Today is my 100th post! Some posts have had 500+ views while others under 100. So I learn what people find most interesting. For this post I thought I should do something special and different. So I'm going to summarize my experience so far. Yes, I'm going to use this post as a time to reassess what I've done and where I'm going, just like we do in goal setting. So by the time I get to my 200th or 500th post I am getting better at writing and continue to find interesting topics to explore about squash.
I started Serious Squash back when I was in New Brunswick. The club I worked had had a very outdated website and I thought a blog was a good method for updating the members about stuff happening in the club. It was around this time that I started talking to friend of mine about designing a logo and clothing for Serious Squash. I didn't really know what I was going to do with the brand, but I wanted to raise some money for the development of junior squash. I think mostly because I had no idea of where to go and do next this idea never came to fruition and I eventually left New Brunswick to begin my masters at the University of Victoria.
My blog went unused for a couple of years. I didn't want any attention and to be noticed, I didn't think blogging was for me. Eventually I realized this was also a selfish thing to do as I could help other people by writing about squash.
I restarted this journey with just the kids I coach in mind. I thought I had more to offer them and that some of them would want to know more about squash. When I was a kid I didn't like asking for help, but would have done anything to get better at squash. Now with the internet people like me can share tips and experiences with the next generation. After getting some positive feedback from outside of my target audience, I decided that this was a good thing. That I could help other people who were keen about improving their squash game. I've had people like Serious Squash on Facebook and people read my blog from all over the world. I guess I have learned a few things over the past 25 years.
In my day to day coaching I always come up with ideas that I feel would make for an interesting post. So this is why I haven't had a problem coming up with topics yet. For a game played within a small box there is an awful lot of stuff going on. From tactics, nutrition. off court training, technical tips, and goal setting I foresee a long future for Serious Squash. I know one of my next posts is going to be about my time at the University of Western Ontario. Yes, another college squash post. I also have a lot of good books lined up to read that will provide some new material shortly as well.
Now is the part where I ask for your feedback. If anyone has any feedback they wish to share about my blog I encourage the feedback, both positive and critical. What are some of your favourite posts? Which ideas made no sense? Was there something I said you disagree with? Anything that you feel would improve this blog will be taken into consideration. Maybe you have some ideas for topics that I haven't thought about yet. Any and all feedback is welcome.
Thanks in advance for reading my blog and for all of you that have provided feedback, both positive and negative. I've had assistance with the design, the link, the posts, and even some free assistance editing some articles! If I ever publish some of these articles I'll make sure you get the credit you deserve! And lastly, I would like to thank everyone that motivates me to do more and be a better coach. I coach a lot of great people that are driven to be the best they can be and really love the game. It makes my job extremely satisfying and enjoyable. Play better, play smarter!
I just recently "stumbled" upon your blog. I find your writing and insight in to the game very interesting and have already learnt a lot from your posts. Keep up the good work :-)
ReplyDeleteGood luck on your journey towards the 200th. Post.
Jostein, Norway
Awesome!! Thanks for the feedback Jostein! Glad you're enjoying my blog and learning a few things. What's the squash scene like in Norway?
DeleteThanks for the reply, and for asking about the Norwegian squash scene. Being a country of only aprox. Five million people the level is as expected I guess. The only PSA ranked player in Norway (Kim Are Killingberg) is ranked as nr. 257. There are a few players holding that level.
ReplyDeleteI live in the far north of Norway, in the city of Tromso. Tromso Squash club that my son and I are members of is very active, and have new facilities of high standards. It is very easy to book courttime and at a fixed monthly fee, so the oportunity to train oncourt is very good. That was an important consideration for me when I picked up squash. My son and I have only been playing since January 2014. He is 15 years old, and he is currently the only junior in the club. There is however a goal of establishing a broader junior base in the club. I have been asked to participate in building up the junior group, but I still have fokus on my own progression too, even though the years creep up on my 2x4 like flexible body ;-)
I am a climbing coach and have a BA in psychology and are customed to the fundamental priciples of all sports progression, and I find that for me it is quite easy to put in the, for most people, boring work of repeated training. I enjoy the systematic aproach I guess.
So my son and I play at the same level in the club league and have had a quite good progression in just 9 months, according to some of the seasoned players at the club. Our biggest oncourt asset is by far speed and agility, the difference is only that MY body is sore the next day, and my sons body isnt. ;-). On the topic of oncourt speed I find your post about anticipation very interessting. I believe anticipation is best learnt from an early age, and is a result of countless hours of watching player/ball interaction and responding to it. It is the same in sportsclimbing actually. BUT, it should be possible to develop the skill to some extent also for a grown man, (my son would use the word old instead of "grown") ;-) .
I remember Joey Barrington saying about Gregory Gaultier that he did not even use much anticipation because he had such confidence in his speed abilities that he know he will reach almost any ball anyway. How can we know, since anticipation is ingrained in the system and work uncounchesly, that is what I always thought anyway, but I might be wrong. What do you think?
English is not my first language, I am sorry for any bad constructed sentences and wrong spelling.
This became a lot more writing than what I intended, dont feel obliged to write the same amount of words to reply :-)
Best regards; Jostein
Chris, I've discovered your blog today and I've to said it's amazing. I've read a lot of your post and I've really enjoyed. I hope you continue in this way, I'm sure you will have more readers in the future.
ReplyDeleteSomethings to improve... perhaps more graphics or videos, English is not my mother tongue and it would help to understand your ideas. Also more drills and specific exercise would be great, for example, training planning or things like that.
For sure, some Serious Squash gear would be welcomed, t-shirt or whatever..
Anyway, congrats for the blog