Wednesday, September 8, 2010

How to be a Squash Player in Sri Lanka?

Squash in Sri Lanka

During my chit chats with many kids out side Colombo, one of the sports which they have not even heard was "Squash". It is indeed a very popular sport in Sri Lanka by now.

The Sri Lanka Squash Federation (SLSF) was officially formed in early 1981 and is accredited with the World Squash Federation (WSF) and the Asian Squash Federation. It is the official sports body which governs squash in Sri Lanka. (Details taken from SLSF site)



 What is Squash and what are the rules?

There are many articles on internet on this which you can easily find by a simple Google search. I’ve posted some articles if anyone requires.

http://squashclub.org/main/e-lessons/lessons/beginner_lessons/rules.shtml

http://squash.linklk.com/slsf_index.php?ref=rules


 From where can I find a SQUASH COURT for practice?


Some of the key places which have squash courts are as below. If you come to any of the below places, you can get more details on the practice sessions and coaches and how to enter matches.

Ratmalana Air Force Squash Complex

Gymkhana Club (CCC) Squash Complex.

Fingara sports Club Squash Complex

Singhalese Sports Club (SSC) Squash Complex

St.Thomas sports club - Mt Lavinia Squash Complex

Tamil Union club  Squash Complex

Royal college squash complex

other than the above there are about 125 courts in Sri Lanka according to SLSF. I will update the list of out of colombo courts as well soon. Most of the army camps and leading hotels also have squash courts.

If you need to book a court online, click on the below link
http://www.sportslk.com/


From where I can find a SQUASH COACH and what are the charges?

There are many professional coaches as well as players who do coaching part time. You can get a personal coach or a coach for the school.

I will try to update these details (at least their phone numbers) as soon as possible. Then you can check with the coaches them selves.

This is the list of coaches approved by SLSF
http://squash.linklk.com/slsf_index.php?ref=coaching_refereeing


How to enter for a squash tournament in Sri Lanka?


There are so many club level matches and national level matches for each age group as well as open matches. Usually when applications are called for a match, they publish it in the sports pages of the national news papers.

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=447242524362

You need not be a professional player to enter for the matches. As much as you play, you get more experience and that together with practices and hard work will make you a competent player.

How to find more details on Squash in Sri Lanka?

You can contact SLSF with below contact details
http://squash.linklk.com/slsf_index.php?ref=contact


If you go to "Sri Lanka Squash Federation (SLSF)" Face book page (link is below), you can directly get any information from the relevant officials.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sri-Lanka-Squash-Federation-SLSF/145822263339?v=wall#!/pages/Sri-Lanka-Squash-Federation-SLSF/145822263339?v=app_2344061033


If not, drop me a note- I will help you to find the details you need.


Is Squash only for rich people?

It’s true that it is very costly to pay for a squash court and a coach and buy other equipment required. But if you really want to be a squash player, there are many other ways. Sri Lanka Squash Federation in conjunction with the Sri Lanka Schools Squash Association conducts Squash Coaching Camps to beginners. There are many other programmes in place.


If you are from a school which do not have squash, please do not worry about not having enough money or not having enough information. If there are students who are willing to play, and if you need any more help, please contact us. We are more than happy to help you.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Coach fees and court fees are very expensive in most places. Do you know a place where they rent courts for school children at a lessor cost? Who are the coaches who charge reasonable fees?

Nishadee said...

oops sorry I didn't see your comment all this time. I will check this and come back to you.ok

Charith said...

I stopped playing Squash because i didnt have money to spend ....

buy shoes , squash balls ....

serious , these things are expensive!

so, some how i won 2 novices titles in one tournament ( under 19 Novices champion and Men's open 2nd place )

after that.. my parents couldnt spend money for my Squash practice...

i wish i could play back
i know still i can play well !

Anonymous said...

I would like to extract a phase from your post "During my chit chats with many kids out side Colombo, one of the sports which they have not even heard was "Squash". It is indeed a very popular sport in Sri Lanka by now."

I also played squash in my school time, and we were the only college outside the colombo that played squash.

I am still wonder why SLSF is not going to take action to spread this game around srilanka.

This game can be a game for rich people, but i think it's better if we can make poor people to rich from this sport. so we have to give them the support. by facilitating them the equipments, racquets etc...

I'm proud when im playing squash we were able to gave a good fight to some of colombo players within around 1 year of practice. because those talents were inside our bodies and that's why we could even defeat the some colombo players who played squash from their childhood.

Anonymous said...

I love squash it's awesome I'm not rich, though I play squash it's an awesome sport I love it

Nishadee said...

Just like many other sports, squash too has its own expenses some times. People think Colombo players have all facilities. Sadly its not. But I understand it is more difficult for rural players.

I played for my school team and it is a rich enough school in Colombo. But we did not get any facility from school back at that era. We played with the cheapest shoes and equipment. Thankfully some senior players taught us for free.

I'm sure the federation puts some kind of effort in to making it popular. But you know , you have to understand that their children too play the game. So less the players, less the trouble :D

Sorry that I could not look much in to this post and letters for some time. I will try to get in contact with some officials and come back with, hopefully a better answer.

Please don't give up. Best players in the world were not rich people at the beginning.

Katie_roxz said...

I would greatly love to learn play this unique sport squash. I've done swimming and athletics but I would love learn something new but the awareness of this sport among is very little. I'd like to know more about it and hopefully find a good coach to learn.

Katie_roxz said...

I would greatly love to learn play this unique sport squash. I've done swimming and athletics but I would love learn something new but the awareness of this sport among is very little. I'd like to know more about it and hopefully find a good coach to learn.

Uditha said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Uditha said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Uditha said...

Where can buy squash shoes in SL

Uditha said...

Where can I squash shoes in SL

Ramesh said...

I also found that not a single squash court in Negombo...now I have to travel to Colombo to play squash...very sad