Pro squash instructor returns for Level 2 coaching course at Liguanea Club

Twelve coaches, including two from the Cayman Islands, began an intensive, three-day, World Squash Federation (WSF) Level 2 Coaching Course at Liguanea Club in New Kingston on Friday.

The course is sponsored by the Federation of Pan American Squash.

Experienced Head Squash Pro Colin White, who was in Jamaica last year for Level 1, returns as the facilitator for the Level 2 course.

White is a WSF and European Squash Federation (ESF) Level 1, 2 and 3 certified coach and tutor for many years. He has taught and coached the game of squash in many countries, including the United States, Austria, Hungary, and Russia.

“First, I am very happy to come back and present this course on behalf of Pan American Squash and World Squash in conjunction with Jamaica Squash. The first day went very well. It was a little bit of de-brief and a reminder of what went on in Level 1 to make sure that the core components that are taught at Level 1, they’ve been used during the past 15 months and now Level 2 builds on top of Level 1,” he explained.

“[It was] a little bit of fun to break the ice. We got them to do some lessons, but the students had to use their non-dominant hand so it was a little bit of a reminder of the trouble you might have with a beginner who is starting and having trouble to make good contact with the ball. We also got to see their skill of delivery, what they are doing, how they engage with the person, and how they are using some of the core principles that we teach at Level 1 which goes through Level 2 and Level 3, which should be game-based.

“You are trying to teach a little bit more [about] the intention, not just a shot. You try to teach the person the what and the why you want to hit a shot and the understanding that everybody is uniquely different, so you need different solutions for different people,” White added.

Jamaica Squash President Karen Anderson said that the intention is to get more coaches upskilled so that they can help to grow and develop the sport among the youth population.

The WSF Level 2 Coaching Course is to end on Sunday afternoon after an assessment of the participants’ court work as instructors, under the watchful eyes of White.