SquashZAG

By James Willstrop
From Yorkshire Evening Post

As someone who no longer looks, feels or is 18, I am increasingly fascinated by the development of the future stars of squash. I look back at my career and I am amazed at the constant process of learning which can never end.

I only have to walk into my club at Pontefract and there are kids with rackets, some of whom, I dare say, are just at the beginning of a fulfilling journey as a squash player.

It is a journey which is tough and as with anything hard work is required – it isn't always as simple as "playing the sport you love".

People have wistful ideas, but highs and lows, days of long hard training, nightmare losses and injuries are all part of the process.

Not only is it about children with talent and commitment, but this talent only comes to fruition through supportive parents, friends and coaches who are willing to give time and money for them to develop at their chosen activity, all the while remaining measured and unpushy with their feedback.

Talent is developed in countries very differently and some know how to do it far better than others. At junior level, Egypt are well ahead of any other nation.

Part of this can be put down to natural physical development and most of it to training methods which work.

In the US, squash is elitist and available primarily to rich children who aim to use it to put a foot in the door of a top university – this is why there is only one US player in the world's top 50.

American children pay top dollar for a squash lesson with the most exclusive coaches in clubs which have two-year waiting lists.

Kids in Egypt don't know what top dollar means. Like the kids in Pontefract, they hit balls and they play and they improve.

In New York I went with my dad to a club to help a foundation, "streetsquash", which aims to enable underprivileged kids to play squash – something that must be developed there.

On my return from the states I played matches in Dublin and Thornton and it was encouraging to see so many children so taken with the game.

It says to me that there are some important people doing understated but very important work in enabling youngsters to enjoy playing – and early too.

March 2nd Column

Squash is going through an important period in terms of television and web broadcasting – and it needed to.
In recent times the game has been live on the internet and has regularly been on sky sports, albeit usually two or three weeks after the tournament. Despite this, there is a need to aim higher.

As from January, the company Perform has controlled all web streaming and it has been a fantastic vehicle for the sport to gain more exposure.

When I first began playing on the World Tour, watching the matches live would have been unthinkable, but now anyone anywhere can watch at the click of a mouse.

I remember having to ring home with results at the beginning; thanks to technological advancements I never have to do this now – it is remarkable how far we have come.

The streaming also makes betting a possibility – seven bookmakers were signed up for the Swedish Open final recently and it is encouraging that squash is now able to tap into such an industry (every other sport does).

More betting also means greater exposure.

Since January live television coverage of the semi-finals and finals of super series events have gone out in South America and Asia. We hope to see more worldwide TV companies biting, but it is a promising start given that squash has hardly been televised live before.

Managing live feeds presents problems, however. Things, and people, have to be in certain places at certain times and timing is now essential.

Before, if a player was a minute late, say, coming from the bathroom just before pre- match introductions then there wouldn't be a problem. Crowds can wait, but live TV cannot.

Assembling the players and the audience in the right place at the right time and ensuring the players are wearing corresponding kit can be tricky.

I'll leave you with a more humorous problem arising from live TV and a gem of a comment from world No 1 Ramy Ashour, one of the game's characters and an entertaining and talented squash player after last week's PSA World Tour Squash semi-final win over Amr Shabana.

He told his audience: "I want to thank Sara the physio, she has helped me this week with my injuries and she has been giving me a good feeling."

Ashour followed this with a cheeky smile, understanding what he had accidentally said, yet mortified that he would be unable to take it back.

Needless to say, it brought the house down in Richmond and hopefully it tickled a few (hundred) thousand viewers around the world too.

To view PSA World Tour Squash live on the web visit PSA Squash TV.

The next event will be in Canary Wharf, London, on March 22-26.

More columns by James:
  Squash: James Willstrop column FEB 23
  Squash: James Willstrop column FEB 9
  Squash: James Willstrop column FEB 2
  Squash: James Willstrop column January 26