I’ve always been a great believer in coaching and have benefited from expert coaching throughout my squash and racketball playing career. I played squash from the age of 18 to 40 and then, after a 26 year break, started playing racketball 3 years ago at the age of 66. It was coaching that enabled me to improve my game sufficiently to play in the Leeds Metro League squash in the 70s at squash and helped me make good progress since my return to the courts with racketball now. So I would always recommend seeking out and taking advantage of good coaching. Beware the so-called coaches who are very good players but seem to think that all your paying for is the privilege of having a hit with them. I knew a few of these but hopefully these days there are fewer of them about. A good coach will help you master the basics, analyse your game and identify your weaknesses and in particular the ones to work on to give the most significant improvements in your game. They will also give you information about warming up and warming down and a range of exercises and drills you can do by yourself or with others to continue to improve your technique, skills and movement as well as general court ‘savvy’. Some coaches have web sites and on-line resources and I’m happy to list these here as I come across them. Inclusion here is not intended to be an endorsement.

It is natural that the first coach listed here should be Saeed Ahmad, the Head Coach for squash and racketball at the Heaton Squash and Tennis Club in Bradford, Yorkshire. This is my club and where the U3A racketball group I play with has its sessions. Saeed coaches this group as well as other club group sessions and I have benefited enormously from several individual sessions with him over the last couple of years. He coaches to all standards including absolute beginners and children. You can find his web site and contact information at http://sidsquash.co.uk/