Despite ongoing funding pressures, Squash Australia is determined to provide its most talented junior players with every possible opportunity to succeed, including a high-level training camp rolled out last week at the AIS in Canberra.
The High Performance program at Squash Australia has had its funding dramatically cut by the Australian Sports Commission in recent times, but HP manager, Stewart Carson, said it was important Australia’s best young players continue to be nurtured.
“It is a very difficult climate, financially, for squash at the moment, but we cannot lose sight of the bigger picture,” Carson said.
“We owe it to our junior players to give them the chance to achieve their dreams. What would it mean for the future of our sport if we decided to turn our back on our future talent?”
The AIS Camp that ran from Wednesday to Saturday last week brought together 20 juniors from the U13 age group right through to U19. The camp was overseen by national junior coaches Cameron White, Zac Alexander, Vicki Cardwell and Paul Price.
During the four day camp players trained on court every day, undertook demanding physical sessions, had access to the best strength and conditioning facilities and advice, and had their fitness tested.
“In July this year we will be sending our most talented young players to compete in the World Junior Championships, so we want to ensure they will be as best prepared as possible,” Carson said. “Camps like this, accessing the world-leading facilities at the AIS, are incredibly important."
In a word from the coaches "All athletes trained hard and gelled together fantastically! A great bunch of young athletes who found out a lot about themselves and their limits last week. Hopefully they all take home a great deal from what they leaned and put into practice a more structured, professional plan to their playing and training." National Performance Coach; Zac Alexander.