CASE STUDY
I’ve been very lucky to have coached many different groups of adults and children over the years in Sheffield. Coaching Squash 57 to complete beginners with very little racket-sport experience ranks highly in my love of coaching due to the nature of the sport and how quickly people pick it up, really enjoy playing and progress.
Concord Sports Centre
Concord Sports Centre, Sheffield is one of a number of Sheffield City Trust Venues and the only one with squash courts.
Concord has offered coached Squash 57 classes to its’ members since September 2019, as part of their Fitness Class Programme, alongside Aerobics, Bollywood, Step, Spin, Box Fit, Zumba, Kettlebells, Reggaecise, HIIT and others.
Objective
My objective was to offer the members a different way of keeping fit and burning calories by learning Squash 57. Also my aim is to increase the daytime usage of Concord’s squash courts
Proposal to Concord
I first introduced the idea of offering Squash 57 classes to SIV’s Head of Health and Wellbeing and the staff at Concord in August 2019. . I ran a fun session with the Centre staff and their feedback was so positive I was invited to promote a series of taster sessions to the members to gather interest.
I’ve been very lucky to have coached many different groups of adults and children over the years in Sheffield. Coaching Squash 57 to complete beginners with very little racket-sport experience ranks highly in my love of coaching due to the nature of the sport and how quickly people pick it up, really enjoy playing and progress.
Concord Sports Centre
Concord Sports Centre, Sheffield is one of a number of Sheffield City Trust Venues and the only one with squash courts.
Concord has offered coached Squash 57 classes to its’ members since September 2019, as part of their Fitness Class Programme, alongside Aerobics, Bollywood, Step, Spin, Box Fit, Zumba, Kettlebells, Reggaecise, HIIT and others.
Objective
My objective was to offer the members a different way of keeping fit and burning calories by learning Squash 57. Also my aim is to increase the daytime usage of Concord’s squash courts
Proposal to Concord
I first introduced the idea of offering Squash 57 classes to SIV’s Head of Health and Wellbeing and the staff at Concord in August 2019. . I ran a fun session with the Centre staff and their feedback was so positive I was invited to promote a series of taster sessions to the members to gather interest.
Recruitment
Concord’s management advised most frequented times at the Centre and for 2 weeks I positioned myself, fliers, rackets and balls in Reception near to the squash courts and talked about Squash 57 and Women’s Squash Week, inviting people to hold the racket, do a tap up or two and sign up for a taster session. I gathered a lot of interest and used Women’s Squash Week as a campaign to really support me.
Women’s Squash Week 2019 and Squash 57 Tasters
The free tasters ran during Women’s Squash Week in September and were very popular, with both ladies and men, and as a result SIV recruited me as a self-employed instructor to run classes from October on Monday and Wednesday mornings.
I also wore “Squash Girls Can” kit!
Squash 57 classes
I have 2 courts and a maximum of 8 players can sign up online to attend a session. Cost of all fitness classes are included in the Fitness Memberships or a discount is offered to LifeCard members.
I make sure each class is a fun, lively calorie- burning mix of coaching, fun games and match-play, with warm-up and cool-down stretching . Who cares if the ball bounces twice?
Squash 57 is such a great sport to learn and since October, the progress made has been incredible and my players are not only seeing a difference in their racket skills but also, more importantly their fitness and mobility. The other Fitness Class instructors are also very supportive and have recommended my sessions to their clients, some of whom are now my regulars and use Squash 57 as part of their weekly fitness plan at Concord.
Concord’s management advised most frequented times at the Centre and for 2 weeks I positioned myself, fliers, rackets and balls in Reception near to the squash courts and talked about Squash 57 and Women’s Squash Week, inviting people to hold the racket, do a tap up or two and sign up for a taster session. I gathered a lot of interest and used Women’s Squash Week as a campaign to really support me.
Women’s Squash Week 2019 and Squash 57 Tasters
The free tasters ran during Women’s Squash Week in September and were very popular, with both ladies and men, and as a result SIV recruited me as a self-employed instructor to run classes from October on Monday and Wednesday mornings.
I also wore “Squash Girls Can” kit!
Squash 57 classes
I have 2 courts and a maximum of 8 players can sign up online to attend a session. Cost of all fitness classes are included in the Fitness Memberships or a discount is offered to LifeCard members.
I make sure each class is a fun, lively calorie- burning mix of coaching, fun games and match-play, with warm-up and cool-down stretching . Who cares if the ball bounces twice?
Squash 57 is such a great sport to learn and since October, the progress made has been incredible and my players are not only seeing a difference in their racket skills but also, more importantly their fitness and mobility. The other Fitness Class instructors are also very supportive and have recommended my sessions to their clients, some of whom are now my regulars and use Squash 57 as part of their weekly fitness plan at Concord.
Marketing
SIV’s marketing department used the England Squash toolkit and produced posters which were placed around the gym/fitness studios and pool areas to promote the classes
SIV Facebook page
SIV has links with SOAR - a regeneration health + wellbeing and employability charity and their business development manager sent details to all its clients through social media
Funding and Equipment
Yorkshire Squash and England Squash supported me initially with rackets and balls. I have also received free POS (bags/water bottles) by inputting my players on to the ES App.
I designed and printed my own flyers and posters to advertise the taster sessions.
Why is Concord special?
There is a real sense of community at Concord and my players spend a lot of their time at the Centre and come to my sessions having had a swim, coffee chat with friends, then come on court for an hour before heading out for the day.
Working at Concord has been absolutely fantastic and I have been able to coach some amazing people. I am really hoping to be able to grow the number of hours to accommodate the players’ requirements to be able to come to more classes.
I can’t wait to see my groups again once lockdown restrictions are eased and we can get back on court.
SIV’s marketing department used the England Squash toolkit and produced posters which were placed around the gym/fitness studios and pool areas to promote the classes
SIV Facebook page
SIV has links with SOAR - a regeneration health + wellbeing and employability charity and their business development manager sent details to all its clients through social media
Funding and Equipment
Yorkshire Squash and England Squash supported me initially with rackets and balls. I have also received free POS (bags/water bottles) by inputting my players on to the ES App.
I designed and printed my own flyers and posters to advertise the taster sessions.
Why is Concord special?
There is a real sense of community at Concord and my players spend a lot of their time at the Centre and come to my sessions having had a swim, coffee chat with friends, then come on court for an hour before heading out for the day.
Working at Concord has been absolutely fantastic and I have been able to coach some amazing people. I am really hoping to be able to grow the number of hours to accommodate the players’ requirements to be able to come to more classes.
I can’t wait to see my groups again once lockdown restrictions are eased and we can get back on court.