March Newsletter

Well that wasn't what we wanted now was it?

One moment we're at work, booking courts, playing matches, meeting up with friends and family and pretty much taking everything for granted as is the norm. Next we're isolated at home, we've worked out what 2 metres away from everything is, toilet roll is the new currency and we've completed the internet within a week.

It's been a crazy turnaround but It's going to be like this for a while folks so we may as well get used to it and apapt. That's one thing we as humans can do pretty darn well, adapt. Adapt to change, adapt to our surroundings. We may not always like it but change is needed.

One thing the Virus can't stop is your monthly Newsletter though. Oh Yes don't worry Squasharians we're still here for you. Like everything else though we will have to adapt it slightly and focus on other things. I can't exactly sit here and write about Leagues and matches that aren't happening and as we dont know how long this isolation will last, I can't talk about future events either.

So what do you want to read about? Well for this month I'll do my best but I open it up to you for the upcoming months. What do you want to hear about? Home exercises? Nutrition? Funny stories? If you have something you would like me to review or look into then get in touch and email me at scottbass@hotmail.co.uk.

Facts you may not have known about Squash:

If you read this Newsletter, chances are you have an interest in Squash. Either that or Isolation has got really bad and you'll now read anything your email inbox offers you. This being said there may be a few facts you didn't know about Squash. Here's a few to kill some time before Boris announces the next stage of Isolation:

1. Squash has been around since 1830, when it was invented by students at the Harrow School outside London. (Upper class prisoners in the London debtors' prison had previously played a similar sport, rackets, which involved hitting a ball against walls with rackets to get exercise, according to the World Squash Federation.)

2. The Titanic had a squash court (above), and professional Fred Wright went down with the ship. WARNING!! Personal Conspiracy Theory Alert! It also had damage to the section that was supposedly hit by an ice berg prior to it leaving Southampton. Ooooo I know right! Was it an inside job? Hmmmm. Also whilst we're on conspiracy theories ( I realise I brought us here by the way) My favororite conspiracy theory concerning The Corona Virus is that David Cameron was tired of being blamed for the state of Brexit so he infected a Bat in Wuhan and started this Epidemic in order to be left alone. Feel free to share your favorite conspiracy theories with me for enxt month's Newsletter. Perhaps we could make it a permanent feature? Maybe that's what I wanted all along? Oooo another theory.....

3. A squash court at the University of Chicago provided the venue for the first controlled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction. (Not to be confused with Diana Ross's chain reaction where she was in the middle). Enrico Fermi and his colleagues secretly engineered it in Chicago Pile Number One, the world's first nuclear reactor, in 1942. The reactor was built as part of the Manhattan Project to construct the first atomic weapons.

4. Squash may be in the 2024 Olympics (supporters of the sport are lobbying for its inclusion). I hope it is. How can Dressage be in there but Squash isn't? No offence to Dressagers or Dressagerears.....It's just that Squash is a more physcial sport surely?

5. The late Rainier III, prince of Monaco with wife Grace Kelly, played squash every day for many years. Now if this is true then I need to know how he convicned Grace to play on Christmas Day.

6. The first players used rubber balls, which, when hit, squashed against walls (hence the name "squash"). Seems an obvious one but thought I'd mention it. Aren't the balls we use now rubber though? Hang on (Quickly Googles Squash Balls) Yes they are made of a Raw Butyl Rubber with synthetic powders etc.....This is truly gripping stuff to read about.

There are more but I'm going to stop at 6 as no one ever stops at 6. 5, 10 sometimes 8 but never 6.

You may be reading this thinking Scott has lost his mind in Isolation but things haven't changed that much for me. I'm still working as normal as my company is safe to do so under Government Law. So this is just me without a lot to report on. It's dangerous and it could go anywhere to be honest. Be thankful you're getting something though. F1 stops and no one gets anything. We should be two races in now seeing Lewis Hamilton beating everyone in a superior car. Or atleast hearig about it. But no we get nothing. Where as here at SSC you get facts about Squash. Your sunday Isolation just got better people.

How can I practice Squash in Isolation?

This depends on how much extra cash you have? Can you build a squash court in your garden or turn your lounge into a court?

No?

Oh ok. Well then there are a few movements and sessions you can do to keep your body movements sharp for when you're allowed to step back onto the court.

1. Keep your cardio up by running or jogging . Boris has said this is ok (for now) If you're reading this in a few weeks and he's changed his mind, don't get stopped by the police and say that Scott said it's ok in a Newsletter I read as you'll look like an idiot.

2. Stretch and try to incorporate Yoga or Pillates . If you've never done Yoga poses or Pillates it's something you should introduce to your formal training. Squahs is such a powerful and fast paced sport that the more nimble and agile you are, the quicker and with more ease you will cover the court. This could be the ideal time for you to try something new and learn a new workout. Give it a try, watch a You Tube Video and persevere. You'll come back to the court feeling stronger, more agile and making shots you couldn't even get to before.

3. Power Movements. As I mentioned, Squash is a very powerful sport and demands exposive movements from your body. If you are new to Circuits, try doing some unweighted squats, sit ups, push ups and lunges. Do this at your own pace and do not overexert yourself. Last thing you want to do now is injur yourself and not be able to reach for the last pack of Loo Roll on the top shelf in the Supermarket.

If you want more detail on what these home exercises could be then email me and I'll be sure to go into more detail next month.

What if I love Squash but hate this Newsletter?

Be thankful that it is now finished and you don't have to read anymore.

On a serious note we at SSC hope that you are all safe and well and will get through this weird period of time.

Now is an important time to be there for each other and helping those in need. Remember that no matter how bad things may seem to you, there will always be someone else worse off.

Help where you can and be safe.

See you next month

Scott

29/03/2020