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1: Acquiring Skill
2: The Art of
Deception |
 ACQUIRING
SKILL
In a new coaching and instructional series from International Squash
Magazine, England Squash High Performance Coach David Campion
explains how technique and skill are actually very different ... |
Have you ever watched two players in the knock up and got it
completely wrong when predicting the outcome of the match, assuming
of course you don’t know their history?
Player A strikes the ball really well, displaying good
technique and rhythm, whilst Player B looks like he’s been dragged
off the street and is probably unsure of which end of the racket he
should be holding.
However, as soon as they start playing, it becomes quite apparent
actually who is the better player. Player B, despite lacking
in technique, knows how to play. He hits the ball into space and is
generally quite aware.
Player A however, who looked a million dollars in the knock up,
suddenly looks stressed. He doesn’t read the game particularly well
which puts him under pressure immediately, and whilst technically he
can execute the shots, if his selections are wrong, then it doesn’t
really matter how good he is with his racket. |
International
Squash Magazine |
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What can we learn from this?
Well, first of all it is absolutely essential to have sound
technique and this is critical for three reasons:
1. To control the ball
2. To attack whenever the opportunity presents itself
3. To hold up under pressure
Technique is essential to delivering the outcome of the shot. Player
A above had this because his coach had spent all this time
instilling this into him, but what he hadn’t instilled, or in fact
‘brought out’ of his player was the skill.
Technique and skill are actually very different; some players have
good technique but not necessarily the skill to go with it. When you
acquire them together, the outcome suddenly becomes very exciting.
Skilful players play with lots of feeling. It starts in the mind,
and being a racket sport, manifests itself in the hands where the
subtleties of the game can really be explored. Hitting the ball well
and having been blessed with athletic qualities means nothing
without the awareness to use them.
Of course, there are many other factors which determine how far a
player can really go, but fundamentally the game is based around
these areas. |
Controlling a ball and being precise is
technically skilful, controlling a ball and controlling your
opponent at the same time is skilful. Knowing how to switch pace,
height and direction, weight of shot, when to attack or defend, use
delay etc. are all crucial when putting a rally together. It is an
art, some players have it in them intrinsically, for others it’s not
so easy but it can be learnt.
You are on a squash court playing against somebody and you want to
win, its physical chess, and each time you hit the ball it must be
done with absolute purpose and meaning.
For example, when you hit to the back of the court, what exactly are
you looking for? Do you want it somewhere deep enough to allow you
time to re-organise yourself, or do you want to apply pressure to
your opponent’s movement by attacking your length so it lands at the
back of the service box and dies on the second bounce? Hard and low
will speed up the game, going up the wall with less pace will ease
the tempo.
Be very specific about your target. Finding the back of the court
properly requires a lot of skill.
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Many players often over hit without
reason, effectively making the court smaller when essentially you
want to stretch it out as much as possible. There are many ways to
hit deep. If you hit the ball at the same height on the front wall
and at the same pace all of the time, no matter how accurate you
are, you will become predictable and easy to read.
A lot will depend on exactly where you are playing it from and your
opponent’s situation. Be aware of yourself and your capabilities and
also your opponent’s strengths. Leaving the shot loose will open up
the court which will put pressure on you due to the amount of
options you may have to cover. Leaving the ball tight on the side
wall will narrow your opponent’s options so you can anticipate the
response.
Technique will allow you to deliver the shot, but the real skill of
the game is in the selection, the ability to read and process
information quickly, improvise and make correct decisions
instinctively. Speed comes from the mind not necessarily always the
feet.
The more creative players have great vision and often don’t make
their final selections until the very last moment before they strike
the ball. With all this variation and range at their disposal, it
can be extremely difficult to anticipate. How can you move to
something when you are unsure of where it’s going? This of course,
exerts pressure on the mind of the opposition, makes them feel
unsettled, rushed and in time will lead to a breakdown of movement. |
} Technique will allow
you to deliver the shot, but the real skill of the game is in the
selection, the ability to read and process information quickly,
improvise and make correct decisions instinctively.
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How can you develop skill?
Deliberate practise without pressure is extremely important for
developing a very sound technical base. The game is about precision
and therefore you must spend time hitting the ball into all the
right areas with lots of repetition.
Do it correctly and focus your attention on rhythm and timing. There
must be an understanding of what it is you are trying to do and why.
If someone tells you to do something but you don’t really understand
why, it becomes a chore.
When you understand the benefits that you will get from it, suddenly
it becomes much more interesting. This type of deliberate practise
should form part of your daily diet, but if this is all you ever did
you wouldn’t develop the ability to put it all together.
Acquiring skill comes from lots of varied and random based practise
and playing.
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Let’s have a look at the differences
between Brazil and England football teams for example.
As youngsters in Brazil, they grow up playing in the streets on lots
of variable surfaces, overcrowded teams with very little room or
time. They learn intrinsically how to move the ball quickly with no
time for trapping and looking up, they develop a sixth sense -
knowing where to move and find space for that killer pass. They
become very skilful. Of course, the Brazilian team spend time
passing, trapping and developing technique but the vast majority of
their training is to develop and enhance their perception and
decision making skills.
An exercise that they use often is seven-a-side on a really small
pitch, no goalkeepers and only one touch allowed. Another of their
favourites is beach volleyball without the use of their hands,
allowing feet and heads only! England on the other hand is very
proficient technically but at the highest level lack speed of mind,
they fail to express themselves in a skilful way and therefore look
very predictable. Maybe this has something to do with their training
and coaching structures? Improvement won’t arise without the
necessary application, it’s not what you do, it’s how you do it.
If you really want to acquire these skills then you have to engage
the brain and open your mind. This is where it all starts, only then
will the hands and feet follow.
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