With the re-opening of courts (hopefully) on the horizon, maintaining our squash based movement skills is crucial when preparing to get back to the sport.

As today is the final episode of Week of Workouts, for day 7 we decided to take on a tough physical fitness challenge... 'The Spartan 500'. It's certainly one heck of a workout!

For day 6 of Week of Workouts, I decided to focus on an area that is often neglected by many (myself included), dynamic flexibility! Today's workout is ideal for getting your body prepared for anything, whether it's a big workout or even just the day ahead.

Day 5's episode of Week of Workouts slows things down a little... today's workout focuses on stability and balance. The exercises involved are low-intensity and require a little more concentration and focus!

We're now up to day 4 in our Week of Workouts, similar to day 2, today's episode features a calorie burning high intensity cardio circuit that requires no equipment and minimal space!

Here it is, 'Week of Workouts' day 3! Today's video focuses on an area that's extremely important for squash players, athletes, and indeed everybody in everyday life, core strength!

If you're looking for a fast, high-intensity workout that requires minimal space and burns a few calories, Day 2's episode of Week of Workouts is ideal... check it out:

Most areas of the world are in some form of lockdown, with sports clubs and gyms mostly closed, improving or even maintaining your fitness, strength, and flexibility from home can prove incredibly difficult.

What a career.

Samantha Cornett accomplished so much in squash. She won 13 PSA titles and is a 4-time Canadian National Champion. She has also represented Canada admirably winning multiple gold, silver and bronze medals at the Pan Am games.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has had an effect on everybody. With the PSA Tour suspended until the end of April and most local clubs now closed, it's definitely a very strange and uncertain time for squash worldwide.

BUT... (and that's a big but), it's amazing to see so many amateurs, professionals, and fans shining a positive light on such a negative situation. The sense of community in the world of squash has been overwhelming on social media, with players from all over coming together to share training regimes, challenges, general help, and all-round awesome content.

PSA Content

With no live squash to watch, the PSA have done a great job of giving squash fans their regular fix of professional content. The PSA Youtube Channel is full of awesome segments like 'Signature Shots', 'PSA Rewinds', and, our personal favourite, the 'Greatest Battles' videos, the most recent of which highlights some of the closest matches between Mohamed Elshorbagy and Ramy Ashour.

PSA also post regular content on their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts which feature some great trickshot compilations, isolation games, and even videos to wash your hands to...

 

Professionals Share Workouts & Training Tips

It's clear that many people are using this time to work on their strength, fitness, and flexibility to make sure they're fully prepared for getting back on court.

Many squash professionals such as Miguel Rodríguez, Grégory Gaultier, and Nouran Gohar have been sharing squash-orientated fitness exercises and challenges on social media, giving amateur players an insight into the world of the pros, and allowing them to tailoring their own stay-at-home training. English ex world no. 1 Nick Matthew has also been streaming his own regular live training workouts so you can train in real time with an all time great!

Be sure to take a look on their social media accounts if you're trying to prepare your body for when squash clubs re-open.

However, it must be mentioned, one of our personal favourites is Amanda Sobhy's 'In Home Workout' video, if you haven't seen it, be sure to take a look on her Instagram.

You won't be disappointed!

The #toiletpaperchallenge Revolution

Possibly the most entertaining thing to come out of this situation is the numerous squash challenges and trickshots being posted by professionals and amateurs, which are getting more extreme by the day!

(We believe) it all started with Daryl Selby posting a video of himself hitting a squash ball through the middle of a roll of toilet paper... and Bog Roll Bullseye was invented. Over the past week or so players from all over have been posting their own creative versions of the #StayAtHomeChallenge, hitting squash balls at various targets. Many of the best clips have been shared by Daryl and other pros and gone viral within the squash world.

This creativity is doing an awesome job of bringing squash players together through a difficult time, while promoting the sport and giving it an entertaining edge, and we hope it continues even when we're all back playing again!

To finish with, here's one of the best clips from 'The Colombian Cannonball' Miguel Rodríguez: