Squash Australia is excited to announce Jenny Duncalf as the new National Pathways Coach.
Duncalf originally joined the Squash Australia (SqA) team in September 2019 as Performance Pathway Coach, on a part-time basis. The new role will now see her involved with SqA full-time.
As the National Pathways Coach Jenny will work closely with the State/Territory Performance Pathway Coaches to drive the daily training environment at a national and state/territory level.
“I have already been able to meet and talk to the State Pathway Coordinators, who I will be working closely with, and started working on some agility testing and data collection, to help the juniors continue to improve.
“It was great to be on the ground to meet the athletes, their individual coaches and their families as well,” she said.
As National Pathways Coach, Jenny will be a crucial factor in enhancing Squash Australia’s ability to meet its high performance goals and objectives.
“I am looking forward to helping Squash Australia invest in the future generation of athletes and I hope that I can pass on some of my passion and knowledge of the sport,” she said.
Jenny’s experience, passion for the game and extensive doubles knowledge, stemming from her own career success, will help Squash Australia strategically grow the pathways.
“Doubles is an excellent way for athletes to improve their singles as well. It teaches the young athletes how to find space and be more aware on the court, as well as developing quick hands. And it is just a lot of fun!
“The addition of doubles at junior level also allows young players to spend more time on court, and making sure they are enjoying the sport is a key part of keeping the juniors involved,” she said.
Squash Australia CEO, Robert Donaghue added that investment into the future generation of the sport was crucial to ensure that we maintain our position as one of the top Squash nations.
“Australia has a long and successful history however this doesn’t guarantee success into the future. This is why we have identified the need to increase our investment in our pathways to provide our athletes with the best coaching and programming for their development,” he said.
“We have welcomed the continued commitment by the AIS to enhance the pathway across sports and this has provided Squash with the opportunity to develop a network of pathway coaches across the country lead by Jenny, which will ensure our athletes have the best opportunity to reach their potential”.