Length and the T
Ready when: Cooperative rally and court manners (b4) done.
What you are learning
Length: drives that go deep into the back of the court, close to the side wall, so the other player must run. After every shot, a foot touches the T, with a split step as the other player hits.
Words on this card Front wall, Tin, T, Rally, Drive, Length, Serve, Split step, Goggles
- Front wall
- The four walls of the court; every shot must reach the front wall.
- Tin
- The strip at the bottom of the front wall; a ball that hits it is out.
- 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.
- Drive
- A straight shot hit hard and deep along the side wall.
- Length
- A shot that lands deep in the back of the court.
- Serve
- The shot that starts a rally, and the first shot back.
- Split step
- A small hop just as the other player hits, to be ready to move either way.
- Goggles
- Eye protection worn on court.
Set up
A ball; a line near the back of the court or a floor mark.
Weather: goggles if on court
Show it first for the one teaching
- Stand near the side wall and drive the ball straight along it, high on the front wall so it lands deep.
- Move to the T and touch it with a foot.
- Do a small hop (the split step) as the ball is hit, ready to move.
Your part while they practise
Count how many land past the line.
Step by step
- Solo drives along the side wall; count them.
- A game using one side of the court only.
- Touch the T with a foot after every shot.
How much: 30 drives 15 min a session 3 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Half-court game
Play rallies using only one side of the court; drives must land past the line.
Who plays: 2 players; you referee.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Play only in one half of the court, lengthways
- Serve with an easy drive
- Play out the point; first to 11
- After a game, the winner moves up a court or plays the next player
- Fair play
- A grown-up plays backhand only.
- Points
- 1 point for each rally won; 1 bonus point for a winning drive that lands past the line.
- Fouls
- The point goes to the other player
- The ball lands in the other half
- No touch of the T after a shot
- The ball hits the tin
- Winning
- The first to 11 points.
- 4 points for 1 star
- 8 points for 2 stars
- 11 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
A bigger target.
A tight target next to the side wall.
What you will see, and what to say
- the ball dies in the middle
Hit it deep, along the wall
High and long. - the feet stop
Split step, then go
Hop as they hit.
Self-check
7 of 10 drives land past the line.
Stop and get a coach when
Knee or back pain.
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 length, movement.
awiseathlete.com/sports/squash/squash-i1