JUNIOR NEWS

Saturday Mornings

Every Saturday (through the school term) we run coaching sessions for kids aged 5-16. The sessions are designed to introduce the children to this great game and to develop their skills by learning each shot and then putting this shot into practice competing against other children of a similar standard.

It is a great way to keep fit, have fun and make some great friends. At present there is approximately 60 children partaking in this activity every Saturday.

The group timings are as follows

10am Mini Squash
11am Intermediate Girls
12 Noon Intermediate Boys
1pm Advanced
2pm Elite

Each group runs through a set of seven lessons which become a full coaching session. Four sessions are ran (28 Saturdays) throughout the squash season. Smaller groups are ran through the summer based on attendance.

The seven sessions costs £20 and is prepaid in advance. The lessons are then ran in the following order

Week 1 Serves and return
Week 2 Drives
Week 3 Volleys
Week 4 Boasts
Week 5 Lobs
Week 6 Drops
Week 7 Player of the session - where the children play for their name engraved on the club plaque

Each lesson consists of 20 minutes of coaching the weekly shot and then 40 minutes of match play where the children compete against other children of a similar standard to improve their club ranking. This club ranking is updated at the end of each coaching session and displayed in the club.

The club also hosts a County Ranking tournament in partnership with Northern and The Northumberland Club (Jesmond) where the children are placed into box leagues and play against other children in the region (of a similar standard). The children play for their County ranking and all attendees receive a prize, either a medal or sweets. At the end of the season there is a presentation evening where prizes are distributed for the best players across the season. Prizes are supplied by this years sponsors Unsquashable.

The county rankings are used by the County coaches to form the County Squads. Richard Vitty runs the County Boys and Jason Follin runs the County girls. These squads meet up in the holidays for additional progress checks.

Upon completion of the Junior Squash coaching the children have the opportunity to become a squash coach and be employed by the club helping out on a Saturday morning with the younger children learning Mini Squash.

Any questions or further information please contact Head Coach Jason Follin on 0191 2894918 or mobile 07985 805814. Email address is jason.follin@blueyonder.co.uk