New Year's Resolution: Play More Squash Tournaments
Playing squash tournaments is a great way to jump-start your fitness plans for 2018. There are two tournaments coming up this month, one on the mainland & one on the Island. The 9
th
Annual PRFC Tournament at the Penticton Racquets & Fitness Club is the weekend of January 12-14. At the end of the month on January 26-28, the Nanaimo Squash Club is hosting the Trend Diesel Open 2018. The first tournament of the new year for juniors is the Jesters Jericho Junior Open the weekend of January 19-21. Check out the
Squash BC Calendar
for all the info.
Squash BC Awards
Every year Squash BC presents awards to deserving individuals who go above and beyond the call of duty for squash in BC. Squash BC is asking the squash community to put in your nominations of people for the various awards that are presented every year. The list of awards, what they are for and past recipients can be found on the Squash BC web site within the "Hall of Fame" section or by clicking here. To download a nomination form, click here.
Coaching Certification
One of the strongest components of growing squash in British Columbia is the benefit of a large number of highly qualified squash coaches who teach the game. Squash BC offers 3 different levels of coaching courses throughout the year to our coaches to grow their certification: Foundations, Introduction to Competition and Competition Development.
Ben Uliana is hosting a Foundations Course at Cedar Hills Squash Club in Victoria on January 12-14. You can sign up for this course on the Squash BC website: www.squashbc.com/w/calendar
If you are a coach, it's important to note that there is a Professional Development component to keeping your certification in the NCCP. Coaches receive points for actively coaching, taking NCCP courses and also non-NCCP courses like first-aid and fitness training. Please review your records in the Locker to see where you are at with Professional Development points.
Developmental Junior Pathways at Jericho
After Richard Yendall's very successful Junior Pathways event at Jericho in December, there are two new Pathways events coming early in the new year for new young squash players. Vancouver Racquets Club is hosting a
Developmental Pathway February 3 at Vancouver Racquet Club. At the end of the month on February 25, Andrew Lynn is hosting a Developmental Pathways at the Bentall Centre Athletic Club. These two events are great opportunities for young squash players throughout the province to learn squash from some of the best coaches in the world.
Check out the
Squash BC Calendar
for all the info.
Online Officiating Course and Mini Course in Comox
One of the best ways to increase your knowledge and enjoyment of squash is understanding officiating. If you play tournaments or league, there is an expectation that you will referee matches. This can be intimidating if you do not have a good grasp of the rules.
There are also many extra rules that have been added over the years, lets call them "Molson Rules." These rules get made after matches and maybe a little to late into the evening and they are made by players who have never taken an officiating course but they think they know the rules. These rules are like rumours, they grow with each telling.
The only way to combat the Molson Rules is to take a course that uses the "REAL" rules. The online officiating course is an excellent way to spend a couple hours in the comfort of your own home learning the rules. Having a Molson while taking the course may not be your best choice but to each their own.
If you wish to become a certified official, the first level of certification in the National Officiating Program certifies you as a Club Referee. This initial certification is issued after completing the Online Certification Course available through Squash Canada.
Click here for the link to the online course.
Click here for all the information about Officiating in Canada.
The next mini officiating clinic on the Squash BC calendar is hosted by the Comox Valley Squash Club on January 21 at the Courtenay Recreation Lewis Centre.
Revival of Junior Squash in the Fraser Valley
The Fraser Valley squash community has been affected by a number of court closures the past couple of years. Despite the set-back of losing courts, new young players continue to be introduced to squash through the efforts of a number of people. Shawn Zwierzchowski is one such person. Shawn is an elite squash player from Chilliwack with a coaching background. He has created squash programs throughout the Fraser Valley. Shawn was kind enough to put together a report explaining his programs: Click here for the news in the Valley.
PAN AM Junior Championships and University World Championships
The 2018 Pan American Junior Squash Championship is June 18-24, 2018. Squash Canada has begun the process of identifying eligible individuals.
Another major upcoming event for young Canadian players is the University World Championships. The event is taking place in Birmingham from
Sept 6-12, 2018.
For more information on either of these tournaments, contact the Squash BC office.
