Category: Performance

Heightening your awareness of your breathing is key! We need to rely way more on nose breathing rather than mouth breathing. 

It’s an oft-heard lament of players, that they’re a ‘slow starter’ and are never able to get going right off the bat in their matches. There’s no real physiological reason why slow starting should be a thing however, if a proper pre-match routine is constructed and adhered to.

It may not seem much, but there is a vast difference between trying and effort. The two words sound similar and are often interchangeable in sporting contexts and conversations.

But I will argue they are not, and my hope by end of the blog would by for you to understand the difference between the two words, and ultimately become aware if you are merely trying, or, putting in full effort. And when understood, using this as the key to unlocking your full potential.

Hello, my name is Alexia Clonda.

I am a Breathing, Mindset and Spiritual Coach, Buteyko Breathing Technique Teacher, ThetaHealing Teacher and High-Performance Consultant Squash Coach.

Flow can be seen and described as an expression of what you currently know how to do. There is a match and symmetry between your skillset and the challenge that is in front of you. 

I often get asked for the best advice to give players right before a big match or event. The first thing to say is that there is very little physically you should do so close to the big match. You need to trust in what you have done in the previous months and even years. Thinking and praying for a short-term solution will only serve to damage you and likely only serve to add a heavy burden to your mind.

The world’s most advanced squash rating system, SquashLevels, has teamed up with Squash Australia (SQA) to bring the national squash-playing community together.

SquashLevels has teamed up with Squash Australia (SQA) to launch an exciting new partnership that aims to bring the squash-playing community together.

We’re delighted to welcome Tania Bailey to SquashSkills for the first time this week, with a great new playlist taking a look at the knock-up.

SquashSkills has teamed up with SquashLevels to devise a brand new testing system that links your test results to your playing level.

This week has seen an exciting announcement from two of our partners that looks to add a new dimension to the professional game.

On October 5th PSA and SquashLevels revealed the launch of the ‘Power Ratings’ which will provide an accurate, up-to-date indication of a pro player’s current form.

Training in the current climate of quarantine and lockdown is extremely difficult. Various bodyweight focused exercises can still be utilised, and restricted space can be adapted to some degree, but getting in any truly squash-specific work is a challenge for many. With a bit of creativity and forethought however, it’s still possible to tailor even very limited training space into an area suitable to provide a taste of the ghosting exercise you’ve no doubt been missing!

Check out this clip from the Origins series that sees Joey and Jonah discuss the merits of court sprints and how you can effectively balance solo practice and physical exercise.

This 30-minute interview has been very well received and offers some light relief during these particularly difficult times.

We hope you enjoy…

In this next instalment Common Amateur Faults, I will be looking at the concept of reactive movement in the game.

It’s a familiar feeling, and pretty much every squash player has been there at some point or another – turning up at the club for a scheduled match or training session with a brain tired and fatigued from a long day at work, legs feeling like they’re made out of lead, and a general desire to be anywhere else in the world rather than about to step on court for a game of squash!

Squash movement is unlike any other sporting movement and it’s important that you devote time to practising these unique footwork patterns prior to your matchplay.

As 2019 winds down and thoughts turn to Christmas and New Year celebrations for most, it’s a good opportunity to take a step back and turn a critical eye to your squash performance over the past year. In this two-part article we’re going to take a look at how you can go through and evaluate all the key areas of your game, and then consider how you can start building a plan to tackle your weaknesses head-on in 2020!

As 2019 winds down and thoughts turn to Christmas and New Year celebrations for most, it’s a good opportunity to take a step back and turn a critical eye to your squash performance over the past year. In this two-part article we’re going to take a look at how you can go through and evaluate all the key areas of your game, and then consider how you can start building a plan to tackle your weaknesses head-on in 2020!

New year, new you! This is the time of year when mood is good and motivation high, with many players setting themselves commitments and targets for the coming 12 months.