Squash Wales Making More Young Squash Coaches

1 Apr 2008 Max Boyce once sang about the "Outside Half Factory" where strong fit intelligent young men were magically transformed into superb Welsh outside-halves in a secret factory in the Welsh valleys!

Squash Wales is creating it’s own factory but it’s not a secret and there is no magic involved just hard work and the excellent partnership which has evolved between Squash Wales and the Sports Council of Wales.

The Sports Council has funded the Squash Wales Coach Activator Programme which has enabled Squash Wales to employ part-time Coach Activators who have embarked on a journey around the principality.

The journey has taken in every Club and Leisure Centre in designated regions of Wales. The Activators are on a mission to recruit more coaching candidates from a pot of previous and present players and volunteers.

The four home countries have unified their coaching awards in order to standardise and improve the delivery of courses across the board. This is an innovative system for new and existing coaches who will adopt these new qualifications as part of their reorientation from Level 1 up to the newly created degree Level 3.

Squash Wales has created a new Leaders Award which is an introduction to Mini Squash – the new method of coaching 5 to 11 year olds – for those promising young coach candidates.

Last weekend Squash Wales young elite players experienced Mini Squash and loved it! They became Leaders in a day. Bob Perry, Squash Wales UKCC Level 3 Coach, Tutor/Assessor delivered the Course for the Under 15/Under 17 Junior Boys at the Welsh Institute of Sport in Cardiff. Chris Rees, Squash Wales UKCC Level 3 Tutor/Assessor delivered the course to the Under 15/Under 17 Young Ladies at The Vale Hotel, Golf & Spa Resort.

All candidates threw themselves into their new role as "coach" and all passed with distinction. Mike Workman, Director of Coaching & Development said "This is a wonderful advertisement for the young players who are a product of the Squash Wales Junior Development Structure. Congratulations to all. I’m very proud of our young players."

As part of their role the Squash Wales Coach Activators will mentor new coaches in their Club/Leisure Centre environments and will provide advice and assistance to new and existing coaches thus ensuring a complete support service.

New Under 15/ Under 17 Leaders

Katie Bradbury, Vale

Sioned Scott, Vale

Olivia Griffiths, Vale

Fiona Williams, Cowbridge

Becci Evans, Caerphilly

Sasha Cocks, St Mellons

Sam Bergin, Caerphilly

Sarah Clode, Fairwater

Nyall Driscoll, Cardiff

Scott Gibson, Caerphilly

George Evans, Monmouth

Salil Gokhale, Vale

Robert Luke, Vale

Jacob Minett, Aberdare

James Thomson, Aberdare

Morgan Phillips, Aberdare