Quality Sport Programs : Squash

by | Apr 20, 2017 | Uncategorized

Active Start: Beyond the Nick – Active Start

FUNdamentals: Beyond the Nick – FUNdamentals

Learn to Train: Beyond the Nick – Learning to Train

Squash’s popularity has been growing worldwide for the past century. Today, more than 400,000 Canadians play the sport either recreationally or competitively. And Canadian players have started to gain distinction on the international stage, too. But there’s always room for improvement. Squash Canada is striving to develop the children’s recreation market across the nation, which will in turn feed more players into our high-performance stream.

Squash teaches participants fundamental movement skills, fundamental sport skills and the ABCs – agility, balance, coordination and speed – of physical literacy.

Squash’s Long-Term Player Development (LTPD) model consists of seven stages.

  • Active Start (M, F 0-6) – Introduces basic physical movement and activity in play settings.
  • FUNdamentals (M 6-9, F 6-8) – Teaches fundamental movement skills that will later form the basis for most sports skills, with an emphasis on FUN.
  • Learn to Train (M 9-12, F 8-11) – Transforms fundamental skills into sport-specific skills within structured training settings.
  • Train to Train (M 12-16, F 11-15) – Consolidates basic sport-specific skills and moves toward specialization in one sport, though participation in at least one other sport is encouraged.
  • Train to Compete (M 16-23+, F 15-21+) – Optimizes all athletic capabilities within intense training regimens to prepare the athlete for elite competition.
  • Train to Win (M 19+/-, F 18+/-) – Establishes all capacities and maximizes performance in order to win national and international competitions.
  • Active for Life (M, F any age) – Encourages lifelong participation, whether competitive or recreational, in physical activity and/or sport.

Beyond the Nick: Squash Canada’s LTPD model
This model identifies the basic stages in the optimal development of player, essentially from childhood to adulthood, based on physical, mental, emotional and social maturation.

Beyond the Nick – LTAD website

Squash Canada – squash.ca