RECORD numbers of squash players have participated in junior squash at the Horsham Squash Club this term.
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Club development officer Launa Schilling said the club had been hovering around 24 participants, but 32 players took part in the most recent competition.
“We have eight team of fours with juniors from five to 16 playing,” she said.
“For the first time we’ll be running a finals series as well, which will start next week.”
Schilling said holiday programs with the Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly had helped introduce the sport to new players.
“There are 10 new participants this term,” she said.
“It’s also word of mouth, families who play and we also have schools coming in to do one or four-session programs.
“We’ve been doing that for a while now, but we seem to be getting more recently.”
Schilling said some of the new players had really taken off.
“We place the players in four grades and have coaches running them through different skills-based training,” she said.
“Their skills have certainly improved and they get quite chuffed when they beat someone ranked higher.”
As well as having volunteer coaches at the club, Schilling encourages the more older players to help out the newer ones.
“They learn on and off the court,” she said. “There is time-keeping, refereeing, scoring and peer-group support.”
The next season starts with a come-and-try day on February 8. People that want to find out more about playing squash can contact Launa Schilling on 0408 451 762.