September 21, 2009
Squash Team Ladder at the start of September 21 tryouts:
Reminder that:
1 You need to be on time (4:30-7:00) – or 100 touches (or more if very late): http://smithcollegesquash.wordpress.com/squash-team/2009-2010-season/
2. You will play two challenges followed by a 1.5 mile run (maximum effort time trial). BTW no audio devices allowed (none during an official match – none during training) – and bring your own sport watch with timer (make sure it has a stopwatch function and second hand).
3. If you are not cleared – show up anyway at 4:30 sharp to receive instructions – we will be running a Saturday practice for those who have missed any (1 min. +) part of any practice – so even if you are not cleared you may want to do our planned practice including the run, as a hard run the day before a 5k maximal effort is not advised:) I think one person will be missing the fun run due to a committment arranged prior to my first e-mail – they will be running a special timed run of the course after practice on Friday (I will bike alongside them to time the run).
4. First matches for tomorrow:
Jessica v Georgie
Su v. Kelsey
Alice v. Joanne
If others cleared by 4:25 TBA
Second Round Matches:
Guyman v. lose Alice/Joanne
Loser Su/Kelsey v. Winner Georgie/Jessica
Loser Georgie/Jessica v Winner Kelsey/Su
Others cleared TBA
Just prior to matches Erin and I will be going over rules (new 11-point scoring, how to adjudicate unrefereed match, sportspersonship) – reminder that you have exactly 90 seconds between games (bring your stop watches as infractions will be punished on the spot with 100 touches).
5. Finally, a couple of administrative things:
1. 100 touches (at the end of practice) for the people who did not sign on to Twitter by Friday noon (as per instructions from last week’s e-mail): Guyman, Kelsey, Su, Jessica, Xizhu.
2. 100 touches for those not totally cleared (at first practice they are cleared to participate – as here was more than ample time since my initial “ASAP” notice a few weeks ago:) at their first practice back: Meg, Luisa, Xizhu (if you can get cleared by 4:30 a.m. no 100 touches required).
3. 100 touches for those who have not opened a separate Groupwise e-mail folder for squash team e-mails – as per instructions in first e-mail. I will have you open your account to show me the actual folder during pracitice.
So that makes 500 extra touches for anyone who is maximally lazy/inattentive/unmotivated enough to get their act in gear!
I am totally psyched for tomorrow!
Tim:)
ps. First-year team members do not be scared – returners (most of them their 3rd year at Smith/on team) have all had ample time to learn the culture of the team which is simply business as usual on thousands of college teams across the country:)
September 6, 2009
Welcome back to returning members of the Smith College Varsity Squash Team – and welcome to those Smith students who would like to try out for the team. This page contains the information you will need to know IMMEDIATELY to get started this year. There are some changes from last year so even if you are a returner make sure you read this page thoroughly.
Groupwise Team Calendar
We will be using Groupwise to post all team-related events this year – you should receive an invitation to access the calendar shortly – contact me ASAP if you do not. All practices, matches and other mandatory team events have been scheduled into the Groupwise Calendar. All players must be available for all matches and practices. The only bona fide reason to miss an event is an academic commitment (which you are expected to attempt to reschedule) and personal emergency (serious illness or life-threatening illness, injury or death to close family). When you schedule work-study, tutoring, study groups, professor meetings or other co-curricular or extra curricular events check the Squash team schedule and schedule around team events.
In addition to checking the calendar make sure you have a separate fled in which to store all team e-mails – I will be checking to make sure you have one and have subscribed to the team blog (as per instructions last year).
Information Meeting
8:30-9:30 pm Monday, September 14, Squash Court Gallery.
Before Trying Out
- Contact Tim (585-2715 or tbacon@smith.edu) to confirm you will be coming out for the team this season and to set up an individual goal-setting meeting for the week of Sept. 14-18.
- Complete the compliance online forms ASAP here are the instructions as a PDF file Online Compliance Instructions PDF and Word File (live links): Online Athletics Compliance Instructions
- We want to encourage all Smith students to play squash (Rec program MW 7-8:30!), but since we are only carrying 12 on the roster this year only the most athletic will likely make the team if they have not played before – so direct the most athletic to the Team Info meeting and others to the Rec program.
- Obligatory team compliance meetings on Wed. Sept. 16 at 7 pm and Friday, Sept. 18 at 4 pm. You may not try out for the team unless you have attended these meetings. Keep in mind some of you may require a medical exam – so find out if you need one and schedule it ASAP as there will be a rush.
Tryouts
Our varsity squad this year will be composed of 12 players – which is the official size designated by the Department of Athletics. We will not be supporting a developmental squad this year. After analyzing the results of hundreds of hours of coaching over the last three years (not a single top 10 varsity player produced via this route) we will be allocating our minimal resources (.5 FTE coach) to the varsity squad. Players not making the team will be directed to the recreational play on Monday and Wednesday evenings, ESS Classes, and Intramural Events for their squash development.
Tryouts for this season will occur during the first week of practice September 21 – 25. Selection to the team will be based on match play results. Match play starts Monday, September 21st at 4:30 pm.
Additional challenges onto the team will be scheduled for Fall Sport Athletes when their seasons have terminated, for those returning from Semester Abroad, and any Spring Semester Transfers. At the time of these challenges, any other Smith students with team potential may be included in these challenge events at the prerogative of the Coach. Since there are only 12 spots available on the varsity roster, the players at the bottom of the team ladder will have to play for their spots at the time of these challenges.
Fitness Requirement
After receiving feedback from the 2008-09 team members, the squash team will be instituting a fitness requirement. There will be a minimum and desired standard. Those not attaining the minimum will direct their practice efforts to attaining this minimum, with technique and tactics taking a secondary place.
Fitness testing will take place during the first week of practice. The 1.5 mile run test will be administered on Monday and Thursday, and the 5K run test on Tuesday. The Fall Fit 5K run (5K distance) is a mandatory team event (Sunday, September 27th). The minimum standard for the 1.5 mile run is a result of 38 (VO2max) according to this calculator (which is about 14 min. or less) and 30 minutes for the 5K. There will be an adjustment factor for those with a BMI of 25 or above – you can work it out on this BMI calculator. There are alternative tests for those with a physical disability.
Equipment
As in past years each member of the team must purchase their own:
- squash shoes
- running/jogging shoes
- two identical racquets (contact Tim ASAP if you do want to order)
- practice clothes
The team will supply eyeguards and competition uniform/squash bag.
Team Ladder
Team members will play one challenge per week. Here is the initial ladder we will use estimated (since not everyone on the ladder played during the same period last season) on previous match and challenge results. Ella is JYA, and Jasmine is away for the fall semester. I believe Ashleigh and Andrea will be on Fall Sport teams, so will be joining us at the end of their seasons (after a week off).
