National Coaching Conference Report

The National Coaching Conference for Squash was conducted at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra from 14-16 November 2008. Coaches from all over Australia gathered to listen, learn and share ideas on the development of Squash.

I believe the highlight of the conference was the attendance of former World Champions and the current head coaches from the AIS Squash Unit!

Byron Davis and Michelle Martin were joined by former World Champions Vicki Cardwell and Rodney Eyles to talk from the top end. What really impressed me was their acceptance of every participant's contribution and their message that what is done at junior and club level is important to them.

Vicki Cardwell, Michelle Martin, Rodney Eyles and Byron Davis

Barbara DeBruin and coaches

The conference was a mixture of lectures and practical sessions at National Centre as well as a school visit with the innovative inflatable courts.

This was conducted by Mike Cornish from Western Australia and was appreciated by coaches, teachers and the students! Other sessions included a new proposal for coaching accreditation, national directions in the sport of squash, Measuring performance pathways, fitness evaluation, temperament typing as well as stroke training.

The on court sessions with the above mentioned world champion players were outstanding and no doubt the local players who volunteered to be students gained a huge amount of benefit! To see basic drills performed at an elite level was very impressive.

Some new technology was also highlighted such as "Sports Stats" by former AFL great, Peter Daicos. This is an online recording program based on a hand held skill counter that downloads to an individual's site and records and graphs improvement. This can be made available to the student, coaches and parents.

The "Panther" invented by Dr Geoff Harris is a computer generated fitness trainer which uses audio and light activated sensors to direct athletes on court to different points and times their progress. Our own Ray Payne took on the Panther and performed admirably! This session highlighted the value of squash as a cross fitness training strategy for other sports.

Other sessions included fundamentals for kids, doubles, refereeing and input from Squash Australia. The quality and standard of the presentations was outstanding and the networking between coaches of all levels was very encouraging.

In summary with world squash growing and the potential of squash being introduced as an Olympic sport, there is a great deal to be done here in Australia and it is amazing considering the sport's resources how far Australia has gone on the world stage!

I came away with the overwhelming message; everybody's efforts are valuable and appreciated. If a consistent and coordinated structure can be maintained, the sport of squash has a great future!

Pat Siciliano
ACT based coach