Twelve squash coaches, including two from the Cayman Islands, have praised the recently concluded World Squash Federation (WSF) Level 2 Coaching Course and say they are eager to implement the new techniques and strategies they learned during the programme.
The three-day intensive course, sponsored by PanAm Squash and facilitated by Jamaica Squash, was conducted at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston under the guidance of experienced coach and tutor Colin White.
Among the participants was Cayman Islands coach Nico Tummings, who described the programme as challenging but highly rewarding.
“FIt was a very intense three days. It was a lot of information to take in, but I feel like everything that I learned will be very useful when I get back to Cayman,” Tummings said. “It gave me a whole new perspective on squash. This training allows me to look at it more through a coach’s lens, and I think it will be very impactful when I start working with students.”
Tummings noted that one of the most valuable aspects of the course was learning how to structure lessons around gameplay rather than repetitive drills.
“The coaching tools that I was taught will be critical in the way that I coach my students and construct my lessons,” he said. “When I grew up playing squash, everything was drills on drills. What I learned here was how to create sessions that feel more like gameplay, which is ultimately what we are preparing players for.”
Jamaican participant Julian Morrison also commended the course, describing it as informative and beneficial for coaches working with young players.
“From day one to day three, we received information that can be passed on to juniors and be very helpful,” Morrison said.
He explained that the course provided practical techniques for keeping young athletes motivated and engaged in the sport.
“He gave us pointers on how to keep them interested, keep the energy high and keep them wanting to come back,” Morrison said. “With the push to get squash into schools, this is the perfect time for us to receive this information and start implementing it.”
White, who delivered the training, is a WSF and European Squash Federation (ESF) Level 1, 2 and 3 certified coach and tutor. He has coached in several countries, including the United States, Austria, Hungary and Russia.
According to White, one of the key messages throughout the course was the importance of focusing on the individual before the athlete.
“It’s person before player. It’s behaviour before performance,” White said. “We’re not just teaching these kids to play squash. We want them to be better people who make good decisions and behave in the right way.”
He added that understanding each student’s personality and motivations is essential to effective coaching.
“Every student comes for different reasons. If you get to know the person in front of you and make that connection, you can better understand what motivates them and adapt your coaching approach accordingly,” he said.
President of Jamaica Squash, Karen Anderson, said the programme is a significant step in addressing one of the sport’s biggest challenges — the shortage of qualified coaches.
“One of the challenges we’ve had over the years in growing the sport is not having enough coaches to spread the knowledge,” Anderson said. “This course helps us tremendously in growing and sharing that knowledge and ultimately growing the sport.”
She expressed confidence that the coaches will use what they learned to strengthen squash development across the region.
“We’re very excited about it and looking forward to seeing how these coaches implement everything they’ve learned over the last three intense days,” Anderson added.
