games. One first grade class was also treated to a game of squash floor hockey and racket relay races.  

 The Pennsylvania School for the Deaf is located on West School House Lane in Philadelphia and is the third oldest school for the deaf in the United States, founded in 1820. It serves over 225 students in the Philadelphia and surrounding area.  Everyone Plays is looking forward to returning in the fall to help the students start an after school squash program.

 Philly Squash is dedicated to introducing squash to Middle School and High School students across the country.  If you would like to bring "Everyone Plays" to your school, e-mail  everyoneplays@phillysquash.com

By   Thu, May 12, 2011

If you’re looking for a quick way to take up squash, check out night school.   In between the computer classes and cooking classes, you’ll find squash classes at your local neighborhood night school.    Night school is ideal for beginners.  Equipment and instruction are provided and you'll met other people from your area who are also beginners.

Chester County Night Schooloffers a beginner squash class given at Malvern Prep and the Main Line Night School offers beginner and advanced classes at The Shipley School in Berwyn, PA.

Chester County Night School has a beginner's class starting June 2,  7:00pm, once a week at Malvern Prep.  Classes go for 6 weeks and the cost is $60.  Equipment and instruction are provided.  To sign up go to  http://chestercountynightschool.org/CourseStatus.awp?&course=11MSP1358

Main Line Night School has classes starting in the fall. Sign up early, classes fill up quickly.

By Jim Snyder   Tue, Mar 15, 2011

Alex Sawin is part of the new generation of local Philly high school squash players making the successful transition to college squash. 

She just completed her first season as the number 6 player on the Princeton University Squash Team with a personal record of 16-3 and a final individual college ranking of 34.  To top it all off, she was runner up for the Holleran Cup for individual players ranked 33-64 in the College Squash Association Tournament.   

Alex, from Haverford, Pa, started playing squash at six years old.  She was a member of the Baldwin School’s varsity squash team where she was five time MVP and captain in her senior year.  Baldwin finished fourth in the country in 2010.   She has countless tournament wins and was ranked number 4 in 2010 U.S. Squash girls U19s.  It is easy to see why Alex was second on the list of best college prospects.   

She gives credit for her early success to excellent coaching from Scott Devoy and Karen Kronemeyer, head coach at Baldwin, as well as the growing up in a family of squash players including two older brothers who both played college squash;  John (Princeton '07) and Jeff (Naval Academy '08)..

Philly Squash asked Alex to share some of her college squash experience with us: 

Were you nervous in your first match in college?   I was nervous just as much as I am before any major squash match. But I have been playing for my school in competitive matches and fighting with a team for a common goal for seven years, so I was well prepared.

 What is different about college squash/ what is the same?   College squash is like high school squash but on an entirely new level. The training on court is similar to that in high school in that we do a lot of drills and play matches against our teammates. However, I have had to focus on things in college that I never had to focus on in high school, such as what I eat, how much sleep I get, how much time I spend stretching, how much rest I give my body, and how my daily training should change according to my match schedule.  

What advice would you give players who would like to play in college?   Give 100% every time you play squash because that is what will make you a better squash player. I have beaten girls this season who have more natural ability then I do, but I won because I was in better shape and because I wanted to win more than they did. Never give up on yourself. Sometimes you will be surprised with what you can do on court in the heat of the moment. 

What are your goals for next year?   I want to win all of my matches next year, no matter where I play on the ladder. It is really important to me that I come through for my teammates when they need me. 

What is the off season like?   The only time we have off is the spring season. I honestly don't know what I will do with all of my free time. I will definitely continue to play squash hopefully twice a week to stay sharp and go to the fitness center every day, but I want to take some time off to enjoy college.

By Jim Snyder   Tue, Mar 01, 2011

As squash grows in popularity, more and more high school players are looking to extend their competitive squash careers to the college level.  Although college squash hasn’t reached the heights of other major college sports, it is growing and there are plenty of opportunities to play squash in college, even for the average player.

The College Squash Association, CSA in one form or another has been the lead organization in college squash since 1931.   They oversee 64 men’s teams and 37 women’s teams and conduct the major college tournaments in conjunction with U.S Squash.  The teams play in three different leagues and are classified as either varsity teams or emerging teams.  The emerging teams or club teams, operate differently from varsity teams depending on the college.   Following is a list of this season’s emerging college squash teams that participated in the CSA.

• Boston College
• Bryant College
• Bucknell University
• Drexel University
• Georgetown University
• University of Illinois
• Lafayette College
• New York University
• University of North Carolina
• University of Notre Dame
• University of Rochester (Women)
• Siena College
• Swarthmore College
• Tulane University
• University of Washington
• University of Vermont

The emerging teams play other CSA teams and travel to tournaments the same as varsity teams, however the requirement to play on a club teams differ from college to college..  To see all the teams playing in the CSA or to find out how your college can start a squash team, go to www.collegesquashassociation.com 

Click here for a reprint of “Playing Squash in College” provided by the College Squash Association.  playing_squash_in_college.pdf

For additional information and incite to college squash, check out this article by Joe McManus, Director of the Professional Squash Tour.

 Mensa_Playing_Squash_in_College.pdf

By Jim Snyder   Mon, Feb 28, 2011

Bright Future for Haverford College Squash

The Men’s and Women’s squash teams at Haverford College are already looking forward to next year with good reason.   According to first year coach Niki Clement, the teams have seen  “tremendous improvement in their skill development, strategic understanding on court, and overall performance.”   

The men’s team at Haverford College closed the 2010-11 season with a record of 8-7; a major improvement over last year’s 4-11 record.  They had big wins over Bryant, John Hopkins, Vanderbilt and local teams Drexel University and Swarthmore College.  They also had an excellent performance in the Chafee Division of the College Nationals, with a 5-4 victory over the University of Washington in the consolation round.   They finished with an impressive final ranking of 39 in the College Squash Association (CSA).

Coach Clement praised the team stating, “The men's team is comprised of incredibly diligent, intelligent and self-motivated players, and I can see their proficiency in the sport develop further with every practice. They are certainly setting up the formula for continued development and improvement.”  The best  news is all the top players on the team should be returning next year including  two players from the Philadelphia area, Robbie Thompson (2012) who played at Shipley and Chris Tyson (2013)  who played at Germantown Friends. 

The Haverford Women’s team won their first round match in the Consolation round of the E Division Howe Cup Championships only to loss to New York University 5-4 in the second round.  The Haverford women’s team finished with a 2-12 record and a final ranking of 34 in the CSA.   

Both teams have a lot to look forward to next year with most of the top players returning and another year with coach Clement.  Members of the men's team are:

Andy McComas                  

Zef Konst

Alex Spiliotes

Chris Tyson

T. Ibbotson-Sindelar

Robbie Thompson

Matt Liscovitz

Charlie Michele

 Zeek Barnett

Members of the Women's team are:

Caroline Nightingale      

Jenny Tong

Kara Percival

Randee Johnson

Kate Mundell

Katherine Pryor

Zoe Becker

Aliza Polkes

Alisa Strayer   

By Jim Snyder   Sun, Dec 05, 2010

 Do I want a squash racket just like my tennis racket?   If you’re considering a new racket this season or looking for a gift for your favorite squash player, here are some helpful tips. 

Squash and tennis rackets generally come in three flavors; aluminum, a combination of aluminum and graphite, and all graphite.  Aluminum is the lowest price point, but the heaviest.  As the amount of graphite goes up, so does the price – but, the racket gets lighter.  Woven graphite is used in most light weight, top of the line squash and tennis rackets as well as other top of the line sports equipment such as hockey sticks and golf club shafts. 

For most squash player, a light weight racket is a plus.  You can get the racket around quickly in a fast paced match.  However, lighter does not always translate to better performance when it comes to tennis.  Tennis pros use relatively heavy rackets compared to the average recreational player.  Heavy rackets tend to absorb more vibration resulting in less stress on the arm; not a major concern with a light weight squash ball.  For most squash players, light is a good feature, amateur or pro.   

Extremely light weight rackets run about 110 grams.  Anything between 120 and 140 grams is considered light and perform very well.  However, be prepared to put out a few bucks if you want a light racket; anywhere between $140 and $250.  Also, when you buy a light racket, you’re not necessarily getting a more durable racket; something to keep in mind if you’re getting an expensive racket for someone who hits the walls on occasion.   

The other thing to consider when buying a racket is balance.  Like their tennis counter parts, squash rackets can be head heavy, balanced or head light.  This is a personal preference.  Head heavy racket have more power - head light, better control.  Wilson is famous for their powerful Hammer line of head heavy rackets.  The trick is to work towards your weakness.  If you’re 6’-4”, 250 pounds and can crush the ball, you don’t need anymore power; find a head light racket to help control your 150mph shot.  If you have trouble getting the ball to the back wall, you may want to consider a head heavy racket. 

Lastly, there’s the strings.  Most high end rackets are manufactured with quality strings.  But more important then the string quality, is the string pattern.  Relatively tight string patterns offer better control - a wider pattern, more power.  Unfortunately, on wider string patterns, strings tend to break sooner.   Tennis players are well aware of this.   

When it comes to rackets everything is a balance between power and control.  Most players know what they like and have no idea if the racket is light weight, head light, wide patterned, tight patterned…whatever.  “We know what we like when we find it.”  So, it pays to demo a racket before you buy it.  Many clubs have demo rackets or if you’re buying off the internet, try to borrow a friend’s racket and try it out - not in a match; you don’t want to buy a new racket for you friend also.  Find a racket that’s comfortable and works for you. 

Once you’ve found your perfect racket, get two or three if you can afford it; it’s always nice to have backup.  

By Jim Snyder   Mon, Nov 22, 2010

Eye guards are the most important, yet most overlooked piece of squash equipment.  No matter how low the odds of an eye injury from the ball, you cannot minimize the danger of the racket; and most clubs, and all tournaments require eye guards.  So take the pledge and vow never to step on the court without eye protection.   Here are some tips to help find the perfect eye guards you will be sure to wear.

The first thing to look for when buying eye guards is comfort.   If they’re not comfortable, you probably won’t wear them, or worse yet, your ten year old future squash pro will conveniently forget to wear them.  You may have to invest a few dollars to get light weight comfortable eye guards.  Relatively inexpensive eye guards are usually not comfortable.  Along with light weight, you want padded nose pieces like conventional glasses and tight fitting temple pieces.  Find a pair that you know you will wear.

 Next, you want to see well; as closely to not wearing eye guards as possible.  Most premium guards will have polycarbonate lens with anti-fog treatment, offering undistorted vision.  If you keep them in the case and clean them with the cloth provided, they will remind clear and scratch free for years. 

 Lastly, there’s fogging.  You want to get a pair that provides adequate air flow around the lenses.  If air flow is restricted, the lenses will tend to fog.  You want to look for small vent holes in the tops of the lenses.  You also don’t want a pair that fit snug against the eye brows; this restricts airflow adding to the possibility of fogging.

 Be sure any eye guards you purchase meet or exceed ASTM F803-03 Ball Impact Standards and also any standards required by tournaments you may be playing in.  Here are some good brands that meet the above standards and are also comfortable: 

• ·        Gear Box, designed by a racquetball company, these eye guards are light weight and comfortable.  They come with quality lens and a hard case for  around $25.00 on-line www.gearboxrb.com
• ·        Head Rave, very comfortable, excellent vision around $25.00
• ·        Ektelon Strobe,  fashionable and inexpensive around $13.00
• ·        Leader Phoenix II, great comfort and resistance to fogging, around $20.00
• ·        Wilson nVue, made with NCODE NANOTECHNOLOGY (whatever that is) Comes with interchangeable lens.  Light weight and comfortable, top of the line.  Great for biking and outdoor activities with pop on shaded outdoor lens.  Definitely a fashion stated at around $49.00

By Jim Snyder   Mon, Oct 04, 2010

Gear Essentails: SQUASH SHOES 

One intro squash lesson and you’re hooked.  You drop out of Jazzercise and Kick Boxing and sign up for two squash clinics a week and a round robin on Saturdays.  You have dreams of winning your first thirty and over tournament.  Then you realize you have no squash equipment.   So you head to your local sporting goods store with a your last no limit credit card ready to gear up, but all you find is a starter racket and ball package at $19.95 complete with Spiderman logo.  Although the Spiderman logo is appealing, you know $19.95 won't buy good equipment.

 Now what?  You dash home to your computer.  Why didn’t you think of this before?  On-line you can buy the best equipment up to 40% off.  Once on line you’re paralyzed from all the choices.   The credit card may not have a limit but your budget does.  The Spiderman logo starts looking better.  You have to prioritize.

 Start at the bottom.  Your first priority is a good pair of squash or indoor court shoes.  Racquetball and squash shoes are pretty much the same so manufacturers group them into a category called ‘indoor court shoes.”  What you are looking for is a good gum rubber soled shoe that is light weight.  You’ll know why, the first time you wear them on the court, .  You’re faster.   Indoor court shoes are light weight and low profile, allowing you to change direction with speed and balance.     

More importantly, good squash shoes will help prevent injuries.  You are less likely to twist an ankle or knee when stopping and changing direction.  Running shoes and cross trainers are the worst choice for squash.  They are designed for running straight ahead and are higher in the heel which makes the foot top heavy like an SUV.  You want your shoes to turn like an Indy car.  Tennis shoes are low profile but most are made for durablity and carrying a lot of extra weight.   

You should be able to find a good pair of indoor court shoes for around $80.00.  All the major squash equipment companies carry indoor court shoes as well as Adidas, Nike and K-Swiss.  However, you won’t find many sporting goods stores stocking them and you can't try them on over the internet.   Your best bet is the local squash club pro shop.  Check the Places To Play page on PhillySquash.com to find a club that carries gum rubber soled indoor court shoes.   Some tennis stores also carry indoor court shoes.   

Indoor court shoes are so comfortable you may want to wear them all the time.  Not a good idea.   Gum rubber does not wear well on anything but hardwood floors and boat decks.   Above all else, don’t wear them for tennis.  You may be much faster on the court but you will have the shoes for about an hour before the soles wear through. 

Lastly, don't ever  wear shoes with colored soles that may mark the squash court floor.  For this reason, many clubs require indoor court shoes only.  Change into your squash shoes before and after you step on the squash court.  This not only keeps you shoes from wearing out prematurely, it keeps dirt off the squash courts.  

So, you found a good pair of shoes; what’s next.  Eye guards.    Click here for "Eye Guards in The Comfort Zone"

By Jim Snyder   Sat, Aug 28, 2010

The squash community destroys thousand of  trees a year just keeping score.  Here is an Eco friendly way to make a reusable score card.   

Take either sample score card in the image below or one of your own design and laminated it!  Then, using a grease pencil (preferred because it wouldn’t brush off accidentally) or a dry erase marker, mark the numbers to keep track of the score.   There are two versions below; one with the L and R and one without.   For the longer matches when no one seems to be able to win by two, you can use the back of the card.  When the match is over and the scores have been recorded  on a computer spread sheet,  just erase the card and use it for the next match.   

If you would like, PhillySquash.com can e-mail you a copy of the scorecard.   Sent us your Eco squash ideas to jimsnyder@phillysquash.com. 

Jim Snyder CSG

 GAME 1                     GAME 2                       GAME 3                       GAME 4                        GAME 5

By Jim Snyder   Sun, Jan 02, 2011

The most popular New Year’s resolution this year and every year since the invention of the resolution is “get in shape”.     For some of us it’s “get back in shape” hinting that there was a time when we were actually in shape.

 Of course playing squash is the best way to lose weight and get in shape.  Here are five methods that are sure to keep you on the court burning calories and improving your cardio.

 1.   Find a partner and schedule a regular match at least once a week or if possible, twice a week.   Put it on your schedule and don’t skip it for any reason.   No excuses: treat you squash schedule like a doctor’s appointment that can’t be changed.  Also have a backup player for the times when your regular partner cancels.  Better yet, have a group of guys who have court time at least once a week.  Even better yet, get one of your family members to play with you. 

2.   Sign up for a clinic or group lesson.   Besides improving your game, clinics are great for keeping on a schedule.  Furthermore, if you are just starting out at squash, clinics are an excellent way to meet  players your own ability.   If you can’t find a clinic, take a lesson with the club pro and ask a friend to join in.   

3.   Enter a tournament.  It may sound a little scary but tournaments are a good reason to practice. Commit to a tournament at least three months in advance; be sure to send in a check with the entry form to show your commitment.   Once you’ve signed up, you’ll have to practice.  Try not to take the tournament too seriously and you’ll have fun.  Don’t worry; there are brackets for every level of play.  

4.   Set goals.  Set specific goals such as 25 rails past the service box in a row or have someone partner with you on a specific drill.   Select goals you know will take a while to achieve.   Once you’ve reached a specific goal, pick another one.  

5.   Find a player you know you can’t beat and challenge them to a match.   Keep track of your points and challenge them again in a week or two.  Keep asking them to play till you can beat them.  Everyone who has every played a racket sport knows you have to play better players to get better.  Join the club ladder where you challenge the person above you.   Eventually, you’ll get so good people will seek you out for matches.  

By Jen Mankowski   Sun, Dec 26, 2010

Your mental game can make or break your physical one. In the midst of a highly competitive match you need to remain centered.  In yoga we refer to this as “being in the moment”.   Being thrown off balance mentally can push you off balance physically.  Try holding a yoga Tree balance (see step by step below) while debating whether it is better to use a heavy or a light racket in practice.  The yogi knows this is the mind-body connection and it is a powerful one.  

Yoga requires that the practitioner connect with an internal awareness.  Basically - I am breathing, I am moving, and I am. Now we don’t have to get to “Zen” and begin to seek enlightenment before each and every match – that would take way too long!  Just take some time to notice the three B’s. 

Breath

Balance

Best

 Breath.  A sure sign that you are running on high anxiety is shallow breathing high in your chest.  A yoga method used to lengthen and deepen the breath, which in turn calms the mind, is called Dirgha Breath or “three part breathing.”

Simply draw the breath into your nose from deep in your belly and up through the abdominals to the rib cage and then to the chest.  On the exhale send the breath out and down through the chest to the rib cage and finally to the belly.  The exhale can be through the mouth if you need to release tension, but once you are able, try and breath in and out through the nose only.  This filters the breath, stills the mind and conserves energy.  Do this breathing slowly and fully for about 5 – 10 rounds to start.

Balance.  Focusing on the task at hand will bring you mental balance and the ability to perform with greater consistency.  Not everyone needs to find a spot out of the fray to “center” in peace, maybe you prefer to quietly check out the opponents form, or sit and listen to your ipod.  Whatever it is that works for you should enable you to “get on the mat”.  In other words, create the space you need to focus on what you are going to accomplish. 

 Best.  Know you are your best. Visualize your technique, your opponent’s reactions and you winning the match. Don’t knock it – positive affirmations and visualizations may just be your ticket to victory.

 Want to try a yoga Tree Balance to help you “calm the mind” here are the basics:

 Step by Step Tree Balance

1. Stand tall with your feet separated hip width.
2. Reach down with your right hand and draw your left foot onto your inner calf below the knee or to your inner thigh above the knee.
3. Keep your right leg lifting by engaging your quad, without locking the knee joint. 4. Rest your hands on your hips and make sure they are square under your shoulders.
4. Lengthen your tailbone toward the floor, and the top of your head to the ceiling.
5. Press your hands together at your chest. Gaze softly at a fixed point in front of you on the floor about 4 feet away.
6. Breathe your Dirgha – three part breath - and avoid discussing racket weight!
7. Stay for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Release the leg with an exhalation and repeat on the other side.

You have now dominated the “T”!

Namaste,

Jen Mankowski, ERYT

Blue Rock Yoga & Pilates

http://www.bluerockyogapilates.com/

By Jen Mankowski   Sat, Aug 28, 2010

On your way to Victory           

 What do you think Squash and Yoga have in common?

A.  Both were the favorite pastime of Monks

B.  Both are rated highly as healthy forms of recreation

C.  Neither proposes to be a contact sport

D.  All of the above

 The answer is D.

A.  An early version of squash was a favorite around the cloisters of monasteries in Italy and France, and yoga in monasteries in India so I will count this one.

B.  As far as healthy pastimes go yoga is an ancient discipline which has been practiced for more than 5,000 years, and currently, close to 11 million Americans are enjoying its health benefits which include increased flexibility, strength and balance.  If you Google squash you will see it listed as # 1 in “the ten healthiest sports.”  No surprise here, we know that cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, endurance and flexibility are all hallmarks of the sport.

C.  Although I have been kicked in the head once or twice by a student’s wild hand stand while teaching yoga, and squash is quite physical, neither activity requires padding and a helmet.

Many of my clients play racquet sports and to help them avoid injury and improve their game I recommend a yoga practice.

For those of you who still picture a guru sitting cross legged chanting mantras when you hear the word yoga, please read on.

 There are many yoga disciplines to choose from starting with the more meditative restorative forms and moving to the Power Yoga programs which add cardio to your down dog pose!  You can select a yoga form based on your personal needs whether it be for rehabilitation, injury prevention or as a key component to your sports exercise regimen.

In the practice of yoga you will increase the flow of oxygenated blood to make the muscles more flexible, and reduce asymmetrical tightness.  In addition you will strengthen your core and challenge your joints to open with more functional mobility. 

For the squash player you can take the focus to particular areas which are fundamental to the athlete’s physical performance, and as such prone to injury, such as the lower back, the abdominals, the hamstrings, the groin muscles, and the calf muscles.

So get your “om” on before you get your “game on”.  You may be surprised at how a regular yoga practice can ramp up your performance on the court. 

Check back for Yoga poses to improve your game. 

Namaste. 

 Jen Mankowski, ERYT

Yoga Alliance Registered/Certified Instructor,  Owner of Blue Rock Yoga & Pilates in West Chester PA

 http://www.bluerockyogapilates.com/

blue_rock

By Jim Snyder   Tue, Mar 15, 2011

Alex Sawin is part of the new generation of local Philly high school squash players making the successful transition to college squash. 

She just completed her first season as the number 6 player on the Princeton University Squash Team with a personal record of 16-3 and a final individual college ranking of 34.  To top it all off, she was runner up for the Holleran Cup for individual players ranked 33-64 in the College Squash Association Tournament.   

Alex, from Haverford, Pa, started playing squash at six years old.  She was a member of the Baldwin School’s varsity squash team where she was five time MVP and captain in her senior year.  Baldwin finished fourth in the country in 2010.   She has countless tournament wins and was ranked number 4 in 2010 U.S. Squash girls U19s.  It is easy to see why Alex was second on the list of best college prospects.   

She gives credit for her early success to excellent coaching from Scott Devoy and Karen Kronemeyer, head coach at Baldwin, as well as the growing up in a family of squash players including two older brothers who both played college squash;  John (Princeton '07) and Jeff (Naval Academy '08)..

Philly Squash asked Alex to share some of her college squash experience with us: 

Were you nervous in your first match in college?   I was nervous just as much as I am before any major squash match. But I have been playing for my school in competitive matches and fighting with a team for a common goal for seven years, so I was well prepared.

 What is different about college squash/ what is the same?   College squash is like high school squash but on an entirely new level. The training on court is similar to that in high school in that we do a lot of drills and play matches against our teammates. However, I have had to focus on things in college that I never had to focus on in high school, such as what I eat, how much sleep I get, how much time I spend stretching, how much rest I give my body, and how my daily training should change according to my match schedule.  

What advice would you give players who would like to play in college?   Give 100% every time you play squash because that is what will make you a better squash player. I have beaten girls this season who have more natural ability then I do, but I won because I was in better shape and because I wanted to win more than they did. Never give up on yourself. Sometimes you will be surprised with what you can do on court in the heat of the moment. 

What are your goals for next year?   I want to win all of my matches next year, no matter where I play on the ladder. It is really important to me that I come through for my teammates when they need me. 

What is the off season like?   The only time we have off is the spring season. I honestly don't know what I will do with all of my free time. I will definitely continue to play squash hopefully twice a week to stay sharp and go to the fitness center every day, but I want to take some time off to enjoy college.

By   Wed, Feb 16, 2011

The European Maccabi Games are a celebration of Jewish Unity, Culture, and Heritage through world athletic competition.  If you are interested in representing the US in the up coming 13^th European Maccabi Games contact Stephanie Sorkin at ssorkin@maccabiusa.com...............EMG_SQUASH_Flier_USA_2011.pdf

For more information go to www.maccabiusa.com   

By Jim Snyder   Thu, Sep 16, 2010

The "Everyone Plays" campaign was launched last year by Jim Snyder and Ron Koenig, coaches at Malvern Prep.  Ron and Jim stopped in on three schools in Chester County- St Patrick’s, St Nobert’s and St Monica’s.  Using painter's tape, they laid out four small scale, one wall courts on the gym floor complete with lines on the walls for tins.  Two gyms, conveniently had 19 inch heating vents along the lower wall that made the traditional tin sound when hit. 

Jim and Ron began each gym class with a quick overview of squash followed by a sometimes one sided demo match.  Ron managed to sway the cheering students to his side despite excellent play by Jim.  Chants of "Ron, Ron, Ron" echoed in the gym after a few intense rallies; however, most ended with a chorus of "Nice try Ron."  After the demo match, the students got a chance to hit with Ron and try out the game for themselves.  Ron said the students took to the game immediately; "within ten minutes, they were playing competitive rallies."

The classes ended with the students splitting up onto the four courts and playing King of the Court.    The teachers and students loved the demo and the chance to play squash in the gym.  The teachers are set to add squash to their regular curriculum and the students were eager to try squash on the full court. 

Ron and Jim would both like to see the campaign grow; introducing the game of squash to a greater demographic here in the Philadelphia area. Both are available and willing to set up more gym class demos.  They would also like to see one wall squash grow as an outdoor sport.  "It's simple and takes little preparation.  All you need is some tape, a racket and a ball" says Jim Snyder.  "It a great way to introduce hundreds of kids to a game they would otherwise know nothing about."   

• Ø      PhillySquash.com is dedicated to bringing squash to as many people as possible.  We proudly support “Everyone Plays".  If you would like to see squash at your local school or become a sponsor of "Everyone Plays" contact Jim Snyder at spidersports@yahoo.com or 610 731-9000.   To learn more about the Everyone Plays program visit them on Facebook at Everyone Plays PhillySquash.com

By Jim Snyder   Tue, Mar 15, 2011

I decided it was time to try Australian Racquetball; a hybrid of Racquetball and Squash or more simply, racquetball played on the squash court. The equipment and rules are racquetball except for keeping it above the tin and ceiling shots (something squash players are not familiar with).   Also, the official Australian Racquetball ball is slower than an American racquetball.

A match is played to 21 points,best of three games, scoring only on the serve and in Australian Racquetball you get two serve attempts.

I figured I was ideally suited for Australian Racquetball having played both squash and racquetball for some time.  I asked my racquetball friend Chris to play with me for the video.   I had the early advantage having little trouble keeping the ball above the tin.  However, once Chris figured out the height, I was quickly playing catch up.   Serving was a little tricky.  With the short court, well placed Z serves were deadly . 

The rallies are much longer in Australian Racquetball due to the tin.  Also, because of the tin, shots played off the back wall do not result in a kill shot attempt.  The only down side was keeping the ball in the court but I am sure that can be overcome with practice.  

I preferred the long rallies to the short two- three shot American racquetball rallies.  I don't see a major movement from squash to Australian Racquetball.  However, it is a great game for racquetball players looking to make use of a squash court.  I predict the next evolution in American Racquetball will be a tin.  It would extend the rallies and end some of the arguments over kill shots; something American Racquetball sorely needs.

By Jim Snyder   Tue, Mar 29, 2011

SquashSmarts started out in 2001 with one simply goal:  provide an after school program for students in the Philadelphia School District that would help them excel in school and in life.   Squash with an emphasis on school work, turned out to be the perfect combination.  The program started with just 8 students and some dedicated volunteers.  SquashSmarts now serves over 120 students in their newly constructed Lenfest Center in North Philadelphia and at one of their original location at Drexel University in West Philadelphia.  

This year they will celebrate their 10^th anniversary.  SquashSmarts' accomplishments are many, including 2010 winner of the Robert P. Levy Award for Community Service from the Philadelphia Sports Congress, 2010 Recipient of The Pew Charitable Trust’s Fund for Health and Human Services grant in Philadelphia, 2009 Champion in Action award for Youth Programming from Citizens Bank and NBC10.  Even more impressive, over the last three years, 100% of SquashSmart student have been accepted to college. 

Executive Director Stephen Gregg is looking forward to several events this fall to celebrate their achievements and plan for the future.  To learn more about SquashSmarts go to www.squashsmarts.org  or open  SquashSmarts_-_The_Program.pdf   

By   Fri, Mar 11, 2011

Drexel University will host the men’s and women’s 20011 U.S. Open Squash Championships October 1^st through the 6^th.   Last year’s tournament in Chicago was the first time the men’s and women’s competitions were combined at the same location.  Although this is Drexel’s first time hosting this event, they are undoubtedly up to the challenge having successfully managed major sporting events including the 2008 US Table Tennis Olympic trials. 

With $175,000 in prize money at stake, the tournament will surely attract the best players in the world and with the growing popularity of squash in the Northeastern states, the fans are sure to pack the stands.  Qualifying rounds will be played at local clubs starting September 29^th and 30^th.  The final rounds will be held at the newly renovated Daskalakis Athletic Center on Drexel’s campus.   Tickets will go on sale this spring.  Attendance will be at capacity, so get your tickets early.  The tournament will also be streamed live on www.psasquashtv.com and the finals will be shown on ESPN 3.  

www.PhillySquash.com will post the draws and results for the entire tournament.        

By   Sun, Feb 06, 2011

 It took Todd Ruth five hard fought games to defeat Dent Wilkens in the 12th Annual Philly Boast Tournament .  The final game ended in a 12-10 victory for Todd.  

Todd Ruth and Dent Wilkens both play out of The Racket Club of Philadelphia.  Todd is a graduated of The Haverford School and former captain of the Yale Squash Team.  He is presently enrolled in the Jefferson Medical School.  Dent is a 2007 graduate of Princeton University and former Captain of the squash team.  He is now a Program Director for US Squash. 

By Jim Snyder   Wed, Sep 01, 2010

You can post you club or organization's events for free on PhillySquash.com.  Increase you participation and keep the Philadelphia squash community in touch with what's going on in your organization.   Become a subscriber at not cost and you can post your events directly on the site, free. 

By Jim Snyder   Thu, Jan 27, 2011

You have the perfect swing.  You’ve been working on it for months.  But you’re still losing matches and it seems like you’re running twice as much as your opponent.  Worst yet, you keep crashing into walls.  There’s not point in practicing your swing; it’s your feet. 

If you can’t get to the ball with the proper lunge step and get back to the T efficiently, it doesn’t matter how hard or well placed your shots are, you're still going to loss the long rallies.  Here's the best video available by Shahier Razik demonstrating the proper footwork.  But, you can’t just watch it, you have to practice your footwork.  So take a few minutes out of you practice session to perfect your footwork.  You may be surprised how much better your swing gets.

For more Razik tips go to www.Raziksquash.com

By   Wed, Feb 23, 2011

.

If you are looking for a better backhand and who isn't, here are six simple steps to a perfect backhand:

1. Square shoulders
2. Racket away from body
3. Cock wrist
4. Racket position at @ 80degrees
5. Racket drops
6. Hit through the ball

For more tips go to www.Raziksquash.com

By   Tue, Feb 15, 2011

By   Mon, Dec 27, 2010

By   Sat, Nov 27, 2010

Court: 32 feet front to back. 21 feet left to right  

Match: Pros play best of five games.

 Games: Each game is played to 11 points, but players must win by two points.  

Rallies: Every rally results in a point, regardless of who served. So if you serve and lose the rally, then your opponent gets a point and gets to serve.

 The ball can hit any number of walls but must eventually hit the front wall before bouncing on the floor. A rally is lost when one of the following occurs:

• The ball bounces twice
• The ball hits the tin at the bottom of the front wall
• The ball is hit outside the out lines
• Interference resulting in a stroke, i.e. point to the obstructed player. 

Serve: The serve is done by having at least one foot in the service box, then hitting the ball to the front wall, above the service line and having it bounce in the opposite quarter-court. The receiver can stand anywhere as long as they do not interfere with the server. Only one serve is allowed. There is no second serve as in tennis. A serve is illegal if it hits any sidewall before hitting the front wall!

 Following the serve, the ball can hit any number of sidewalls before hitting the front wall. The red lines mark the out of bounds of the court. If the ball touches the line it is considered out!

 You cannot carry the ball or hit the ball twice, but you can make several attempts at striking the ball as long as contact is made only once.

 Interference: In squash you must clear your shot to give your opponent direct access to the ball once you have played it. When interference does occur it results in a 'Point' to the person whose shot was obstructed.

 On rare occasions, a referee may order the previous rally replayed if interference was unintentional and created a safety issue for the players or for equipment issues (i.e. the ball breaks).

By Jim Snyder   Wed, Nov 03, 2010

Fire and Ice

 Occasionally, I play this guy who is the human equivalent of a ball heater.  He strikes the ball so hard during pre game warm-up, it trials smoke.  I hit my first warm-up shot and the ball sinks into my strings and flies to the front wall. Yet, as efficient as the human ball heater is at heating the ball up, I am equally as good at cooling it off - probably better.   Within four or five shots, I can turn the ball into an ice cube. 

Before ball heaters, players ran the balls under hot water to warm them up.  Not a bad idea if the balls where stored in the trunk of your car in January.  But now we have the ball heater.  So when is it necessary, or appropriate to use the ball heater?  

Many times my opponents play mostly outdoors in Alaska and the ball never gets above warm. Other times, I play with the human ball heater.  In either case, I have to make adjustments.  Part of the ritual of warm-ups is heating up the ball.  It doesn’t help to heat the ball up with the ball heater, only to have it cool off for the match.  The ball heater sometimes just makes the warm-ups unrealistic for the players’ ability; especially younger players who don’t hit the ball hard.

  Many times, good players will hit repeated short, hard shots to the corner, heating up the ball prior to the first serve.  Sometimes they’re just trying to intimidate their opponent with their rapid fire skills.  In any case, if the rallies are short and players hit mostly soft rails, it doesn’t take long for the ball to cool down.  Every match will fine a different ball temperature.   

Between games the ball needs warmed up again along with the players. It is usually poor practice to go to the ball heater. However, for consistency, it is standard practice to use the same ball for the entire match.   Once again, one of the players will take some rapid fire shots right above the tin; usually the player who lost because he or she is trying to release some anger.   When I do it, I inevitably hit the tin lip and the ball sails out of the court which means we have to warm it up all over again. 

The ball will find its own best temperature for you particular match.  If the ball cools off too much for your taste, hit a few hard shots to the front wall or shoot the ball a few times into the floor before your serve.  My least favorite is stomping on the ball and rolling it under your foot.  I’m not sure where that started, but the ball usually takes a weird bounce till it finds its sphere shape again and I’m not sure how warm the ball gets. 

I’m always envious how hot the ball gets when two exceptionally good players are on the court.  But let’s face it, squash is a game of accuracy and changing pace; at least that’s what I’ve been told.  The best use for the ball heater is practice or when you’re feeding for drills; no for everyday match play.  More importantly, real mean don’t need the ball heater. 

By Ron Koenig   Mon, Aug 30, 2010

Squirrel Squash

  There I was peacefully driving along on a country road minding my own business when without warning, a vicious creature bolded forth from the bushes directly at my car.   Its beady eyes shimmering in the pale sun light, its paws rapidly pounding the pavement and then in an instant, squashed between my tire and the warm asphalt, all life was extinguished. 

“I can’t believe you just ran over that defenseless squirrel,” the person sitting next to me called out.  To which I most naturally replied, “The squirrel ran into me!”

   This is a duality.  A duality is a relationship between two apparently different objects or two apparently different viewpoints. Each view point is a suitable explanation of what has occurred; they are different yet relate to each other.  The question is who impacted who? Did I make impact with the squirrel or did the squirrel make impact with me?    I will turn my back to this mystery and leave it to inquisitive bearded men. 

We now venture deep into the catacombs of the squash player’s brain--sometimes not much bigger than the squirrel’s.   If asked I’m convinced, most players will claim with absolute certainty, that they are striking the ball with the racket. Man likes being the active body instead of the passive element.  We like doing; exerting our own dominance and control over our surroundings.

Conjuring up a moment of Zen, we take a look at impact from a different angle.  What would happen if the ball was the active component, reducing us to a passive player in the greater scheme of things?

   A good example is the analogy of a ball hitting a ceiling fan. One day I woke up with this sudden urge to throw a squash ball into the ceiling fan; don’t pretend you never had such desires.  If you throw the ball into the plates shortly after you turned on the fan, not giving the fan enough time to accelerate to full rpm, the speed of the ball will be-- --let’s just call it disappointing.  Yet if on the other hand you wait for the rotors to get up to full pace (a word to the wise, I suggest covering all fragile objects in the vicinity) this will produce a ferocious strike with a destructive force not commonly witnessed in the home.

   What can one take from such an analogy?

1)      To create the best impact you have to make sure your racket head has enough time to speed up before the ball hits the strings. By starting your swing a fraction earlier, you will be able to get your racket moving faster at the point of impact.

2)      The ceiling fan is unaware of the ball hitting it and simply continues its motion without tightening up, as if nothing happened. Emulating this in your swing will result in more accuracy. For the best outcome your swing has to remain relaxed and fluid.

    To get a feeling for this, take your racket and akin to a golfer, take some practice swings.   Learn the size of your swing. How long does it take your racket to speed up? Try to stay relaxed as you swing, feeling no tension throughout the impact zone. This is the feeling you are trying to recreate. When everything is timed correctly, the ball feels light on your stings as if no contact was made. If the ball feels heavy on your strings, you swung too late or tightened up during impact thus throwing off your impact.

    To get your racket head up to the fastest speed, think through your swing from the smallest muscle group to the biggest. It is like a chain reaction explosion in your arm starting at the wrist, moving to the forearm, through the elbow and ending in the shoulder, moving your arm through the impact zone.  This will create a fluid movement and generate the greatest racket head speed.  You will find that even the tightest spaces grow in size as you restructure your swing and let the ball move into its path.

  Good luck on your journey and be aware the first step on the path to knowledge is opening one’s eyes to the multitude of reflections spread bare in front of you; be mindful though, there is no knowing where one might be swept off to.    

By   Mon, Aug 30, 2010

Winter brings everyone indoors and onto the squash courts.  Included in the rush to the courts is the every growing number of middle and high school squash teams.  Unfortunately, there are more players than teams.  So what do you do with the growing number of young new players looking for a team?  You start a fall league. That’s just what they did in Chester and Montgomery Counties.  The coaches in the area got together and started the ChestMont Youth Squash League.     

The league is the collaboration of Malvern Prep, Episcopal, The Fairmount Athletic Club and The Berwyn Squash Club.  The teams consist of beginners ages 9 to 13 years old who have not played competitively in school or in tournaments.   New players get the opportunity to play on a team and at the same time improve their squash skills. 

The intent of the league says Jim Snyder, coach at Malvern Prep, is to give the players who would not otherwise make their school’s team or do not have a school team, a chance to play matches in a team format.  “We hope players will improve their skills enough to play in tournaments and on school teams.”  They also play at a time when courts are available and coaches are not booked solid with lessons.

The league will be starting again in the Fall 2011.  If you would like to find out more about the league, you can contact Jim Snyder at 610 731-9000 or e-mail Jim at jimsnyder@PhillySquash.com

By Jim Snyder   Mon, Nov 01, 2010

Australian_RB.pdf       Here' the rules for Australian Racquetball.    Good Luck

By Jim Snyder   Wed, Dec 01, 2010

Fairmount:  The Ultimate Squash Club 

What makes a great squash club?  Ideally, you want lots of courts, a friendly staff, lots of activity, the best fitness equipment and, you don’t want to feel like you’re playing in the basement of the local Y!   Fortunately for the Philadelphia area, you can find it all at the Fairmount Athletic Club in King of Prussia; twelve international singles courts, two doubles courts, an amazing fitness center and a professional staff to match. 

Opened three years ago, The Fairmount Athletic Club was the brainchild of local Hall of Fame Squash player Demer Holleran.  She set out to build a squash club that was “vibrant, happy and healthy”.   The result was a 50,000 square foot facility in the Philadelphia suburbs with everything a squash player could want.

From a squash perspective it is hard to pin point what makes Fairmount the ideal setting, but the professional staff is at the top of the list.  Fairmount has five squash pros with impressive credentials.  The Head Pro is Paul Frank from Australia.  He has over twenty years of squash experience with a Masters in Sports Psychology.  The other pros are equally impressive; Joseph Purrazella, thirty years experience, Alexandra Clark- professional women’s squash tour, Lyall Paterson, United Kingdom Level III certified coach and Jamie Macaulay who represented Scotland in over ten World and European Championships as both a junior and senior.    

But without a doubt, the best thing about the Fairmount Athletic Club is the openness.  “It’s like being outdoors”, says club owner Demer Holerran.  The first think everyone comments on is the expansive space between courts and the high ceiling.  This added space improves the quality of the entire club.  The viewing for matches and tournaments is excellent and the noise levels are very low.   Spectators can easily move from court to court, keeping track of several matches at a time.   Fairmount is host to some of the biggest tournaments on the east coast.  There is also Australian Squash for the crossover Racquetball player.

Although squash is front and center at Fairmount, the fitness equipment exceeds anything the local fitness clubs contain.    In addition, locker rooms are spacious with plenty of full size lockers, and come equipped with steam and sauna.  The club also offers spinning, pilates and yoga.

As squash clubs go, the Fairmount Athletic Club is relatively new.  Demer Holleran says they would like to keep the membership growing.  The rates are very reasonable.  There are memberships for fitness, squash or both.  Just off the expressway, the club is easy to get to and parking is free.  There are lots of lessons, clinics and leagues.  This is the ideal club for both the beginner and advanced squash player or anyone who is looking for a great fitness center. 

By   Mon, Mar 14, 2011

Every Monday night 6pm to 8pm, players of all levels get together at the courts at Malvern Prep, 418 S. Warren Rd. Malvern. PA for a fun night of squash.    No membership is required, pay as you play.  Drop-ins welcomed.  For more information call 610 731-9000.