Junior Academy
Our training methodology emphasizes rigor, routine, and group training - key elements we felt were missing in squash development, yet are essential for your child to achieve high competitive outcomes! We believe that to be a competitive player, your child must train at least 4 days a week. However, we are also aware of the stresses of junior academics. As such, our curriculum allows flexibility by offering multiple options to train.
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SQUAD PROGRAM
Our SQUAD Program runs seasonally from September to May and serves as the cornerstone of SQUASHTIGERS. Each SQUAD is 75 mins during weekdays and 90 mins during weekends and addresses technical, tactical, physical, and psychological aspects of squash. Membership to the SQUAD program offers over 24 hours of instruction and rigorous training each week and is specifically tailored for players aiming to compete successfully in US Squash-ranked junior tournaments. Each week, SQUADS focus on a specific area of development, with the curriculum rotating through key focus areas over the season. This approach allows players to repeatedly engage with and refine each focus area throughout the year. Please enquire about our discounted SQUAD membership for juniors who are younger than 11 years old.
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PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
Our PERFORMANCE Program runs the full 12 months of a year. Each PERFORMANCE session is 45 mins on weekdays and 60 mins on weekends and is often sandwiched between SQUADs to allow PERFORMANCE sessions to be a bolt-on to SQUAD training. Membership to the PERFORMANCE program includes all the privileges of the SQUAD program (in-season only) but also provides access to specialized sessions designed for our most ambitious players currently competing at Gold or JCT levels aiming to accelerate their performance development. This program represents the "next level" in training, incorporating advanced methodologies, fitness benchmarking, structured match play, targeted drills, and personal mentoring. PERFORMANCE sessions can be viewed as an extension of the SQUAD program designed to rapidly enhance performance. For optimal results, they are ideally attended immediately before or after a SQUAD session.
Additional privileges of membership to the PERFORMANCE program include:
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A monthly one-on-one meeting with parents to discuss progress and plan for the future
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Mentoring, consultation and advice on maximizing the US Squash tournament schedule
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Performance benchmarking to evaluate fitness and identify target areas for improvement
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PRIVATE LESSONS
Private lessons are a highly effective way to accelerate development through individualized attention. Lessons are usually 30 mins, 45 mins, or on occasion 60 mins in duration. These lessons focus on the player’s unique profile - covering technical, tactical, physical, and psychological aspects—and connect their current stage of learning to the broader program curriculum. The goal of our lesson curriculum is to teach and guide players, ideally positioning them to practice and gain repetitions. Our methodology views lessons as teaching moments rather than training sessions.
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TOURNAMENT COACHING
Tournament coaching provides players with timely tactical and strategic guidance to maximize their performance and tournament outcomes. We recommend that juniors compete in at least one tournament every 4-6 weeks, aiming for 10-12 tournaments throughout the calendar year. This not only allows players to assess their progress over time but also provides a tangible target to optimize training for maximum gains. For SILVER and BRONZE tournaments, as well as non-local GOLDs, we provide tournament coaching via Zoom or FaceTime. For JCTs, local GOLDs, the US OPEN, and GOLD & SILVER/BRONZE Nationals, our coaches travel to the tournament venue to offer in-person coaching. We strongly encourage players to take full advantage of tournament coaching opportunities, particularly at the higher tier levels.
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REHEARSAL TOURNAMENTS
One of the key components of our program is what we affectionately call Rehearsal Tournaments. These are in-house events hosted right here at SQUASHTIGERS. The Rehearsal Tournament Circuit attracts top junior players while also offering a fantastic opportunity for beginners to get valuable practice before stepping into the US Squash ranking world. During these events, players compete in a minimum of three and a maximum of four matches on a Saturday, starting early in the day and wrapping up by early afternoon. The tournament doesn't affect ratings or rankings, allowing players to develop their skills in a relaxed, yet competitive, environment. It strikes the perfect balance - serious enough to challenge players, but also a supportive space to prepare for the broader competitive landscape.