Since June 2011, rumors have been swirling around the Hewitt School that squash is going to be added to our long lists of sports. Over the summer, this was confirmed with a letter sent home to the students of the Upper School. However, despite the excitement that surrounded the addition of this new athletic program, many girls have no idea what squash is. Although squash is not as popular an American sport as baseball or football, many people frequently play the game here and all over the world.
Squash is not a very complicated sport, but it does take concentration and focus. Many people often relate squash to tennis, because both sports are played with rackets. Contrary to tennis players, squash players bounce balls off walls in indoor courts. In many ways, squash is like playing tennis alone or hitting off of a backboard. However, there are many differences between tennis and squash. Squash, unlike tennis, involves rubber balls because they bounce off walls with more speed. Furthermore, squash rackets are smaller and have a different sizes than tennis rackets. But don’t let these new differences scare you. Squash is a fairly easy sport to learn.
According to Forbes, Squash is considered to be the healthiest sport, beating basketball, swimming, cycling, or even boxing. Forbes states that: “The preferred game of Wall Street has convenience on its side, as 30 minutes on the squash court provides an impressive cardio respiratory workout. Extended rallies and almost constant running builds muscular strength and endurance in the lower body, while lunges, twists and turns increase flexibility in the back and abdomen. For people just getting into the game, it’s almost too much to sustain, but once you get there, squash is tremendous.”
It is ironic that squash is not featured in the American media as often as basketball and baseball, yet it is one of the most popular sports in the world. So, Hewitt girls, I challenge you to try something new. Ask our Physical Education teachers about signing up for squash. You never know how fun it actually may be.
To learn more about the basics of squash, check this out!