Members of Lichfield Squash Club are hoping to bolster their backhands, fire up their forehands and develop their drop shots with the start of regular coaching sessions by a young, up and coming professional squash player, Sarah-Jane Perry.
22 year old Sarah-Jane from Kenilworth, Warwickshire is currently ranked at number 42 in the world, this being a career high, achieved after her latest Women’s Squash Association (WSA) tournament win in Corsica last month. As a professional squash player, she competes all over the world as part of the WSA Tour, as well as being part of Birmingham University’s Premier Squash League team.
After attending the Club’s launch event back in March, where she provided some coaching clinic sessions, she has stayed in contact with the club and has now agreed to provide regular coaching sessions to members on a Sunday. She already provides regular coaching sessions to players of all abilities and ages and is pleased to be able to help members of the club to improve their individual games.
The first coaching sessions took place last Sunday 15th July and consisted of some individual sessions, some in pairs and some in groups of 4. James Roberts, Club Chairman, along with fellow club member Ian Harris were the first recipients of the coaching.
James commented: “When Sarah-Jane kindly attended our launch event in March, members who participated in the coaching clinics really enjoyed and benefitted from them, which led to quite a number asking whether the club could look to provide regular coaching sessions. We are so fortunate that Sarah-Jane wanted to increase her coaching hours and that she is prepared to travel from Kenilworth on a weekly basis to provide these sessions. It is fantastic getting the benefit of a world-ranked professional player and coach of Sarah-Jane’s calibre and I know I have already gained valuable insights into how my own game can be drastically improved.”
Once these coaching sessions become firmly established, the Club will be seeking to set up a series of coaching sessions for juniors in order to inspire the next generation of squash players to take up the game. Sarah-Jane commented “’I am really excited to start working with the members at Lichfield Squash Club. I hope to help the members develop their games, as well as introducing squash and racketball to children and adults in the area and helping the club grow.”
Since its launch, the Club has already attracted over 40 members and as well as the coaching, is currently planning an exciting series of events. These will include participating in World Squash Day on Saturday 18th October, when an attempt will be made to stage the world’s largest team squash match. This event is in support of squash’s bid to be included as an Olympic sport in the 2020 games.
The coaching sessions take place every Sunday at King Edward VI Leisure Centre in Lichfield and are available only to members of Lichfield Squash Club. Anyone interested in joining the Club can contact James Roberts, Club Chairman, on 07816 620504 or by email to james@lichfieldsquash.co.uk