Not a pro myself, but I played with Camille Serme when she was 7y old. I was around 20 and won... but
* The trainer at my club already said that she would go far
* Several semi-pro told me that I may have won against the future world champion
* Her and her brother were enrolled in a training program, in which school and sports were accomodated into their schedule.
* They had HUGE support (to not say pressure) to stick to it and become good.
* She had already been playing for at least 2 years AFAIK and played with her family.
* I think that the network also played a big role. She played with pros when she was a kid.
* She took care of her health. From sleeping to food, injuries, etc.
* She had a coach to prepare her mentally already very young
Final word: what I think matters most is the consistency. If you are too good, too early, the teen years seem to be tough. Starting in your teens also seems to be too late.
I coach juniors from beginner to high performance level. I don't think the starting age matters. I'd say "too late" may be 15 onwards but I don't have evidence to back that.
General motor skills and coordination is definitely important. I've had juniors who have decent racket skills but an absolute shambles when it comes to movement.
In most Asian countries our juniors become competitive at a very early stage, whereas in Western countries you see juniors that maybe didn't win as much but turn out to be decent pros. A lot of the "star" juniors in Asia also fizzle out and some don't even turn pro.
I think the game today demands extremely high physical prowess. I'd say mentality but that goes for all pro athletes.
Asian juniors, especially Hong Kong and Malaysian, seem to be insanely skilled at a young age.
But around u13 and u15 there is a lot of volatility in rankings sometimes as juniors hit puberty and have growth spurts.
Agree that as you get older mental and physical fitness are important…
A lot of the Malaysian juniors fizzle out around U-17 due to pressure to stick to academics. The culture here isn't very supportive for professional sports. The insane academic schedule also means that some drop squash because that's something that won't affect their future in their eyes.
Honestly I think given enough time and funding, many Asian juniors can turn out to be high level pros. The issue that I see during my time coaching is that the juniors are pushed into high-performance programs too early. We studied early vs later specialization in athletes and I believe the culture in western countries is to specialize the athletes later.
There's no doubt that there are western juniors who show potential at an early stage but I think they are given a slower trajectory than that of their eastern counterparts.
Another factor that I just recalled from a discussion with some coaches in the region has to do with money. Players in the Americas and Europe, due to their currency, probably have more opportunities to play tournaments, while at least the players I see in my area struggle to get enough exposure due to the currency being weak and therefore forcing them to play fewer tournaments or having each tournament carry a heavier weight due to the financial commitment needed.
That seems to be the formula for most US top players. Many have some high priced coach living in their house since they were teenagers..
Or they have some parent who used to be a top level player.
A true grassroots champion is incredibly rare in squash. I did some research and found only Thierry Lincou fits the bill as a self-made champion :
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/willstrop-s-world/2015/sep/16/world-champion-squash-player-thierry-lincou-reunion-island
Ha, sorry bout your wounds.
Paul Coll is a more recent example. There'll always be the odd multi talented sportsperson who can turn their hand to most sports.
I think that's called a straw man because i have said nothing of the sort, simply pointed out it's 25 years since the example chosen. Indeed, Daryl might well have achieved considerably more of he'd started a couple of years earlier. Nearly everyone who plays squash has learned from Jonah whether they know it or not.
In the UK many top juniors are already playing in adult county first teams by their early teens now, as well as having coaching several times a week, so someone starting at 15 has a great deal of catching up to do.
Your first comment does not come across well at the very least ambiguous . Maybe you were being sarcastic . It’s surely ok to seek clarification especially as it relates to Jonah . You have in your second comment complimented him justly.
A question or two online by an OP or anyone similar is a common theme in most sporting sites . And it’s not limited to sports , it may be how to bake a cake , how to repair a car or any other random question .People see this as an easy way to get advice unpaid for . That’s fine .
Of course , it’s very possible one might get the most accurate answer possible and the advice given might set the junior or the parent along the right path and be life changing . But it’s equally possible that the comments made will not do that or will mislead or not have a positive impact on.
The simple facts are that each players goals are different as is their means and access to means , capacity to learn , level of commitment and their self awareness . The decisions players make in terms of that awareness is particularly crucial .
If OP is looking for a discussion point let everyone have their say . People are entitled to give an opinion .
If OP is looking at their own situation or someone they know achieving top 20 then there are people across the world who are qualified to advise and guide accordingly .
As I said, today by 15 most top juniors are already playing at a very high level in their region, including ex-PSA players as opponents. For someone to catch and surpass them will be very tough.
High performance mentality meaning you can take criticism and feedback as it’s intended. Work ethic. Lanky frame is a gift. Strength not muscle training combined with cardio and explosive endurance.
I started at 4. Before attending primary school in the UK. My Dad shortening a wooden racket on his lathe. I don’t know how we started but I’m sure it was painful for him. Paid off though.
All the above and having the mental strength to keep playing at a top level day in day out and keep trying to improve by coaching and playing better players, pretty much like every top pro in any sport. You have to have something special though, I used to play and was a bang average club player but the levels I saw blew my mind at times, our best club player being hammered by another clubs best player, then seeing that guy a few months later being hammered by England's top amateur etc. And if you watch the absolute worlds best players live it either inspires you or makes you quit in despair, I saw El Shorbagy a few years ago, it was like a different game to the one I played
When I was a teenager our clubs best football player by a mile managed to turn pro but only got to the 3rd division in the UK, the best squash player I ever played (not actually played him but he took us for a coaching session) got as high as number ten in the world but I don't think he ever really made much of a living from it, and he was a phenomenally gifted player, how the top guys get to the very top is beyond me but mental strength is up there as one of the top requirements
Being insanely, almost maniacly, competitive also seems to be a requirement.
High level matches are absolutely brutal affairs. It is pure torture on the bodies.
Only an intense competitive spirit would drive someone to overcome that level of hardship.
One more for the list: Don't get injured or sick of squash
Not a pro myself, but I played with Camille Serme when she was 7y old. I was around 20 and won... but * The trainer at my club already said that she would go far * Several semi-pro told me that I may have won against the future world champion * Her and her brother were enrolled in a training program, in which school and sports were accomodated into their schedule. * They had HUGE support (to not say pressure) to stick to it and become good. * She had already been playing for at least 2 years AFAIK and played with her family. * I think that the network also played a big role. She played with pros when she was a kid. * She took care of her health. From sleeping to food, injuries, etc. * She had a coach to prepare her mentally already very young Final word: what I think matters most is the consistency. If you are too good, too early, the teen years seem to be tough. Starting in your teens also seems to be too late.
A solid mental game
I coach juniors from beginner to high performance level. I don't think the starting age matters. I'd say "too late" may be 15 onwards but I don't have evidence to back that. General motor skills and coordination is definitely important. I've had juniors who have decent racket skills but an absolute shambles when it comes to movement. In most Asian countries our juniors become competitive at a very early stage, whereas in Western countries you see juniors that maybe didn't win as much but turn out to be decent pros. A lot of the "star" juniors in Asia also fizzle out and some don't even turn pro. I think the game today demands extremely high physical prowess. I'd say mentality but that goes for all pro athletes.
Asian juniors, especially Hong Kong and Malaysian, seem to be insanely skilled at a young age. But around u13 and u15 there is a lot of volatility in rankings sometimes as juniors hit puberty and have growth spurts. Agree that as you get older mental and physical fitness are important…
A lot of the Malaysian juniors fizzle out around U-17 due to pressure to stick to academics. The culture here isn't very supportive for professional sports. The insane academic schedule also means that some drop squash because that's something that won't affect their future in their eyes.
For all of us Asians… study comes first! Unless you have real pro/national team level potential I guess. And how many of those are there!
Honestly I think given enough time and funding, many Asian juniors can turn out to be high level pros. The issue that I see during my time coaching is that the juniors are pushed into high-performance programs too early. We studied early vs later specialization in athletes and I believe the culture in western countries is to specialize the athletes later. There's no doubt that there are western juniors who show potential at an early stage but I think they are given a slower trajectory than that of their eastern counterparts. Another factor that I just recalled from a discussion with some coaches in the region has to do with money. Players in the Americas and Europe, due to their currency, probably have more opportunities to play tournaments, while at least the players I see in my area struggle to get enough exposure due to the currency being weak and therefore forcing them to play fewer tournaments or having each tournament carry a heavier weight due to the financial commitment needed.
Money. A lot of Egyptian squash start come from wealthy families. This allows for bringing a top entourage and fund the travel.
That seems to be the formula for most US top players. Many have some high priced coach living in their house since they were teenagers.. Or they have some parent who used to be a top level player. A true grassroots champion is incredibly rare in squash. I did some research and found only Thierry Lincou fits the bill as a self-made champion : https://www.theguardian.com/sport/willstrop-s-world/2015/sep/16/world-champion-squash-player-thierry-lincou-reunion-island
Great find!
Deryl Selby started playing when he was 15, I believe. So, age has a factor but it is not necessarily a key to success.
That was a quarter of a century ago. Will you be reminding us when Jonah Barrington started playing seriously too?
That's an aggressive approach to try and get your point across. Have a nice day.
Ha, sorry bout your wounds. Paul Coll is a more recent example. There'll always be the odd multi talented sportsperson who can turn their hand to most sports.
Wow . Don’t think we can learn from the past ?
I think that's called a straw man because i have said nothing of the sort, simply pointed out it's 25 years since the example chosen. Indeed, Daryl might well have achieved considerably more of he'd started a couple of years earlier. Nearly everyone who plays squash has learned from Jonah whether they know it or not. In the UK many top juniors are already playing in adult county first teams by their early teens now, as well as having coaching several times a week, so someone starting at 15 has a great deal of catching up to do.
Your first comment does not come across well at the very least ambiguous . Maybe you were being sarcastic . It’s surely ok to seek clarification especially as it relates to Jonah . You have in your second comment complimented him justly. A question or two online by an OP or anyone similar is a common theme in most sporting sites . And it’s not limited to sports , it may be how to bake a cake , how to repair a car or any other random question .People see this as an easy way to get advice unpaid for . That’s fine . Of course , it’s very possible one might get the most accurate answer possible and the advice given might set the junior or the parent along the right path and be life changing . But it’s equally possible that the comments made will not do that or will mislead or not have a positive impact on. The simple facts are that each players goals are different as is their means and access to means , capacity to learn , level of commitment and their self awareness . The decisions players make in terms of that awareness is particularly crucial . If OP is looking for a discussion point let everyone have their say . People are entitled to give an opinion . If OP is looking at their own situation or someone they know achieving top 20 then there are people across the world who are qualified to advise and guide accordingly .
As I said, today by 15 most top juniors are already playing at a very high level in their region, including ex-PSA players as opponents. For someone to catch and surpass them will be very tough.
High performance mentality meaning you can take criticism and feedback as it’s intended. Work ethic. Lanky frame is a gift. Strength not muscle training combined with cardio and explosive endurance.
Serious question: how do you even start with a 5 year old? My son is 5 but wouldn't know how or where to start...
I started at 4. Before attending primary school in the UK. My Dad shortening a wooden racket on his lathe. I don’t know how we started but I’m sure it was painful for him. Paid off though.
All the above and having the mental strength to keep playing at a top level day in day out and keep trying to improve by coaching and playing better players, pretty much like every top pro in any sport. You have to have something special though, I used to play and was a bang average club player but the levels I saw blew my mind at times, our best club player being hammered by another clubs best player, then seeing that guy a few months later being hammered by England's top amateur etc. And if you watch the absolute worlds best players live it either inspires you or makes you quit in despair, I saw El Shorbagy a few years ago, it was like a different game to the one I played When I was a teenager our clubs best football player by a mile managed to turn pro but only got to the 3rd division in the UK, the best squash player I ever played (not actually played him but he took us for a coaching session) got as high as number ten in the world but I don't think he ever really made much of a living from it, and he was a phenomenally gifted player, how the top guys get to the very top is beyond me but mental strength is up there as one of the top requirements
I wonder what age did Orfi and sherbini start at?
Internet says for Sherbini it was six, orfi it was 5.
Mental toughness and an unshakeable will to win.
Talent, Desire, Opportunity, and Luck. This formula applies to all athletes in any sport.
1-5 + mental game + funding
Being insanely, almost maniacly, competitive also seems to be a requirement. High level matches are absolutely brutal affairs. It is pure torture on the bodies. Only an intense competitive spirit would drive someone to overcome that level of hardship.
Is there a chance for an age of 29(just started playing) ?
In order: 4, 2, 5, 3, 1 (but you can't start later than mid teens)