SquashRocs

SquashRocs - About

SquashRocs is an independent organisation that is focused on developing junior squash in Rochester. We are open to all middle and high school students from all schools in Rochester. All junior group sessions are provided at the Harro East Athletic Club (400 Andrews Street, Rochester Map).

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Squash - About

Squash is one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S. It's a great way to improve your fitness, strength, agility, skills, and general well-being. Over 180 countries around the world play squash, and with more than 20 million players worldwide, you can never go without finding a opponent. Squash is also a very diverse sport, with the top 50 players in the world being from 19 different nations and all five continents having produced a world champion. No matter what your skill level, any squash player will welcome you in enjoying this amazing sport.

• a great sport for school and college

  If you’re looking for a sport to help you have the upper edge to get into college, then squash is the right sport for you. Squash stacks up very strong against other varsity college sports. There is 1 collegiate squash position for every high school player in the US. So with over 70 colleges offering squash and scholarships, squash can help you secure and complete your education dream.

  See: College Squash Association - Team Rankings

  The top 10 mens college teams are: Trinity, Harvard, Columbia, St. Lawrence, Dartmouth, University of Rochester, Pennsylvania, Princeton, George Washington, Yale.
  Other local colleges: Cornell, Hobart College.

  Top 10 womens college teams are: Harvard, Trinity, Princeton, Yale, Stanford, Pennsylvania, Columbia, Cornell, Drexel, Dartmouth.
  Other local colleges: Hamilton College, St. Lawrence University, William Smith College, University of Rochester.

• a sport for life

  being rated as the 'healthiest' sport by Forbes magazine (Ten Healthiest Sports) and can be played into your 90's.

• inexpensive and easy to start

  All you need to play squash is a racket, indoor shoes and gym attire. We can provide the racket, and you probably have the rest. When you decide to get a racket (do ask me), it should cost between $100 and $150.

  To play the game, all you have to be able to do is hit the ball against a wall. That is enough to get you going and enjoying the game, but be warned - squash is a challenge to master.

• an all year round game

  Playing indoors makes it a perfect year round sport for Rochester. The main squash season is through the winter, but we play and train all through the summer too.

• great for networking and socialising

  After college, you will find that you can play anywhere you go (in the world) and is perfect for meeting/networking, as it can be played in your lunch hour. You will also find that the people whom play squash will be well educated (just see the coach).

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The Squash Coach - About

John Walsh, BSc.

John is a US Squash Certified Coach and is from Manchester in the UK, home to the National Squash Centre and National Squash Championships. He has been playing squash since 1977, starting on a junior team with his local village club. John moved to Rochester at the end of 2009 with the aim of developing junior squash here.

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In Rochester :-

• started a squash program with a city school (PUC Achieve).
• moved to Harro East Athletic Club for the junior program in Jan 2016 (with more courts available), that now includes juniors from several local high schools.
• ran a pilot squash program with a city school (YWCP) over 2013/14.
• became a US Squash Certified Coach.
• started squash programs with Mercy and McQuaid in 2010.
• director of squash at Midtown Athletic Club from 2010 to 2016, building the junior squash program.
• helped form and coach the University of Rochester Womens squash team in 2010.

A local newspaper article — Squash: Walsh aims to grow sport locally

Back in the UK :-

• formed and coached the University of Reading Womens squash team.
• developed the FREE online league and ladder system: EZ-Leagues.
• ran the RUSU graded squash tournament from 2005 to 2008.
• played in the European University Squash team championships.
• played for and captained the University of Reading squash team over several years.
• squash coach on a holiday camp for children (aged 11 - 16).
• captained and played on several club squash teams around the UK for many years.

Personal Feedback

Ben Tran (, NY)
Sep 2016:

I would like to thank you very much for your generosity of time and patient while coaching my 11 year old son last week. The 5 days you spend with him working on his tactics and strategies in the squash court, has made him a more confident player. Above all, he had a great time and leaving Rochester with a greater appreciation for the game. Thanks again and we will see you during his winter break.

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Lee Knox (Tempe, AZ)
Nov 2010:

I have taken a couple of squash lessons from John Walsh, he is an excellent squash teacher. John uses visual aids along with a well thought out and unique coordinated strategy for teaching the basics through to the finer points. The visual aids are key to his style of teaching. During play the visualizations can be recalled even during intense rallies, this alone has dramatically improved my shot selection with a measurable improvement in my ratings. In a short period of time, not only did we cover minor points such as the reason you need a fresh (not shiny) ball but we practiced strokes, playing strategies, and ideal shots. I have taken numerous lessons in the past but the visual aids are clear in my mind during play - when I need it. I would recommend John to anyone starting the game and for anyone who wants to rapidly improve their game.

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The University of Rochester Womens Team (Rochester, NY)
Feb 2010:

The majority of the girls on the team hadn't played squash before coming to Rochester, but we've made great progress over the past few months with the help of our coach, John Walsh, and member of the Rochester squash community, Tracy Ali. John has helped us immensely with swing technique, movement, and general knowledge of the game. We're really looking forward to meeting and competing with new teams at Nationals.

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The University of Reading Womens Team (Reading, UK)
Nov 2009:

John is a great coach, with bags of patience and a very positive attitude. He founded our ladies team and improved everyone's games over the course of a couple of years. We are now one of the strongest teams in our league and we all enjoy playing competitively.

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Thanks to our Supporters

SquashRocs would not have been possible without the help of several people and organisations, so we would like to thank them :-

Joe Klein (E3 Rochester); Loren Flaum (Flaum Management and Harro East Athletic Club); Nick Schlierf and the Hagen family (Our Lady of Mercy High School); Adam Baber, Matthew Thomas, David Spiehler (McQuaid Jesuit High School);

And :-

Sarah deLahunta - as the founder of SquashRocs, John became 'a lone nut', and with the help of Sarah deLahunta (the first follower), we started to take squash into the city schools in 2013. Unfortunately, Sarah can no longer put her time into this effort, but I would like to thank her for the support and time she did put into helping me start this project.

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