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Squash · Basic · b4

Cooperative rally and court manners

Park or court 10 min 2 players One room, hall or court

Ready when: Grip, movement and drives (b3) done.

Start a session

What you are learning

Rallying with a partner, taking turns at the wall and moving back to the T after each shot, and the court manners that keep squash safe: give room, and call "let" if someone is in the way.

Words on this card T, Rally, Let, Goggles, Winner stays on
T
The point in the middle of the court where the floor lines cross, where players return after each shot.
Rally
Hitting the ball back and forth until someone misses.
Let
A let means the point is played again because a player was in the way; a stroke gives the point to the player who was blocked.
Goggles
Eye protection worn on court.
Winner stays on
A game where the winner of each rally or game keeps playing and a new player comes in.

Set up

A ball; a line.

Weather: goggles if on court

The base setup for squash

Show it first for the one teaching

  1. Stand side by side; hit the ball to the wall, then step back to the T and give your partner room.
  2. The partner hits next, then steps back.
  3. Show a let: stand in the way, stop, call "let" and replay the point.

Your part while they practise

Referee; teach "let".

Step by step

  1. Play together for as many balls in a row as possible.
  2. Then only in the front half.
  3. Then the whole area, returning to the T after each shot.

How much: 5 rallies 10 min a session 2 days a week

Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.

The game: Winner stays on

Play points; the winner of each point stays and the next player comes in.

Who plays: 2 or 3 players taking turns; you referee.

How to play, turn by turn
Turns
  1. One player starts with an easy hit to the wall
  2. Take turns hitting until one misses
  3. The winner stays on; the loser swaps with the next player
  4. 10 minutes
Fair play
A grown-up must let the ball bounce twice before hitting.
Points
1 point for each point won.
Fouls
The point goes to the other player
  • Hitting out of turn
  • Not moving off the T to let the other player in
  • Swinging when someone could be hit (stop and call "let" instead: the point is replayed)
Winning
The most points at the end.
Stars
  1. 3 points for 1 star
  2. 6 points for 2 stars
  3. 10 points for 3 stars

Easier or harder

Easier

Let the ball bounce twice.

Harder

One bounce only.

What you will see, and what to say

  • the hitter stays still Move to the T after every hitHit and go.
  • players crowd Give room, call letSafety first.

Self-check

8

A rally of 8 hits with the T recovery each time.

Stop and get a coach when

Collisions.

Fitness for this

Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.

This card trains rallying, recovery, manners.

awiseathlete.com/sports/squash/squash-b4