GRAMPIAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

A welcome from Jackie Riches

Grampian Regional Development Officer

Tel: 07958004120

E-mail: hugh@richesh.freeserve.co.uk

I am the main point of contact for any enquiries regarding the Development of Squash within Grampian. Please do not hesitate to get in touch should you require assistance in developing your club. Here in Grampian we are working to promote the game of Squash through Schools, Clubs and Community Centres providing opportunities for all members of the community to experience the game of Squash.

Club Development - There are 17 Clubs operating within Grampian. Of these 8 have active junior sections, supported by the Regions network of coaches. Grampian Squash provide support in the form of Junior, Senior, Ladies and Veterans Leagues. They also have team and individual Regional competitions. For details of the nearest Club to you contact either myself or Scottish Squash on 0131 317 7343.

Grampian’s Active Junior Clubs contacts are as follows:

Club	Head Coach	Telephone	Email
ASRC	Alistair Gorrie	07791742042	ali_g63@hotmail.com
Banchory	Jackie Riches	07958004120	hugh@richesh.freeserve.co.uk
Ellon	Neil Smith	07740439948
Garioch	Danny Molyneux	07866366909
Montrose	Alan Slinger	07957856931	Sling51@hotmail.com
PNC	Pat Nicol	01224742329	N/A
Shell	Paul Charlton	07919628179	Paul.Charlton@CHAMP-TECH.com
Stonehaven	Gerry Towler	07860177008	gerry@myfinancial.co.uk

Junior Development - We have a junior convenor whose job it is to organise and co-ordinate various playing and coaching opportunities for our aspiring youngsters. We have three successful junior leagues running within the Region, where the players play in teams based on their age and ability levels. There are also local competitions for all age groups played throughout the season. If you want further details relating to any of the Junior details then please contact either myself or the other contact details as above.

Senior Development - Many clubs run Saturday afternoon sessions or club nights where players of all standards can play and meet and often participate in club mini leagues. Grampian are currently running some Adult / Elite junior coaching sessions at some clubs within the region with a view of introducing the National Best Practices currently adopted by our Junior Academy and National Talent Squad players.

Disability Sports - With our policy of social inclusion and participation for all, we actively work to involve players with disabilities at all levels of participation and competition, at whatever level each individual feels comfortable.

Coach Education - If you are a player, teacher, parent or volunteer you may feel you want to be more involved in squash at your club / school or develop your own personal skill and knowledge base. There is now a Level 1 course available to you. If you can get people together let us know and we will try to set up a course.

THE JUNIOR SQUASH PATHWAY

Grampian Squash Foundation

For the first time in Scotland, Regions will have a development programme which links into the National programme, providing a clear pathway from Club level, through to the elitist Academy Squads. The programme has numerous funding partners, who have all played their parts in the development of the sport within the Region. The elitist players are financed by sportscotland and the Grampian Institute of Sport, whilst local sponsors Veripos & “Mr Chips” provide the finance, which supports the Grampian Squash Foundation Squads & Junior tournaments. Aberdeenshire Council & Aberdeen City Council are supportive of what happens with the Grass roots development of Squash. Together we are certainly moving the sport, forward together, in a very positive manner & Grampian Squash would like to thank all supporting partners.

Grampian Squash Foundation – Development Squad

Club players will be able to apply to be members of the Grampian Squash Foundation “Development Squad”. This squad will bring together the most promising youngsters from each club within the region and will allow them to train centrally, learning “National Best Practice” routines. The players will be supported by coaches, from each of our junior clubs, within the region. Most of the club coaches have just qualified and they in turn will be given valuable support from the Foundations Head Coach, who will be managing the coach education programme and providing the coaches with valuable mentoring support.

Grampian Squash Foundation – Area Talent Squad

Grampian players who attain a (top 12) National Ranking in their respective National Age Group Rankings, will be eligible to apply to be members of the Grampian Squash Foundation “Area Talent Squad”. This squad will bring together the best players within the Region and allow them to train centrally, learning “National Best Practice” routines. It is envisaged that most of the Grampian Squash Area Talent Squad players, will also be members of either the National Talent Squad or the Academy. The players therefore will also be training with the best players nationally, in conjunction with what is happening regionally. This will provide the players with the best possible level of support, with the majority of that support being delivered here within the Region. For those not qualifying for the National Squads, further Regional support will be on hand, to ensure that these players have an equal amount of coaching as those involved in the National programme.

National Talent Squad

Players from throughout Scotland who manage to make the (top 4) in their respective National Age Group Rankings, will be eligible to apply to be members of the National Talent Squad. This squad will bring together the best players within Scotland and allow them to train centrally, at various venues throughout Scotland, (including Grampian), learning “National Best Practice” routines.

The Academy

Players from throughout Scotland who manage to make the (top 2) in their respective National Age Group Rankings, will be eligible to apply to be members of the Academy. This squad will bring together the best players within Scotland and allow them to train centrally, at the National Squash Centre at Heriot – Watt University under the guidance of the National Performance Director – Paul Frank and his team of coaches which include: Academy Head coaches Louise Philip & Martin Woods & thei assistant coaches Peter Vaughan & Grampians Gerry Towler.

The Academy continues to provide better and better value for money. Virtually all of the back up support is now accessed within the Region. Grampian Institute of Sport provides - Strength & Conditioning, Physiotherapy, Nutrition Advice and immediate Medical Support through Albyn, as part of the package. With the added benefit of regular training sessions with the National Performance Directors Elite Squad at Heriot – Watt University, the top players within the country come together and are able to train & compete at the highest level.