I must admit, being injured and off court for so long has made it a lot more difficult for me to come up with topics for blog posts.
A lot of my inspiration came from playing matches, competing in tournaments, and training with friends.
However, in the hopes of finding silver linings, I have learned a lot about myself and the sport while being injured.
Initially, I was worried about losing my connection to squash by not being able to play.
Of course, the obvious thing is to go down to your local club to watch people play, however, even this didn't sound too appealing at first as I thought that I'd just be jealous that I couldn't play while watching others.
However, this season, I've been regularly attending my team's matches and also watching a lot of SquashTV too. This got me thinking about how many ways there actually are to stay involved in squash when you're off court for a long period of time.
It turns out, after some thought and research, there are lots!
In this article, I'll be going through 7 different ways you can stay involved in squash when you can't play...
1. Cheer on Your Teammates
Obviously, I have to start with this one since team squash is my favourite part of the sport!
Being sidelined with an injury doesn’t mean you can’t still contribute to your team's matches.
Heading to home and away games to cheer on your teammates is one of the best ways to stay connected to the squash community while showing your continued support for the squad.
Even though you’re not on court, your presence at matches or training sessions demonstrates your commitment and reminds your team that you’re still very much part of the group.
A good crowd can also go a really long way in shaping the results of a team match, so the more people there the better in my opinion!
And, for away games, it's not uncommon for the away team to have absolutely no support (other than the rest of the team), whilst the home team may have a huge crowd rooting for them.
If you can get to some of your team's away games and give some moral and verbal support, it can help even the odds and make your player feel a little more comfortable on court.
Positive energy from the sidelines is also contagious, from just a simple few claps to loud shouts in between critical points. A well-timed boost from you might be exactly what your teammate needs to dig deep and pull through.
Coaching is something you can offer which can offer even more of a helping hand to the rest of your team.
Watching from the balcony or seating area gives you a unique perspective on the game. You may notice patterns or opportunities that players on court might not, so, if they’re open to it, constructive feedback delivered in an encouraging way can be a massive help!
If you don't have any tactical tips or advice to give, a quick pep talk, bringing water, or simply helping your teammate reset all go a long way in maintaining morale.
If the spirits are high for one team member, this will spread to the rest and, while making the evening much more enjoyable for everyone, it can sway the odds of winning a little more in your favour!
I must say, I've thoroughly enjoyed heading to my local club (as well as away matches) to support my team. It's really made me feel like I'm involved and connected to the game.
I can also guarantee that, when you’re ready to return to the court, those same teammates will be cheering for you again too!
2. Get Involved in Organizing Tournaments
Getting involved in organizing tournaments is a fantastic way to stay connected to squash while giving back to the community too.
As you probably know, squash events don’t happen on their own, they require a lot of behind-the-scenes work to run smoothly, and your help could make all the difference.
This doesn't mean that you need to organize your own tournament entirely from scratch, which can be pretty daunting, you can just as easily get a group of people and organize one together, or, you can get involved with helping out at one that's already planned.
There are so many ways that you can help with tournaments, from sitting at the desk giving players information about when they're on next, which court, and who they're playing, to draw organizing, to taking scores and jotting them down.
Even things like recruiting players or assisting with sponsorship or marketing materials are time consuming and require extra man power. Designing promotional materials, writing event recaps, or posting updates on social media are all necessary for making tournaments a success.
If your club is hosting a tournament, I'm pretty sure that they would be absolutely delighted with more people offering take on these roles.
Plus, these are roles that will keep you engaged in the squash action, even if you’re not holding a racquet!
Helping with tournament organization is absolutely superb experience for squash players too.
It also allows them to get a deeper understanding of the game by watching new and perhaps better players play. You can also build relationships with players, build connections with organizers, and make new friends, all while fostering your own sense of accomplishment while you’re off court.
Plus, you’ll feel a great sense of satisfaction knowing you played a part in creating something memorable for others.
Don't get me wrong, these events are often stressful and things can get a little messy when there are issues with injury, match times, players not turning up etc, however, any extra hands on deck can really help to keep a tournament running!
3. Get Into Coaching
Being injured doesn’t mean you have to step off the court entirely, getting in to coaching is a brilliant way to stay involved and share your love for squash.
Depending on the nature and extent of your injury, you might still be able to get on court with players and feed balls for them, or even do some very light drills.
If movement or hitting is out of the question, don’t worry, coaching verbally from the side of the court can be just as impactful.
Coaching opens up so many possibilities.
You could work with juniors, inspiring the next generation of squash players, or if you’re more advanced, you might coach players of all levels, from complete beginners to seasoned players.
Whether it’s one-on-one sessions or group coaching, there’s always someone who could benefit from your input and experience.
You never know, this is the type of thing that could lead to something much bigger if you enjoy it enough! You may go on to get official coaching qualifications, building up some group sessions, and helping other players really improve their game.
Coaching really does open up so many opportunities and you don't need to be a good squash player to do it.
You could work with juniors and beginners, inspiring the next generation of squash players, or if you’re more advanced, you might coach players of all levels, from complete beginners to seasoned players.
Whether it’s one-on-one sessions or group coaching, there’s always someone who could benefit from your input and experience.
Remember, coaching at the lower levels is much more about understanding the game, offering encouragement, and being a supportive presence.
Most general training sessions involve learning and practicing the basics such as grip, swing, technique, movement, and length game. These are things you can research and learn about in your own time, and then share your knowledge about.
Often with juniors and beginners, it’s your enthusiasm, guidance, and ability to be engaging that make the biggest difference.
Even if you don’t feel confident breaking down technical aspects of the game, just being on court to feed balls or organize drills goes a long way in helping others improve.
If you’re more limited physically due to your injury, you can also focus on verbal coaching.
Helping players improve their positioning, strategy, or mindset from the sidelines can be incredibly rewarding, and you’ll still feel immersed in the game.
It’s also an excellent opportunity to develop your own understanding of squash.
Coaching forces you to think about the game in new ways and can even strengthen your own skills for when you’re back on court.
I must say, as a coach myself, there’s nothing quite like the joy of watching a player you’ve coached hit a milestone or achieve success.
It’s a win-win for both you and the people you’re helping!
4. Keep the Social Side Alive
This section can be a pretty short one, as it's quite straightforward!
To many players (myself included), feeling involved in the world of squash is more about staying connected to my squash friends, team mates, and people I'm used to playing with.
Staying connected with your squash friends and teammates off the court is a great way to keep the social side of the game alive.
It can be tough if they're playing or training and you're too injured to join in, however, this isn't stopping you from organizing meetups outside of the court that don't involve playing.
Whether it's going for a drink, grabbing some food together after their matches, planning a fun activity like bowling or hiking, or, even something bigger like city break or holiday together, these are great ways to remind yourself that you're still part of the team and the sport.
Plus, these moments off the court can actually strengthen your relationships within the squash community and, more importantly, within your team, which can improve the team dynamic as a whole when you come to returning to the court.
It’s a chance to stay in the loop with what’s happening in your club or team, even if you’re not actively competing. And let’s be honest, sometimes the post-match chats and laughs over dinner are just as memorable as the games themselves.
I have two main teams that I play for, Northern RFC and Bannatynes. I consider all of the people who play on these teams to be really good friends.
Every Christmas, the Northern team always has a get together for some food or drinks, and, we also try to do a yearly holiday with the Bannatynes team in the off-season. It's having friends like this within the squash world that really make me appreciate the sport.
Image credit: Steve Cubbins
5. Become a Match Referee
Now, I thoroughly understand that this won't be a lot of people's cup of tea, but, getting into refereeing is a great way to involve yourself pretty directly in squash.
Refereeing a squash match is an area of the game that many people dread. I know this because I used to be one of these people when I was younger.
As a junior, it was terrifying to have to referee adult players who weren't necessarily always in control of their emotions. Now that I'm older, more experienced, and (dare I say it) a little more confident, I quite enjoy refereeing, but, each to their own.
If you're off-court injured (or for any other reason) and think you might be interested in refereeing, don’t worry, it doesn’t mean you need to dive straight into earning refereeing qualifications (although that’s certainly an option).
Many local tournaments and team matches are always in need of fair, level-headed individuals to help officiate games. Of course, you still need a somewhat decent grasp of the rules (e.g. how to score, what lets, no lets, and strokes are etc), but, you mainly just need to be fair!
I find that my number one tip is to be fair but firm in every decision you make.
The main thing to remember is to never go back on a decision you've made (unless both players on court agree to overturn the decision together). Even if, on second thought, you think you may have made a mistake, it's more important to stick with your original decision (even if it angers a player).
In the grand scheme of the match, if players spot this weakness, they may start to fish for more decisions and try to play the ref, which is never good. Anyway, I'm getting a bit off topic!
For those of you looking to brush up on the finer details, there’s a wealth of resources available through World Squash Officiating.
Their website is packed with helpful stuff, and they even share clips on their YouTube channel and social media where you can test your knowledge in real-world scenarios.
This is a great way to improve your understanding of the rules and sharpen your decision-making skills.
If you find refereeing enjoyable and want to take it to the next level, this is when you may want to pursue formal refereeing qualifications. With time and experience, you could even find yourself officiating at higher-profile tournaments and events, becoming an integral part of the squash community in a whole new way.
Refereeing is a superb way to stay engaged in the sport, gain a deeper appreciation for it, and help ensure fair play for everyone else. Plus, it’s a rewarding way to contribute while you’re recovering from injury!
6. Engage Online
Staying connected to the squash community doesn’t have to mean being physically on court, at the squash club, or even outside of your house!
The digital world offers plenty of opportunities to engage with the sport and fellow enthusiasts.
For starters, consider joining social media groups like Squash Stories on Facebook, where players and fans from all over the world talk about everything squash-related, from tips, to the pro circuit, to lively (and sometimes slightly heated) debates!
Reddit also has a pretty active squash community with threads discussing all sorts of different topics such as product reviews (like racquets and shoes), pro players, squash history, and loads more.
Engaging online can help you stay in the loop with the general trends of squash, helping you keep up-to-date with what's going on and even allowing you to build connections with players and fans you wouldn’t otherwise meet.
It’s not just about chatting either.
Watching squash content on platforms like YouTube or following players and clubs on social media can give you a fresh perspective on the game, even while you’re off court, which leads me nicely into my final point...
7. Learn More About the Game
Just because you're off court, it doesn't mean that you can't improve your tactical squash knowledge and expertise.
The sport isn’t just about hitting the ball, there’s a whole world of tactics, techniques, and strategies to uncover, and, now you've got a bit of time off court, it might be the perfect time to make efforts to learn more about the game.
Watching live professional squash matches on platforms like SquashTV is a fantastic place to start. Not only can you admire the world’s best players in action, but you can also observe their movements, decision-making, and positioning to gain a deeper understanding of how the game is played at the highest level.
You can even take it a step further by focusing on players whose styles align with what you aspire to achieve in your own game.
Whether it’s Mohamed ElShorbagy’s aggressive attacking style, Nele Coll’s silky smooth movement, or Nour El Sherbini's warrior mentality, watching specific players with an analytical mindset can help you identify techniques to emulate.
Pay attention to how they construct rallies, vary their shots, and adapt their tactics based on their opponent.
As I mentioned above, social media is another treasure trove of squash knowledge.
Many professional players (like Joel Makin and Nicole Bunyan), coaches, and organizations (like SquashSkills) share valuable insights, training clips, and advice on platforms like Instagram and Twitter.
Following them can give you a steady stream of tips and inspiration, and you might even stumble across drills or exercises you can try once you’re back on court.
YouTube is another one, and it's much better for longer form videos that delve into deeper technical tips and more. Even just typing something like 'how-to squash' into the search bar, you'll find an abundance of helpful content.
Even if you’re not physically practicing right now, visualizing techniques and understanding the mechanics behind shots can go a long way toward sharpening your approach when you're back on court.
You can also take the time to learn more about rules, scoring systems, and refereeing decisions. There are subtle aspects of the game that you may not fully appreciate until you examine them more closely, and this knowledge can give you an edge when you're back on court.
Use this opportunity to absorb as much information as possible, and don’t be afraid to jot down notes or create a 'squash journal' of some sort.
Learning more about the game while you’re injured isn’t just a way to stay engaged and involved in the game, it can also be an investment in your future as a stronger, more informed player!
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