Kids' squash starts at about age two. At least, that's when you can begin to give your child a lot of fun on court. And you don't really have to be an obsessed squash mom or squash dad to begin.
If you play squash, and you're at the courts, where might your child naturally be? On court, or right behind it, wanting to get in with you!
If you play squash, and you're at the courts, where might your child naturally be? On court, or right behind it, wanting to get in with you!
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: Two years or so (ages 2 to 4)
Here's How:
- Show your young child that squash is fun. Take her with you to the courts, make sure she's in a safe place, and let her watch you having fun!
- Take your child on court with you, and roll a squash ball around the room. Have him or her pick up the ball, and drop or throw it, if interested.
- Give your child their own racquet, ideally a very small one that still looks similar to a real squash racquet. (I recommend using a sawed-off, cracked, old racquet, re-gripped for small hands.) Then, let them bring the racquet on court, and see what happens.
- Introduce your child to the joys of 'squash hockey'! This begins with your child holding their racquet, and then you roll a squash ball along the floor. See if they get the idea of hitting the ball with the racquet as it rolls. If your child can walk, your child can do this.
- Graduate the squash hockey into a more structured game as your toddler grows. One way to do this is for you to stand at the front of the court, with your child towards the back of the court. Roll a squash ball towards your child with your racquet, and have her/him hit it back along the floor.
- The next graduated step, once you are trading 'floor shots' with your child is to let some of their shots go past your racquet and hit the tin. That, then, becomes your child's new goal; to get the ball past you! There is a great game in this, and it can last for months, or as long as your patience lasts.
- Another graduated step is for you to begin hitting the ball where your child may have to move to get it. You can very slowly hit some to the right side and then some to the left side. And some unpredictably. This introduces your child to movement, and the idea that sometimes you have to move to the ball by using your legs!
- As your child's skills grow, consider whether it's time for you to hit the ball at an angle into the side wall instead of simply hitting it straight. This can introduce your child to the idea of the ball bouncing off the side walls, and changing direction! This is a great step forward in the education of a squash player, and if you can begin it at age two, that's much better than beginning it at age 20.
- Finally, you might eventually hit the ball gently up off the floor with one of your 'shots', and see what happens. Let your child hit it in the air, on an easy bounce. This is probably only worthwhile when the exchanges at floor level are proceeding with a certain amount of pace. Once you try this, put on your protective eyewear, because the ball will quickly be coming back at you in the air!
- Find other children who are budding squash enthusiasts, and let the kids get together on court, with suitable eye protection. They will make up their own games, and continue to have fun.
Tips:
- Keep the sessions pretty short so your child's enthusiasm remains high.
- Remember that it's all good. Technique doesn't matter in squash hockey! You aren't out to raise a future squash champion, but you are raising your child.
- Let your child pick the version of the 'squash hockey' game they like the most. Let your child decide what's fun. They may invent better games!
What You Need:
- squash racquet
- squash balls
- old, cracked squash racquet and an overgrip
- time to play with your child on the squash court
