Squad Player Development

Squash New Zealand will base the player development programme around these levels of development:

1. Professional (Project Delhi/National Squad)
2. Senior Womens Squad
3. Senior Mens Squad
4. World Junior Girls Squad
5. World Junior Boys Squad
6. National Development Squad

The purpose of the squad structure is to:

• Identify the talent development pathway for players through to NZ representation.
• Provide year round plans and programmes for the players.
• Provide a base of technically, tactically, physically and mentally prepared players from which NZ teams can be selected.

Good strong district programs will enable Squash NZ to pass some of the responsibility for developing players back onto the district.

This has several benefits:

• Allows the entry criteria into the National Squads to be higher.
• Allows more focussed time to be put into National Squad players.
• Allows Squash NZ’s resources to be more focused.

Squash New Zealand must however ensure that both the National level and District level programmes are effective if the programme is to be sustainable.

Hence the following is paramount:

• Squash NZ must work closely with the Districts
• District Programmes must mirror the National Programme
• District personnel are constantly upskilled

Following is an explanation of the squads, the criteria for entry and the objectives of each level.

Professionals (Project Delhi/National Squad)

Players at this level will be competing on the WISPA and PSA circuits, and this group will set the standards for squash in New Zealand. All players will have access to support from Squash NZ, and will be on individualised player contracts.

The criteria for this level will be those players who are on the PSA & WISPA World Tours and deemed to have the ability to help Squash New Zealand achieve its High Performance objectives.
Individual contracts will take into account the high cost of competing on the world circuits, and Squash New Zealand will actively assist players where possible to attain as higher level of performance as possible.

Senior Mens and Womens Squads

The Senior Mens and Womens Squads area new initiative for 2010 and will be run as a separate programme on the same weekend as the World Junior GIrls’s and Boy's Squad Camps. All players will have access to Squash New Zealand's High Performance Coach, Anthony Rickeets as well as an individualised training and competition programs. Each individual's goals will be determined by the player and the Head Coach. Numbers will be dependent on the standard of players at any one time.

Senior Women's Squad 2010:

• Amanda Cranston (Waikato)
• Lana Harrison (Auckland)
• Tamsyn Leevey (Wellington)
• Emma Millar (Wellington)
• Eliza Sim (Canterbury)

Senior Men's Squad 2010:

• Alex Grayson (Auckland)
• Evan Williams (Wellington)

The goals of this squad are:

• To produce players capable of representing New Zealand with distinction in senior international competitions, particularly the professional circuits.
• To provide opportunities for all squad members to take their squash careers as far as possible by competing on the WISPA and PSA circuits.

Players will have access to:

• Academy of Sport Service providers (Physical Conditioner, Doctor, Physio)
• Gym facilities at the National Squash Centre
• National Squash Cente
• Squash New Zealand's High Performance Coach

Selection

Numbers will be dependent on the standard of players at any one time. The squad will be selected by the Squash New Zealand Senior selectors.

The criteria for entry to the squad are:

• Players deemed to have the ability and potential to progress onto the World circuits in the near future
• Players capable of assisting Squash New Zealand achieve its High Performance goals.

Players from the Senior Men's and Women's Squads who show sufficient ability and drive to succeed internationally may be considered for promotion to Project Delhi.

This squad started in January 2010. Prior to this date all players will be given a generic cardio program. Players will be expected to complete fitness tests at each camp throughout the year. Failure to meet certain fitness levels as agreed by the player, coach, Squash NZ and physical conditioner may result in the player being asked to leave the squad.

World Junior Girls and World Junior Boys Squads

These squads have selected on a combination of results and potential.

The criteria for entry to the squad are:

• Players deemed to have the ability and potential to represent New Zealand at World Junior Championships and have the desire to be a squash professional. The purpose will be to introduce them to, and prepare them for, the demands of international squash.

The major goals of the squad will be:

• To prepare players for World Junior Championships

• To introduce players to, and prepare them for, the demands of international squash

Junior Boys Squad 2010

Coaches
Anthony Ricketts
Mike Allred

At the first camp on 29 November 2009, players were given a booklet that explained the Squash New Zealand player development pathway, the selection policy and the events players must compete in to be eligible for selection for the World Junior Teams

Greg Owen, the Squash New Zealand Strength and Conditioning Coach, gave each member of the squad a personalised programme that is regularly updated. This will be an individualised program that will take into consideration cardiovascular fitness, strength, power and flexibility. Players will be required to submit fortnightly training logs to Squash New Zealand that reflect a comprehensive training program. Failure to do so may result in the player being removed from the squad. At the same time, Squash New Zealand can add players to this Squad at any time.

Camp Dates

Selectors will take into consideration:

• A player’s attitude, discipline, motivation at all camps.
• Results at selection tournaments
• Head to head matches at training camps
• Results from fitness tests
• A desire to play professional squash after World Junior Boys

To be eligible for selection in the World Junior Boys Team players must compete in the following:

• Squad weekends as arranged with the Head Coach
• NZ Junior Open: April 9 - 11
• Waikato Open: April 30 - May 2
• North Island Senior Championships: June 11 - 13
• South Island Age Groups: July 3 - 5
• North Island Age Groups: July 8 - 11
• NZ Senior National Champs: August 20 - 24
• NZ Junior Nationals: September 30 - October 6

Junior Girls Squad 2010

• Rebecca Barnett (Wellington)
• Joely Bennett (Canterbury)
• Megan Craig (Canterbury)
• Ella Dromgool (Canterbury)
• Ashleigh Dunstan (Bay of Plenty)
• Ellie Epke (Auckland)
• Danielle Fourie (Central)
• Abbie Palmer (Auckland)
• Cara Raal (Otago)
• Jorja Tarrant (Waikato)

Coaches